Butterick 4313 - Bonnie's Bundles - Big Eyed Girl Dolls in 2 Sizes

Butterick pattern #4313 is not dated, but the style of the envelope indicates it is probably from the late 1970s or early 1980s. It makes a girl doll is 17" and 21" sizes with large side-glancing or downward-glancing eyes and an old fashioned dress.

The dolls have fairly simple construction. The facial features are to be embroidered before assembly. The back of the head is made from two pieces to give it some shape. The hands are almost mitten shape, with just the suggestion of fingers, and their feet have a flat sole piece. They have long yarn hair in two slightly different styles.

The dolls wear similarly styled dresses with long sleeves, pinafores with pockets and felt boots. The larger doll has a bonnet and petticoat, while her smaller sister's shorter skirt shows the pantaloons underneath.

"Bonnie's Bundles" is the trade name of Vermont doll artist Bonnie Watters, who presumably designed this pattern, although she is not otherwise credited on it. Mrs. Watters is still in business and you can purchase a handmade doll just like these from her website. Butterick published other "Bonnie's Bundles" patterns including a white-haired Grandma doll, and a pair of baseball-head dolls with monograms for eyes.

Simplicity 6141 - 21" Girl Doll with Lovely Old Fashioned Wardrobe (1983)

Simplicity pattern #6141 makes a 21" girl doll with an old fashioned "Little House on the Prairie" style wardrobe. It is dated 1983.

The doll has an unusual shaped head with lots of darts and seaming. She has a small, round, separately stuffed and applied nose, embroidered features and long yarn hair which can be styled a few different ways. She has long straight arms and legs, mitten style hands with stitched fingers and flat soles on the bottoms of her feet.

Her wardrobe includes a camisole, decorated with pretty pintucks and eyelet ruffles; bloomers; a dress with a high neck, gathered sleeves and ruffle at the hem, pinafore with decorative stitching on the bodice and pintucks on the skirt; bonnet; nightgown and mob cap.

This doll's large head and long, heavy hair might tend to make her head floppy without some internal support. But the clothing patterns alone make this pattern worth a try.

Design 936 - 9" Little Girl Doll with Wardrobe

This pattern has the same doll as Design 7143 and Alice Brooks #7368, but with a different wardrobe. As with that pattern, the doll pattern is a transfer, while the clothing pieces are meant to be cut out and used like a regular sewing pattern. It is not dated, but was likely sold in the 1950s.

The doll is a typical baseball head style with the head and torso shaped by means of curved vertical seams, and embroidered features. The arms and legs are constructed separately and attached with string. The doll has attached ears. Her hair, to be made of knitting worsted yarn, is stitched directly to her head, leaving 3" to extend at sides and back to dampen and set in pin curls.

Her wardrobe consists of a petticoat and panties, a dress with three variations, nightgown and shorty pajamas, coat and hat, socks and shoes.

If you have another 9" baseball head pattern, you can use this one to add to your doll's wardrobe.