I crafted this little nine inch, Ackley doll from a free pattern made available at the United Federation of Doll Clubs INC. However, since then (2013) the pattern has been removed. So I have uploaded the cover of the original text the pattern was and still is published in. Her face is hand-stitched and her tiny leather shoes have gold beads for buttons. The tiny lace hat came from I don't know where!
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| This little fabric girl doll is 10" tall. She will be Anne of Green Gables in our collection. |
The pattern is actually very difficult to work with. You've got to have patience, tiny tools and a great pair of eye glasses to pull this one off! The arms and legs are extremely delicate and there is so little fabric between the limbs that these fray terribly while stuffing the body.
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| I used some lovely angora blend yarn for her red hair. |
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| "Dolls to Make for Fun and Profit" by Edith Flack Ackley. This is the book where the original dolls and clothing come from in the sample doll shown above. |
It is much easier to sew a pattern such as this one if the limbs are made separately from the torso and then attached to the body. This also allows the limbs to move naturally while the doll is being played with or posed for a camera. However, I wanted to make the doll using Ackley's authentic process first before altering her patterns to satisfy my own preferences.
- The History of Edith Flack Ackley Cloth Dolls with Jonathan Green
- Edith Flack Ackley by Wren Feathers
- Edith Flack Ackley: A Life Made from Dolls
- First Edith Flack Ackley doll from Needle Book
- Belinda and Lucinda-Edith Flack Ackley pattern dolls
Books by Edith Flack Ackley: The books are out of print, so many of them sell for astronomical prices!
- Paper dolls: Their history and how to make them
- Marionettes: Easy to Make! Fun to Use!
- Dolls to make for fun and profit
- A Doll Shop Of Your Own
- How to Make Marionettes for Fun at Home, Plays at Schools and Clubs and Professional Performances
I made two of these dolls when I was ten and twelve years old. The first was for me and the second for a friend. All hand stitched and made from patterns traced from a library book. I found a used copy as an adult at a Friends of the Library sale.
ReplyDeleteShe was a wonderful writer. I'm 74 now and this brings back memories!
Wonderful memory Karen. I wish I still had some of the dolls I made long ago too. Edith Flack's dolls are very charming and I've enjoyed learning more about her over the years.
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