Let’s Make Rag Dolls! Sew and Stuff a Mally Cloth Doll

Here's what you'll need to create your Mally rag doll toy. Affiliate links to Amazon are used in this post to link to relevant, tested products at no additional cost to you.

Fabric Requirements:

• ½-yard Fabric A - Choose a skin tone color for the doll body. Quality quilter's cotton works best for rag dolls as it's sturdy enough to handle stuffing while remaining soft to the touch.

Embellishment Supplies:

• Brown or black embroidery floss - For creating facial features and adding character details
• Black embroidery floss OR two doll safety eyes - Safety eyes are particularly important if your rag doll toy will be given to babies or toddlers
• Cotton piecing thread - Choose colors that match your fabric choices for invisible seams

Stuffing and Tools:

• Polyester Fiberfill - The standard stuffing material for modern cloth dolls, providing consistent shape and washability
• Chopstick - An invaluable tool for pushing stuffing into narrow areas like arms and legs
• Hand sewing needles - Various sizes for different sewing tasks
• Embroidery needle - Specifically for facial features and decorative stitching
• Fabric marking pen or pencil - For transferring pattern markings

Sewing Machine Accessories:

• ¼-inch patchwork foot - Ensures consistent seam allowances

Traditionally, rag dolls were made from fabric scraps, often calico or other cotton materials. The term "rag doll" itself comes from this practice of using fabric remnants and rags to create toys. These early cloth dolls were stuffed with everything from sawdust to cotton batting, depending on what was accessible to the maker.

The Mally the Maker doll pattern honors this tradition while incorporating modern sewing techniques and materials. This doll pattern is designed to be sewn from woven 100% cotton fabric, commonly called quilter's cotton, which provides the perfect balance of durability and softness for a rag doll toy.

I've been writing quilting patterns for two decades now, but working in 3D with a doll pattern was a fun new challenge. I took my time and made countless step-outs of both Mally and Ms. Bunny before I settled on the final designs. Here's a few advantages of purchasing my Mally rag doll pattern:

• Precise measurements that ensure all pieces fit together correctly
• Clear instructions that guide you through complex construction steps
• Professional finishing techniques that result in a polished final product
• Tested designs that have been refined through multiple iterations
• Consistent results that allow you to create multiple dolls with confidence

The Mally doll pattern includes not just the rag doll pieces, but also patterns for a complete wardrobe including a t-shirt and blue jeans. Join me as we not only craft Mally rag dolls, we also create awesome coordinated outfits for her too!

I recommend washing your fabric before cutting out the pattern pieces because it's my habit before sewing or quilting any project. 

If you don't have time to wash your fabric, do take the extra minute to starch and press your doll fabrics before cutting. This additional step stabilizes the fibers and makes all seams much less likely to distort. 

Click Here to learn more about pressing fabric!

The Mally Rag Doll Pattern is available as a downloadable PDF. This saves on shipping cost and paper! Download your pattern today and print out the pattern pages on regular printer paper. Check the 1-inch box on these pages measures 1 inch exactly before cutting them out with scissors.

When cutting your fabric, take time to consider the grain direction and the diagrams included in the pattern. Rag dolls benefit from being cut on the straight grain for stability, particularly in the torso area. Pay special attention to pattern markings – these dots and notches will be your guide when assembling the doll and will ensure professional-looking results.

You can customize every part of your Mally the Maker rag dolls! The facial expression is a place to have fun, and feel free to craft a face that isn’t a typical smile. Check out the emojis in your phone for inspiration if you’d like your doll to have a unique expression.

Here are a few ideas for creating the face elements:

Fabric Markers – The easiest and fastest method to create a doll face is to draw them directly on the doll with fabric markers. My favorite Fabrico markers come with a wide and fine tip for precision control. Practice your design on paper first, then transfer to fabric. Heat-setting with a hot, dry iron makes these marks permanent and washable.

Embroidery – Thread a few strands of embroidery floss on a needle to create eyes, nose, and mouth. A simple running stitch can create expressive lines, while French knots make perfect eyes. This method allows for complete customization and gives your rag doll a timeless, handmade appearance.

Safety Eyes: For rag dolls intended for very young children, safety eyes provide a secure option. Click Here to shop for Safety Eyes on Amazon.

These plastic eyes lock in place with washers and are extremely difficult to remove, making them ideal for baby toys. They give cloth dolls a more contemporary look while maintaining safety standards.

I'm a visual learner, which means I'm also a visual educator. I made this video to guide you through every step to creating the Mally doll:

Begin by making the limbs, as these need to be partially stuffed before attachment to the body. The key to professional-looking cloth dolls is achieving the right balance of stuffing – firm enough to maintain shape but soft enough for cuddling.

When stuffing arms and legs, work gradually, using your chopstick to push fiberfill into the extremities first. This prevents the limbs from becoming too soft at the ends. The goal is to create limbs that feel substantial but remain flexible enough for play.

The most challenging aspect of rag doll construction is often the final seam where the body pieces come together while simultaneously securing the arms and legs. Make sure to baste the legs and arms first as this stitching helps ensure the limbs are secured at the correct angle for the rag doll.

Go slow and stop often. The slower this last line of stitching, the less likely you’ll have to rip it out and stitch it again!

Hair is where creativity really shines in rag doll making. Yarn hair is traditional and offers wonderful texture and color options. The process involves creating two hair pieces, then hand stitching them to the rag doll’s head. Click Here to find the Yarn Doll Hair tutorial.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Mally doll pattern is the included clothing patterns. These aren't simple wrap-around garments – they're thoughtfully designed pieces that include advanced features like working pockets and functional closures. Find the tutorial for making Mally rag doll clothes here!

Handmade rag dolls make extraordinary gifts that are treasured for years. When I bring a Mally or Ms. Bunny doll to baby showers, they are always graciously received, many times with tears! Cloth dolls make amazing gifts because they carry the love and effort of their maker, making them infinitely more meaningful. Consider creating rag dolls for:

• Baby showers – Use fabric markers or safety eyes if your doll will be given to a newborn
• Birthdays – Make a look-alike doll to capture a child at a specific age or a favorite garment
• Holidays – If you’ve given a Mally doll in the past, new clothing pieces will be a delightful gift
• Special occasions – If you know someone loves a particular holiday, make a rag doll to celebrate and decorate for that special season!

Even experienced sewers encounter challenges when making cloth dolls. Here are solutions to common problems:

Lumpy stuffing: Work in small amounts and use a chopstick to distribute fiberfill evenly. Try not to wad up the fiberfill into tight balls as you insert it, as this can easily create hard lumps within the doll.

Loose limbs: Ensure limbs are securely attached with basting stitches before stitching the front and back body pieces together.

Puckered seams: If the pieces are cut accurately, the seams should fit smoothly. The only other reason you’ll struggle with excess fabric is if you’re not maintaining a consistent seam allowance.

Uneven facial features: Practice embroidery techniques on scraps before working on the doll face. You can also cut out and prepare multiple faces and choose the one you like best for your doll.