The inspiration for these dolls came from the book called “Cloth Dolls for Textile Artists” by
Ray Slater.  My Year 3 classes have worked on this project for a term. The wired doll has a simple
wire armature made from the 3.0 mm soft aluminium armature wire that means it can be posed in a variety
of positions. Dancers and acrobats can be used as sources of inspiration to create movement and flow.

Method: Make the armature following the measurements of the diagram exactly. (it is easier for the teacher
to do, but takes time).
Give a student a piece of Paper Magiclay about the size of a ping pong
ball, and shape it over and around the circle for the head. The hands are added at the end of the
project.
Time to start the wrapping: on an angle, wrap up and down the armature, starting at the
neck. It is important to keep the wadding taut to create a firm finish. Use a needle and doubled thread
to secure the ends with a few stab stitches. It doesn’t have to look neat; it is just to secure
the wadding.
When the wadding is over the frame, it is time to start to use the colourful stretchy
fabrics. Combine different patterns and colours to give a good effect. Hideous fabrics can look
wonderful!
Wrap the fabrics and secure the ends with little stitches – large eyed needles and
thin Perle Cotton #8 is perfect for young students to use.
Use metallic, fancy threads, ribbons
etc. to wrap and tie around and over the fabric. Chenille Stems are great for socks and wrists.
Teach the students how to make a gathering running stitch along the top edge of the 10-15 cm wide and
about 60 cm long fabric strips to create the skirts. They can be layered for effect. Lining polyesters
are great, velvets etc.
Paint the heads with Poster Block paints.
Add hair with Wool
Tops/knitting wools, Curly Hair.
Use felt scraps to make hats and shoulder bags. Embellish these
with beads.
Attach the doll to the stand with thin Armature Wire in a couple of places on the trunk
of the body and twist the wire at the back. Hot Glue the rod to the stand to secure firmly. Students
can then pose the figure in the way they’d like it!
This is a wonderfully satisfying artwork,
with the students learning a big range of skills and techniques with a fabulous result.

Pamela Wood
Lowther Hall A.G.S. Essendon
Suitable for Year 3