Lalka od rękiAbout dolls
Waldorf dolls are handmade with natural materials of best quality. They are an alternative for mass produced, plastic toys. Each doll is unique and special – one of the kind – just like every small and big human being.
Their name originates from waldorf school for worker’s children that was founded at Waldorf factory in Stuttgart. Waldorf dolls were to help the kids to develop their imagination and to build a relationship with nature.
The name ‘waldorf doll’ comes from Rudolf Steiner (186101925), a German teacher and founder of waldorf school who lived in 19th century. According to Steiner, toys should be made from natural materials like wood, wool and natural fabrics. Such toys secure a close contact between children and nature.
What are waldorf dolls?
Waldorf dolls are made to be hugged. Only natural materials are used to make them: clean wool batting, cotton tricot and wool yarn or mohair weft. They have body proportions of a child and delicate countenance. Round head and softly outlined eye line are the most characteristic features of a waldorf doll. Because of that, doll’s head doesn’t seem flat, but it is three-dimensional and looks like a baby’s face. Traditional waldorf doll has simple embroidered eyes and mouth. Hands and legs are made with simple pattern, and yarn hair can be sewn directly to the head.
Wool batting and cotton tricot used to make waldorf dolls are very graceful materials. They allow many possibilities, and many doll makers experiment with it. New patterns and new techniques allow to make distinct, round cheeks, delicate noses or sculptured mouth and chins or even whole faces. Dolls can have ears and belly buttons, sculptured knees and elbows, feet with fingers and hands with thumbs or even inner frame that allows them to bend their hands and legs and take more natural poses.
Dolls that are made with those techniques are often referred to as waldorf inspired dolls or natural fibre art dolls. They are called waldorf dolls even though their makers use methods beyond traditional. This is clear intent to help identify those lovely, characteristic dolls. Many doll makers don’t restrict themselves to traditional methods, and their creativity and imagination allows them to create little pieces of art. Although those are not traditional waldorf dolls, they are based on the same principles: they are unique, handmade and from natural materials.
What waldorf dolls are made of?
Waldorf dolls are made with natural materials. My dolls are made from high quality, clean wool batting from Polish producer. I use special cotton tricot that is produced for doll makers. It is made in Switzerland and it is OEKO-TEX® certified. I use natural, wool yarn or mohair wefts for my doll’s hair.
How waldorf dolls are made? The first step is to make a head. It is shaped from wool batting that is first rolled and tightly put in tubular gauze. Such head is then entwined with a strong string that creates a typical waldorf doll eye line, cheeks and round face.
Skin is made from cotton tricot. It is a flexible fabric in beautiful, natural tones. Doll’s hands and legs are stuffed with wool batting. Waldorf doll needs to be properly stuffed. Machine stitches need to be firm to allow many years of play.
Doll’s hair can be made from different, natural materials. Hair embroidered with wool yarn are best for smaller children. Yarn hair are very durable and they don’t felt. You can safely play with a doll with yarn hair and wash her when there is a need. Embroidered wool hair can be carefully combed with fingers and changed into different hairstyles: ponytails, braids or little buns.
Mohair yarn is another great source for doll’s hair. This yarn has long fluffy fibres, that after proper styling resemble short and soft new born baby hair. To make this hair you need to make a wig or hat that is sewn to the doll’s head. Hairstyle made from this type of yarn is permanent and you usually can’t change or style it. I use DollyMo mohair yarn, which is made by talented people who make their own dolls. It has beautiful, natural colours – from white and blonde to dark brown.
The most spectacular types of hairstyles can be achieved with mohair wefts. Those are made from natural goat mohair. You have to make a wig, either by crocheting the mohair weft into one or by sewing the weft to a pre made felt cap. Mohair weft can be straight or curly. Hair made from mohair wefts look just like natural hair. It can be styled into ponytails or braids.
My doll’s clothes are machine sewn and crocheted. I use natural fabrics and jersey. Dresses, blouses and pants are made from high quality cotton fabrics in colourful, beautiful patterns. I also use cotton jersey, wool and linen. When I look for fabric for clothes I make sure that they are natural. Some, like jersey or wool, may contain minimal amount of synthetic fibre. All yarn I use to make doll’s clothes is natural. I use soft and delicate alpaca, natural wool and cotton yarn in beautiful, vivid colours.
I decorate doll’s clothes with cotton lace and baize ribbon in beautiful patterns. I use plastic and wooden buttons. I always look for materials of high quality. I want the doll’s clothes to be full of lovely details that give its owner a special character.
