You've probably noticed that I've been posting fewer quilts this year while there have been more posts about dolls. I've been on a quest!

I usually use doll patterns that I draft myself when I make Waldorf type dolls. But I've had trouble with nodding heads . Nodding heads are loved by some, but the best Waldorf dolls don't nod. So my goal for the year was to keep making dolls until I solved the nodding problem. Making more dolls really does improve doll-making skills.

My initial pattern was cut with a neck that was about 2 inches high. That turned out to be the cause of the nod. While I turned it under when I attached the head, the neck was too long to hold up a heavy head of solidly rolled sheep's wool roving. Gradually as I cut down the neck length each doll got better. I've learned that NOT having a raised neck in the pattern results in dolls with very steady heads. Just having just enough fabric at the top of the body to turn under 1/4-1/2 inch gives the best results. Finally figuring that out was really exciting.

Here are my three newest girls.

All the 15 inch dolls I've made have been gifts or commissions. That meant I never had one on hand to show as an example or to use to draft new clothes. The doll with the reddish brown boucle hair and the green shoes is going to be my sample doll. I finished her on Patriot's Day (a Massachusetts-only holiday in April) so she is named Abigail after Abigail Adams, one of the true patriot women in Colonial New England.

Next week I'll share two classic Waldorf Dolls I've just made which should conclude the dolls posts for a while!