Introducing The Woolykins: a Dollhouse Family
The Woolykins are a charming Waldorf-inspired dollhouse family created to teach small-scale dollmaking using needle felting, wool, and wire armatures. In this online class, you can create your own version of Pa Woolykin, Ma Woolykin, Malachy Moss (older sibling), Molly Moonbeam (younger sibling), and Baby Pip, or customize the family with more or fewer members and unique personalities.
This self-paced course is available through the Doll Making Academy. You receive step-by-step video instruction in English, patterns, and one full year of access so you can work at your own pace, check it out by clicking the button below:
Pa Woolykin, a natural handmade doll made in the Waldorf tradition. Learn how to make him in my online class.
Meet the Woolykins Family
These natural handmade dolls are designed in a dollhouse scale (roughly 1:6 proportions):
Pa Woolykin – Approx. 7.5 inches
Ma Woolykin – Approx. 7.25 inches
Malachy Moss (older sibling) – Approx. 5.5 inches
Molly Moonbeam (younger sibling) – Approx. 4 inches
Baby Pip – Approx. 3 inches
Each doll features an inner wire armature for poseability, needle-felted wool bodies, doll-skin fabric covering, wigs made with Mohair yarn, and all their clothing. Patterns for everything are included.
Let me tell you a little story about them, that came to me as I started creating this young wool family.
The Woolykins Wake-up
Every morning there was a little more frost on the leaves outside the door. Pa Woolykin dons his pinecone hat and heads outside, to gather morning dew from the tallest leaves, so the family can begin the day by washing their hands and faces.
“Nothing like a fresh, clean face, to start your day on the right side!” he boasts often.But he is not the only one already up.
Ma Woolykin is busy lighting the stove to make thick pancakes for her family too. She likes to sweeten them with the honey her bee friends give her and sometimes she adds chopped up bits of blueberries. The children love them and Pa Woolykin eats them like they are going out of style soon.
Malachy Moss, a natural handmade doll made in the Waldorf tradition. Learn how to make him in my online class.
The third one up is Malachy Moss, the eldest child. Being the big brother he feels compelled to wake up first and not let his little sister shame him by sleeping in, though sometimes it’s hard to do when you are covered by such soft coverlets knitted by friendly spiders.
Malachy Moss thinks it’s best to jump out of bed, rip it off like a band-aid he thinks. Once up, he waits for Pa Woolykin to bring the bucket of water and splashes his face with gusto, the point of no return.
He gets dressed, never forgetting his hat, so that he can easily be confused with a toadstool if danger arises in the woods. This is rare but is better to be careful, as Ma Woolykin says.
The Woolykins, a natural handmade doll family made in the Waldorf tradition. Learn how to make them in my online class.
Finally, it’s the turn for Molly Moonbeam, his little sister. Molly wakes up very slowly, asking a hundred times if it really is daytime. Once reassured that it is in fact daytime, she first takes one leg out of her little bed, then another, then waits a little. She likes to pretend she is falling slowly off the bed and that instead of falling on the rug, she will actually fall down a very tall turret and then start flying.
When nothing happens for a while, the smell of those pancakes bring her back to life. Then she hurries to the morning bowl to wash her face, hoping her pancake tower is as tall as her brothers. It always is but is best to double-check.
Ma Woolykin and Molly Moonbeam, natural handmade dolls made in the Waldorf tradition. Learn how to make them in my online class.
Some mornings Ma Woolykin gets a hold of her and braids her hair, but today she is too distracted with Baby Pip who has been a little fussy at night. Ma and Pa take turns to sing to him and rock him back to sleep, which helps the other children sleep better too.
The Woolykins, a natural handmade doll family made in the Waldorf tradition, dollhouse size. Learn how to make them in my online class.
Now I am happy you have made the acquaintance of this little wool family. This won’t be the last time you will see them grace the pages of my blog or hear more about their wondrous adventures.
Pa Woolykin and Baby Pip, natural dollhouse dolls made in the Waldorf tradition. Learn how to make them in my online class.
What You Will Learn in the Class
You will learn how to:
Build wire armatures suited to each family member
Wrap and needle-felt wool bodies
Cover the dolls in doll-skin fabric
Create wigs and sew clothing
Work with patterns provided for bodies, clothes, and accessories
The course encourages both technical skill and storytelling. Making these small dolls naturally builds your ability to invent characters and narratives.
Access: One full year from enrollment.
Language: All videos and written materials are in English.
Materials: Not included (kits available from online suppliers). A detailed materials list is provided upon enrollment.
Watch a sneak-peek video of the class content here ⤵️
Ready to start? Join the class:
Pa Woolykin and Molly Moonbeam, dollhouse dolls made in the Waldorf tradition. Learn how to make them in my online class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this class suitable for beginners?
It is suitable for dedicated beginners who are not afraid of felting needles or sewing small items. You will need to work slowly. Instruction is thorough and includes many helpful PDFs.
How big are the finished dolls?
Pa Woolykin: 7.5″
Ma Woolykin: 7¼″
Older sibling (Malachy Moss): 5½″
Younger sibling (Molly Moonbeam): 4″
Baby Pip: 3″
How long do I have access to the class?
You receive a full year of access, giving you plenty of time to complete the family at your own pace.
Can I sell dolls made from this class?
No. Dolls made using the patterns and instruction from this class may not be sold. The class is for personal use only.
Is the class only available in English?
Yes. All videos, written instructions, and materials are provided in English only.
What techniques will I learn?
Wire armature construction, needle felting of small bodies, covering with doll-skin fabric, wig making, and sewing tiny clothing. Patterns for all components are included.
Can I customize the family?
Yes. You can make more or fewer members, change names, personalities, or even the setting of their home. The class teaches the core techniques so you can adapt them freely.
Do I need previous dollmaking experience?
Prior experience is helpful but not required if you are willing to go slowly and follow the detailed instruction. Students who have taken a beginner Waldorf-style doll class often find the transition smooth, especially with the addition of wire armatures.
Where can I get materials or kits?
A full materials list with recommended online suppliers is provided after enrollment. Kits are available from reputable suppliers.
If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out through the Doll Making Academy or my Contact form.
The Woolykins, a natural handmade dollhouse family made in the Waldorf tradition. Learn how to make them in my online class.
I hope you soon enjoy the appearance of your own wool-filled family, going about their adventures and showing you and your family that magic and imagination will never be out of style.
Thank you for supporting the noble tradition of handmade toys. I hope you love them as much as I do ❤️.
