DIY Darlings Doll Patterns
DIY Darlings are precious dolls that are as wonderful to look at as they are to make. These Do It Yourself doll projects are fun to sew and you will fall in love with your DIY Darling as the doll comes to life before your eyes!
These doll patterns were painted and designed by Selina Fenech.
DIY Darlings fabric patterns can be bought through Spoonflower on many different fabric options.
HOW DO I MAKE MY DOLL?
DIY Darlings are beautifully painted doll designs ready for you to cut and sew yourself! Even if you’ve never sewn a doll before, these dolls are super easy. If you can sew a hem, you can make a DIY Darling! DIY Darlings can be hand stitched, but a sewing machine is recommended for best results.
WHO ARE THEY FOR?
Do you love doing arts and crafts? Are you looking for a new, fun project to share with your kids? Give it a try! I know you will be thrilled with and proud of your gorgeous, finished doll! Add a touch of whimsy to your home or make a loved one smile with a gift you made yourself. DIY Darlings can be made so they are suitable for infants (no small parts), but can be loved at any age. DIY Darlings are tough and can be washed if they get dirty on their adventures.
WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE MY DOLL?
♥ Fill material- I recommend Polyfill (like the type made from plastic bottles, go recycling!). Polyfill has a great springiness and is foolproof and easy to stuff with.
♥ Sewing Machine and equipment- All the standards, matching thread colours, needles, pins, etc.
♥ A turning/stuffing tool- Some of the DIY Darlings have very narrow limbs. An old bristle brush makes the perfect tool for turning the fabric and pushing the stuffing in.
CAN THE DIY DARLINGS BE SEWN BY HAND?
While we recommend a sewing machine to sew the dolls for best results, they can also be sewn by hand.
HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE TO MAKE?
Between 1-3 hours depending on the design and your sewing skill level.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Selina Fenech is an artist and designer specialising in all things fantasy. When her daughter was born, Selina wanted to make something special for her, and tried turning her illustration skills to doll design. After lots of learning and trial and error, Selina created her own doll patterns and DIY Darlings were born!
Removing Folds before cutting and sewing- i.e. can I iron my pattern?
If your pattern has folds or wrinkles from being shipped, you can iron the pattern on a very low/cool setting. The iron won’t affect the print quality, but if it’s too hot it can melt the fabric itself since the fabric is synthetic. To be safe or if you need a hotter setting to get the wrinkles out, place a piece of clean paper over where you are ironing and that should protect it.
Stitch Length– Keep the stitch length on your sewing machine very short so the stitches are close together. Because stuffing a toy well puts strain on the stitching, wide apart stitching can burst.
Cutting the Pattern- Sharp scissors of any kind are fine, but a rotary cutter will make quick work of cutting your pattern pieces!
Stuffing- An old bristle brush is fantastic for stuffing your doll with. The fibres of the stuffing get caught and held on the bristles to easily push it into the smaller parts of the doll. Always push small amounts of stuffing into the smallest corners of the doll first before putting large amounts of stuffing in the larger areas.
PRODUCT TESTING THE EARLY DIY DARLING PROTOTYPES
