Introducing a New Dollmaking Series: Hansel and Gretel

In this new YouTube series, I will be taking you with me as I create a set of natural dolls, inspired by the folk tale “Hansel and Gretel”.

I created the above set of dolls in 2012 and it brought me much joy to make them. Knitting them matching hats, crocheting little red boots and sewing tiny pleats in their outfits. I still have the paper pattern pieces I drafted for their clothing!

But a little bit of back story, this year I have been busy trying to make gifts for my very young nephews and niece and I thought this set would be the perfect set for my little niece Helena.

I remember how fun it was to pick fabrics for the house pocket and to sort of make the dolls in a matchy-matchy style.

I have quite a different aesthetic now, and my dolls have morphed quite far from waldorf-inspired dolls, but keeping in mind that this is a gift for my niece, I will be making them very approachable for her to play with, with simplicity in mind but thinking of her and the things she loves.

I am toying with the idea of giving her a set of red head dolls, or I might change my mind entirely and make them in different colours. We shall see.

If you would like to create a similar set like this one, to either learn beginner dollmaking techniques or to have a creative project for the beginning of this coming season, then you are very welcome to join me.

You can watch the first instalment of the series now:

I have been wanting to create a beginner dollmaker series, as most of my classes, workshops and Patreon tutorials are geared towards advanced dollmaking techniques. I wanted to be able to offer something for those souls who might not even know they have a burgeoning dollmaker asleep within!

I hope to introduce them to the gentle art of dollmaking with quiet music, soft wool and the unbelievable power of holding a needle and thread in your hands.

While dollmaking can be a true art form, we enter into this realm (usually) through the hands of simple dolls and simple techniques, that allow us to see what a vast world we have ahead of us.

I am thrilled to make yet another one of those little house pockets, just because I remember how much fun it was to build a wee house with fabrics, and also because I like making little dolls in sets. I think they feel less lonely when they are in pairs.

if you are joining me in this series, welcome! We shall have heaps of fun for the next two months.