Twist and Wrap a Chenille Stem Doll

A finished chenille stem doll.

       This tiny chenille stem doll may be made the size of a worry doll or slightly larger like my example here. Worry dolls are mostly hand-made. In Guatemala, they are made of wire, wool and colorful textile leftovers. The dolls are then dressed in traditional Mayan style. The size of the doll can vary between ½ inch and 2.0 inches. In western culture, the dolls are mostly made of pressed paper, adhesive tape, paper and colorful wool. Here, the dolls can be remarkably larger in size. Modern variations most usually are made with chenille stems.

       Our little doll is approximately two inches tall. Her body is wrapped with embroidery floss as is her hair. Her tiny clothes are made from bits of ribbon and lace.
        For this mini doll craft you will need the following supplies: a chenille stem, colorful embroidery floss, white school glue, scissors, a needle with thread, a cotton ball, tissue, ribbon and lace.

• How to Make a Worry Doll
• How to make a Guetemalan Worry dolls
• How to make chenille stem teddy bears for a miniature dollhouse
• How to make vintage chenille stem Santas and snowmen 

Left, the head is wrapped in tissue to begin with. Center, the head is trapped between the stem's
first bend, with a simple twist beneath the doll's chin. Right, the flesh colored floss is wrapped
around the head's stem and cotton ball all together.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Roll half a cotton ball into a tiny head about 1/2 an inch wide, between your fingers. 
2. Take a small square of tissue and wrap this around the cotton ball and twist it at the bottom where the neck of a doll would normally be.
3. Bend the chenille stem in half and slip the cotton ball head under this bend while twisting the stem under the head to trap it in place.
4. Using a flesh colored piece of embroidery floss, wrap the tiny head and stem together until the entire stem disappears under the floss. Use very tiny drops of white glue as you proceed to wrap the body to hold the floss in place.
   
5. Wrap a neck and the shoulders using the same color of floss. (See picture above)
6. Bend the arms on either side of the doll and then twist the stem at the torso. 
7. Now bend the length of the torso and and the right leg, repeat for the left leg. This is the point where you will determine the height of the doll by deciding how long the leg will be before bending these upright. (See picture above.)
8. Now wrap the arms and legs with colorful embroidery floss until the stem is covered. 
9. Wrap the tips of the hands with flesh colored embroidery floss.
10. Wrap the tips of the feet in shoes if you wish.
11. To make long hair loop a bunch of floss and tie it in the middle (3"). 
12. Take your matching needle and thread and whip stitch the hair in place about the head.
13. Measure, wrap, tie and clip tiny pieces of ribbon and/or lace about the body of the chenille stem doll to make her clothing. Use a threaded needle to attach pieces securely.
    

Left and right, see how the arms, torso and legs are wrapped with embroidery floss.

See above, how the hair is attached to the doll.