Elegant African Woman Cloth Doll by Marcella Welch (1993)

This very simple pattern makes a lady doll dressed in a traditional costume of West Africa. No finished size is given, but it looks like she would make up to be about 15" tall. The pattern was designed by Marcella Welch and appeared in the April 1993 issue of Doll World magazine.

She is a stump doll, meaning she has no legs, and her body is made from African print fabric to resemble a dress. The body is almost cylindrical, wider at the bottom with a circular base, and rounded at the top. Plastic pellets are used along with the fiberfill stuffing to give her some weight. She has slightly curved arms with only a suggestion of hands. Her head is spoon-shaped and has a wooden craft stick inserted to keep it erect. She has no hair or facial features.

This simple doll is beautifully accessorized with a lappa (wrapper) around her shoulders, and a gele (traditional headwrap). Gold cord forms her bracelets, neck rings and earrings. She has a beaded necklace as well, and carries a straw basket of fruit.

The step-by-step instructions are detailed, and the steps to wrap the gele correctly are illustrated. This would be an excellent project for a beginning sewer. The directions call for the accessories to be hot-glued in place, but they could be stitched instead if you prefer.

Mandy #883 - Vintage Black Cloth Doll Mail Order Pattern

Mandy is a mystery mail order pattern. No company or designer name, or date is on the pattern, just the number 883. The return address on the envelope is Needlework Dept., 220 Fifth Ave., New York 1, N.Y. This may be another branch of Reader Mail, Inc., the company responsible for Laura Wheeler, Marian Martin and Alice Brooks patterns, among others.

No size is given, but it looks like Mandy would make up to be about 17" tall. She is designed as a black doll, as the instructions call for her to be made from brown cotton material. Her body is separated pancake style, with the suggestion of fingers in the scalloped tips of her hands. Her facial features are to be embroidered in satin stitch and her hair is to be done all in French knots from "heavy black knitting worsted."

Mandy's outfit is in the stereotypical "mammy" style, with an apron over her dress and bandana over her hair. Ankle strap shoes and under pants complete her ensemble. If you want practice using the binding foot on your sewing machine, this is a good pattern to try - the sleeves, neckline, apron, shoes and bandana are all bound in bias tape, which adds interesting detail to an otherwise simple pattern.

McCalls 7116 - Heritage Dolls

McCall's pattern #7116, dated 1994, makes three different pairs of 15" dolls. On the front of the envelope, they are called Native American, African and Country Folk dolls. On the instruction sheet, they are called American Indian, African American and Pennsylvania Dutch.

The dolls have shaped heads with flat faces. The instructions say to "Transfer facial features," however, there is no iron-on transfer included; the design of the features is printed on tissue paper. The maker is instructed to "fill in facial features using fabric paints and following manufacturer's directions." No other help is given.

The dolls' arms and legs are sewn and stuffed separately, then attached to the body. The hands are mitten shaped. The maker is instructed to use "wool doll hair" for the Native American and Country Folk dolls and "yarn" for the African dolls. The instructions for applying it are very brief. The hair is glued to the dolls' heads.

The Country Folk/Pennsylvania Dutch dolls have a quilt as an accessory. This is to be made from pre-quilted fabric or a piece of a cutter quilt.

Although it doesn't look like a difficult pattern, due to the lack of detail in the instructions, it would likely be suitable for experienced doll makers only. The dolls as pictured on the front of the envelope are charming and have faces reminiscent of the antique hand painted Babyland Rag dolls made by Horsman.

I haven't seen any of these dolls made up. If you have made this pattern, please share your experience.