Yarn Dolls

Yarn Dolls are fun and easy to make and a joy to give as gifts. You can custom make them to the person receiving the yarn doll. Use their favorite color or use a couple of colors to make their team colors. You can make them as simple or as difficult as you want.

ITEMS NEEDED:

60 strands of 24 inch long strips of yarn
3 hair rubber bands
1 Styrofoam ball (about the size of a tennis ball or slightly smaller)
1 Styrofoam egg shape
4 small rubber bands
Permanent Markers (optional)
Googly Eyes (optional)
Small pieces of yarn, ribbon or small craft bows (optional)

Step 1

Cut your yarn into 60  (24 inches each) strands. This is easier to keep track of if you cut ten at a time and lay them in seperate piles until you have five piles.

Step 2 – The Hair

Once all of your yarn strands have been cut, gather all 60 pieces of yarn and hold them so they are even at the top. Grasp the yarn about 4 inches down from the top. Tie a rubber band around the yarn where you have it grasped (about four inches from the top).

Step 3 – The Head

Place your round Styrofoam ball inside the yarn, up against the rubber band (on the side of the 20 inches).  Make sure the yarn covers the Styrofoam ball completely). Tie a second rubber band around the yarn below the ball (this should “trap” your round Styrofoam ball inside the yarn.

Step 4 – The Arms

Take 9 strands of yarn from both sides of the yarn (a total of 18 strands – 9 from either side). Cut the strands to about 5 inches. Divide the 9 strands into 3 equal groups of three. Use these three groups to braid your  “arm” to about a ½ inch to an inch from the end. Tie one of the small rubber bands around the end (making the wrist) The left over yarn is the “hand”. Repeat on the other side until you have two arms, two wrist and two hands.

Step 5 – The Body

Place your egg shaped Styrofoam inside the yarn up against the Styrofoam ball (you can put the smaller end against the ball for a girl doll and the larger end against the ball for a boy doll). Gather the yarn (minus the 18 strands you used for the arms) over the Styrofoam. Make sure the egg is covered completely and tie your third rubber band around the bottom of the egg. Your egg should be completely covered so none of the Styrofoam shows through.

Step 6 – The Legs

Take the remaining 42 strands (60 minus the 18 for the arms) and divide them in half. You should have 21 strands for each leg. Divide the 21 strands into 3 equal groups of seven. Use these three groups to braid your leg. Repeat on the other 21 strands. Leave about an inch for the foot and tie a small rubber band around the yarn creating the ankle.

Step 7 – Finishing Touches

Add googly eyes or with your permanent markers, draw eyes, nose and mouth onto your doll. Give her eyelashes if you like. Put a ribbon in her hair. Braid her hair if you like. You can be really creative and put clothes on your doll.

Step 8 – Boy Doll

If you want to make a boy doll and don’t plan to put clothes on your doll, you can cut the 4 inches of “hair” to about an inch or your desired length.