How to make a peg doll- Mother and baby

The mama's all made a peg doll for their advent table but you could use this template to make any kind of peg doll.

They are wonderful old fashioned dolls for the doll house, make fabulous shoe friends (clipping two shoes together in a pair) and are marvellous at helping children find their own hat home.  Why not personalise them and make a few for each child's things?   Children could then easily identify their shoes, clothes, aprons, washing cloths etc. 

Take a rectangular piece of felt about 16-18cm long and 10 cm wide.  (Length depends on how long you want the dress/skirt to be- measure this against the peg yourself to find the right length).  Cut it into this cross shape so that when it is folded in half, it looks like a T shape.

Fold it in half, and cut a tiny circular hold in the middle of the folded side.  This is to put the 'head' of the peg through.

Take an old fashioned wooden peg and a length of pipe cleaner about 12 cm long.  Place the pipe cleaner through the slit in the peg.

Wind it around the back of the peg and cross the two ends over.

Now place the 'dress' over the peg head and over the peg.

From the 'arm' cuff, blanket stitch in toward the body and down the length of the dress until you reach the bottom.  Repeat the other side.

Fold the two ends of the pipe cleaner together and twist to secure hands in position.

Add a dob of glue to the head and attach fleece (or wool or whatever you have) for hair.

To make the baby:

Take a small piece of fleece (any skin type colour- you only see the face) and tie a knot in the centre of it.

Fold it in half and tie off the knot to secure it.  Lay it on a square scrap of brown material about 7cm square.  Fold over the top edge of the material toward you.

Now, swaddle the baby.  First, around head, then bottom up towards body, then either side.

When it is ready, secure the material with a few small stitches along the swaddle line.

The baby should sit snuggly inside 'mama's' arms.

For Mary, add a small semi circle of blue material (or felt) and stitch it in a few places to secure it to body of the peg doll.

You could make Joseph in a similar fashion, with brown felt clothes, a fleece beard, and a light brown coat/cloak tied off with brown string.