How to Build Noah's Ark

       Unlike most arks, this one is mounted on four wheels and has couplings behind for wooden animals to be linked up, "two by two," and drawn along with the ark. The plans are very old so you will need to be careful when reading the dimensions.

Construct House Section:

1. Prepare two sides (Fig. 4) each 1' 1" x 5" x 1/2"  At a distance of 1/4" from the ends of each, cut a groove 1/4" wide and 1/4" deep.
2.  Prepare also the two ends of the house, which are 7" x 5 1/4" x 1/2" and shaped as in Fig. 2 with a 1/4" x 1/4" tongue on the edges. 
3. Fit the ends to the sides, clean up and glue and nail together, keeping the whole square. 
4. Cut the deck 1' 7" x 7 7/8" x 1/2" (Fig. 6). 
5. Clean up and screw to the sides and ends of the house with 1" No. 8 screws. 
6. The roof is loose with one side 1' 2" x 5" x 3/8" and the other 1' 2" x 4 5/8 x 1". 
7. From 1/4" plywood shape two ends or " barge boards," as Fig. 8. 
8. Glue and pin together the two sides of the roof, then glue and pin the barge boards in place. 
9. Finally glue blocks along the angle of the roof as in Fig. 1 (section). 

At the top of the plans you can see how the woodworker
has drawn the shutters, windows and door.

Construct Boat Section:

1. Cut and shape two sides 1' 81/2" x 4 1/2" x 1/2 with 1/4" x 1/4" grooves across the ends (Figs. 1 and 7). 
2. Cut two ends with 1/4" x 1/4" tongues on the sloping edges (Fig. 3). 
3. Fit together sides and ends, then cut the bottom, which is 1' 5" x 6 1/2" x 1/2". 
4. From Fig. 5 mark out and cut the four through mortices for the wheels, which are 1 3/8" diameter and 3/8" thick.
5. Mount the wheels on axles held by a covering piece screwed to the bottom (Fig. 8). 
6. Clean up, then screw sides and ends to bottom. 
7. Around the sides and ends screw a 1/2" x 1/2" strip to support the deck (Figs. 1 and 7). 
8. Finally, prepare two pieces 4" x 1" x 3/8", then 5/8" from one end of each, bore a 1/4" hole and glue into this a 1" length of 1/4" dowel. 
9. Glue and screw these pieces to the bottom (Fig. 1). 
10. Complete by painting suitably. Windows, doors, etc., may be painted in as shown in sketch at top of the plans.

All of the wooden animals are mounted on bases with wheels as well.

The Noah's Ark

Illustration and Poem by Katherine Pyle

 

The Noah's Ark.

 

The  Noah's Ark's a pleasant place,

With windows on each side,

And half the painted shingle roof

Is hinged, and opens wide.

 

And often Noah and his wife,

In dresses green and blue,

Take out the animals to walk

In rows of two and two.

 

And Noah was a cheerful man;

He always wore a smile;

But Mrs, Noah used to fret

And worry all the while.

Sometimes she's fret because their dog

Was looking thin and brown;

Or else because the elephant

So often tumbled down.

And when they reached the ark at last

She'd roll and scrape  about

To count the animals, for fear

That some had been left out.

Good Mr. Noah often said:

"Don't worry so, my dear,

Or very soon your pretty paint

Will all wear off, I fear!"

"Oh dear!" she cried, "this cow is scratched!

The wolf is on his head!"

And so she fretted spite of all

That Mr. Noah said.

 

And so poor Mrs. Noah's paint

Began to crack and fade;

But Mr. Noah still looked bright

As when he first was made.

 

by Katherine Pyle.

 

Read more about Noah's Ark at the Easter Egg Crafts blog. 

Sunday Toys: My Little Pew Baby

Because of the angle of the camera the doll looks
larger than it is, weird. My little pew baby actually
measures 13" from the top of the head to the
tip of the handkerchief. 

       My version of an old-fashioned pew baby is representative of an infant. She is dressed in a kerchief bunting, therefore she does not need her arms or legs to be sewn. Her limbs are suggested within her christening attire. 

       In doll terms, this body type is often referred to as a stump doll body. Stump babies sometimes have arms, but never legs. The form is usually given to infant dolls. The doll body type shown here is of the simplest of kinds. She has no face and her head and torso are barely suggested. 

       Pew Baby dolls were traditionally given to young children to play with during church services. These Sunday toys were intended to entertain quietly because if dolly should be dropped on the church pew or hardwood floors of the Sanctuary, she would not make a noise that would most certainly interrupt a sermon.

Supply List:

• Two linen kerchiefs, one plain, the second embroidered or printed.
• one small white baby sock
• cotton batting to stuff the sock
• needle and white thread (or to match)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. First you will need to stuff the sock with new cotton batting. You could use a sock that is more representative of flesh tones than the white shown here if you wish.
2. Whip stitch the opening of the sock closed.
3. Take a threaded needle and also sew a straight stitch around the doll's neck to gather in the sock's fabric as you pull the needle tightly around the area beneath the head. 
4. Sew together the shorter ends of one rectangle with the right sides facing together. Turn the fabric inside out to gather the simple bunting around the neck of the baby doll.
5. I tucked approximately 1/4" of the raw length under as I gathered the material using a straight stitch. (see photo below)
6. Now take the second embroidered kerchief and lay it flat to position the pew baby's head in the selected corner of the kerchief for her head.
7. Wrap and tack down the kerchief in a pleasing arrangement.
8. I chose to stitch the kerchief around my doll's face.
9. Then you may sew on a button or ribbon at the doll's neck to finish. The entire sewn assembly takes about 10 minutes from beginning to end!

Left is the doll's body made from a soft white baby sock stuffed with new cotton batting. It's size measures 6" before
 dressing with two linen kerchiefs. Center, the first kerchief has been cut in half and gathered about the neck.
Right, here you can see the gathering around the neck. 

Left, a lovely buff colored rose button is sewn at the collar of the neck. If you were to sew a pew baby with bunting for a
 young child, you might replace a button detail with a ribbon instead for safety sake. Center, detail of suggested
bonnet on the back side of the pew baby. Right, yellow rose detail of the silk embroidered kerchief. 

More Varieties of The Pew Baby Sunday Doll:

• Kits by Sundillies Explained - traditional handkerchief dolls
• Vintage Hanky Church Doll by Maggie's Crochet - knotted, no sew version

  Return to the Doll Guide Index Page