The Complete Book of Dollmaking: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide to More Than 50 Traditional and Contemporary Techniques (Watson-Guptill Crafts)

From simple cloth to elegant bisque, dolls of every description are embraced in this charming tribute to a cherished craft. After opening with an engaging history of dollmaking, this fine instructional reviews the full range of materials, equipment, and techniques used in making patterns, cutting, sewing, and stuffing dolls. The book shows a selection of traditional and modern dolls from around the world. 300 color illustrations.

This comprehensive volume packs an incredible array of dollmaking techniques into 144 pages, ranging from naive peg dolls and starter dolls to posable character dolls and elegant, sculpted figures in elaborate clothes. Following full coverage of the basics (equipment, fabrics, stuffings, patterns, wig-making, components, and accessories) is an excellent presentation of techniques, including determining proportion; producing articulation; creating all sorts of faces, hair, and clothing; and producing dolls that utilize armatures or molds. All the dolls shown are charming and beautifully made, and all use relatively inexpensive and readily obtainable materials. At the end of the book you'll find a helpful cutting guide and a number of scale patterns.