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How to Make Cloth Matryoshka Dolls

Matryoshka dolls, also known as stacking Russian dolls, often decorate homes or offices. These simple dolls are typically made of thin wood and are decorated with faces containing peaceful expressions. If you wish to create a unique Matryoshka doll, make a doll out of cloth. Cloth dolls are easier to create since they do not involve intricate woodworking. Cloth dolls will not stack in exactly the same fashion as wooden dolls, but they can be created as non-stacking or stacking dolls.

Things You'll Need

  • Cloth
  • Large paper
  • Pencil
  • Fabric chalk
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Poly-fill
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay a large sheet of paper on a flat surface, such as a table. Draw the nesting doll shapes using a pencil. The shape looks like a peanut with a wide, flat bottom. There should be four peanut shapes, each shape 2 inches shorter and 1 inch thinner than the shape before. The shapes should be half as wide as they are long. For example, your first peanut shape might be 10 inches tall and 5 inches wide. The next shape would be 8 inches tall and 4 inches wide.

    • 2

      Cut the shapes out of the paper using scissors.

    • 3

      Lay the cut-out of the first shape on the cloth. Outline the shape using fabric chalk. Draw the shape twice. Repeat this process for the remaining three shapes.

    • 4

      Cut out the shapes using scissors.

    • 5

      Create the smallest doll. Place one peanut shape directly on top of the other shape of the same size, right sides facing. Sew the sides together using a needle and thread. Turn the doll right side out, stuff poly-fill into the doll and sew the seam closed.

    • 6

      Sew the remaining dolls. If you wish to have stacking dolls, do not stuff the remaining dolls with poly-fill. Only sew one side of the peanut-shape to the other side of the shape, right sides facing. Turn the doll right side out, leaving the hole at the bottom unsewn. If you do not wish to have stacking dolls, sew the remaining dolls using the same technique you used for the first doll.

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