Amazima Doll Pattern

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Patterns created to make dolls for the orphans cared for by Amazima Ministries. NOT FOR USE TO MAKE DOLLS FOR SALE. If you use this pattern for personal use, please consider making an extra to donate to a child in need. There are many other international projects as well as hospitals, shelters, and a child that just needs a little extra comfort.

Credits: Pattern is a hybrid of two doll patterns: Dolly Hugs and a simple ragdoll tutorial. I liked aspects of each doll and combined them to make a special pattern just for this Amazima project!

Pattern to make a simple cloth doll wearing pants
(please ignore the optional sleeve piece.)

Pattern for simple cloth doll wearing a dress

UPDATE: For those that prefer to have the seam allowances already drawn, one of our volunteers has sent me her pattern. It includes an option for a seam in the back instead of using the slit method shown below. CLICK HERE: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3. Thanks Claudette!! (Photo 1; Photo 2. Thanks Jane!)

It took a little trial and error, but the simplest method turns out to be the method used in the Dolly Hugs pattern. (She knew what she was doing!!)

THE BASIC DOLL INSTRUCTIONS
Materials needed:
A small amount of brown cotton fabric (1/4 yard will give you enough for several dolls)
A small amount of colorful fabric for the body and legs (quilting cotton or soft flannel works well)
Brown thread
Poly-fil or other stuffing
Needle and thread that coordinates with the fabric you’re using for the body
(OPTIONAL: embroidery floss or fabric paints for adding a face, yarn for hair)

STEP ONE: GO THROUGH YOUR FABRIC STASH! This is the perfect time to look at all of those bits that were just a little too big to throw out.

STEP TWO: Cut out your pieces. For the most basic doll, you’ll need
2 head pieces, 4 arm shapes, 4 leg shapes and 2 body shapes. The patterns here don’t have a seam allowance. I like to trace them (yes, it’s a highlighter) adding the seam allowance at that time. Do whatever works best for you!

STEP THREE: Lay your body pieces with the right side UP. Place your head pieces on the bodies, pin and sew.

STEP FOUR: Lay your body+head pieces right side UP. Pin the arms and legs in place (arms pointing UP to hug, and feet pointing OUT). Make sure that if your legs have a pattern, you place the RIGHT SIDES facing the RIGHT SIDES of the body.

STEP FIVE: Lay your two doll shapes together and pin and stitch them all the way around. (Yes, really…stitch ALL the way!) ***NOTE: If you intend to add hair, feel free to leave the top of head unsewn. If you do this variation, skip to Step Seven.***

STEP SIX: CAREFULLY cut a slit in just one layer of your doll in the middle of the back–about 2 inches long.

STEP SEVEN: Trim the edges and then flip your doll inside out through the slit. Take some time to get the legs and arms right side out carefully so that you avoid wrinkles when they’re stuffed.

STEP EIGHT: Start to stuff…do arms and legs first. Then head. Then body. (A chopstick can come in handy for the limbs!)

STEP NINE: Using a needle and matching thread, stitch the slit shut. ***VARIATION: If you left the top of the head open, stuff the limbs, then the body, and finish with stuffing the head. Then stitch the top of the head shut***

STEP TEN: Top-stitch the legs and arms where they connect to the body. This step is optional, but makes the dolls able to sit and hug so I highly recommend it. It should fit easily through your sewing machine.

And you’re done with the most basic version of the Amazima doll!! The rest is up to your creativity!!

OPTIONAL EMBELLISHMENTS:
Embroider face. If you’re not adding hair, you’ll want to do embroidery before sewing the two doll shapes together–depending on your fabric, I’d recommend using some interfacing on the back to prevent puckering. If you’re adding hair, just push your needle all the way through the back of the head.

Paint face. Fabric paints (washable!) can be used to paint a simple face. I won’t pretend to be any good with a paint brush! But if anyone has tips, I’ll gladly post them here!

Hair. Many of the children keep their hair very short to bald. So a bald doll isn’t going to be out of place. But you could stitch on hair to braid or do pig-tails.

Clothing embellishments. The simplicity of these dolls means that we don’t need to worry about making additional clothes, but there’s still plenty of room for creativity! Simple adjustments will let you make sleeves, pants with bare feet, shoes, pockets, shorts. I’d love to see your ideas!