How to make an old-fashioned spool doll . . .

Vintage spool doll for children four and up. Don't 
make it for a toddler because he or she might 
put the parts in the mouth.

       What a nostalgic, dangling doll this is. If you have any old wooden spools or wooden beads he would make a delightful addition to a small folk doll collection.

Supply List:

• Spools: For the toy in Plate 14, thread spools of all sizes, also spools from an adding machine or cash register for body, arms, and legs. 
• Beads: Wooden or glass beads to form the joints of the toy (Fig. 1). 
• Plastic Lacing: Use a strong lacing which will withstand boiling when the toy becomes soiled (Fig. 10). 
• Decorating Materials: Water colors or wax crayons (Figs. 7 and 8) for decorating the spools, clear shellac, and spar varnish. 
• TOOLS A saw for separating spool ends for a hat or collar (Fig. 3), and paper clips to hold spools for painting the toy and hanging to dry (Fig. 2). 

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1.  1. From some office or bank, secure six adding-machine spools for the limbs of the toy. Cut two in half for the arms (Fig. 1). Use an extra large spool for the body and one large enough for the head. Others of varying size may be used according to the craftsman's originality. 
2. Arrange the spools in the likeness of the human figure, with longer spools for the legs. Use large spools for the body and head, and short ones for the arms. 
3. For a collar or a hat, saw off one end of a large spool, and turn it upside down for the collar. The remaining part may be used for a hat over the "head" spool. 
4. Sand all spools. (optional) 
5. Decorate the spools using water colors to paint them to resemble clothing. Wax crayons, nail polish, or a burning tool can be used to make facial features and other decorations.  
6. Straighten paper clips and insert them into the spools to hold them when applying the finish and to hang them on a line to dry. 
7. Apply a coat of clear shellac and let it dry. 
8. Sand the spool lightly and apply spar varnish. 
9. String each part of the toy separately with plastic lacing. 
10. Use beads, preferably wooden ones, for hands, feet, knees, and elbows. 
11. String the ends of the lacings for both legs up through the body and join with the lacings of both arms. 
12. Lace all ends through the head. 
13. Hair may be made from short strands of colored yarn secured to the lacing between the head and hat. 
14. Tie above the hat and leave a loop handle.

Related Links:

• Check out our wooden doll craft index . . . 
• Find more old-fashioned doll folk crafts at our "Doll Crafters and Young Puppet Masters Art Camp"