Things You'll Need
Fabric (about 1/2 yard)
Thread
Straight pins
Scissors
Stuffing
Pencil or chopstick (optional)
Black and red embroidery floss (optional)
Black and red fabric paint or markers (optional)
Needle
Red yarn
Hair ribbon
Raggedy Ann dolls are classic toys that are fun and easy to sew. You can draw your own simple Raggedy Ann pattern in just the size and shape you want, or you can download and print a free rag-doll pattern from one of the websites in Resources. Just about any basic cloth-doll pattern can look like a Raggedy Ann once you add a face using embroidery floss, fabric paint or markers, and top it off with red yarn hair.
Step 1
Print a free rag doll pattern from one of the sites in Resources, or draw your own simple rag-doll head, body, arms and legs. Cut out the pattern.
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Step 2
Pin the pattern pieces to plain white or skin-colored fabric, such as unbleached muslin. Cut two of each head and body piece, and four of each leg and arm piece. (If you're using a rag-doll pattern with a built-in dress, cut the body pieces from a cotton print or dress material instead.)
Step 3
Place one head and one body piece right-sides together, and sew them together along the neck (unless the head and body pattern are already one piece). Do the same for the other head and body pieces.
Step 4
Embroider, paint or draw the face on one of the head pieces. Add simple black circles for eyes and lines for eyelashes, a red triangle nose and a red smile. Add cheeks or other features if you wish. Let the fabric paint dry completely.
Step 5
Pin two arm pieces right-sides together, and sew them together along the sides of the arm and the hand, leaving the shoulder end open. Do the same for the other arm and leg pieces.
Step 6
Turn the arms and legs right-side out and fill them with stuffing. (You may want to use a pencil or chopstick to help turn the fabric and get the stuffing all the way down into the hands and feet.) Leave the top 1/2 inch unstuffed.
Step 7
Place the arms and legs on the body piece that is attached to the face, so the open ends of the arms and legs line up with the edges of the body. The arms and legs should be in a pile on top of the middle of the doll.
Step 8
Place the other head and body piece on top of the first, right-sides together. Pin the head and body pieces together, catching the arms and legs in the pins.
Step 9
Sew around the side and lower edges of the doll head and body, catching the arms and legs in the seam. Leave the top of the head open.
Step 10
Turn the doll right-side out and stuff the head and body through the opening in the top of the head. Turn the raw edges on the top of the doll's head to the inside, then hand-stitch the opening closed using a whip stitch.
Step 11
Cut strands of red yarn about twice as long as you want the Raggedy Ann's hair to be. Hand-sew the center of the strands to the center of the doll's head. Sew additional strands to the center of the back of the doll's head. Tie the hair into pigtails, and trim the ends if needed to make them even.
Tip
You can use fabric paint or markers to add red-striped stockings and black shoes to the Raggedy Ann doll’s legs. You can also make a dress and apron using one of the free patterns in Resources.
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