Spool Dolls By Jane Marie

You’ll need:

Two large (approximately 2”) spools for the head and body

Two medium (approximately 1 1/2”) spools for the thighs

Nine smaller (approximately 1 1/4”) spools for arms and legs and hat

Four feet elastic cord (2’ to assemble arms and legs, 2’ for body and hanging loop)

• One needle with eye to accommodate cord and still fit through spool holes
• Seventeen wooden beads (approximately 3/8” in diameter) used as spacers between spools
• One circle of corrugated cardboard between head and body, cut to diameter of the bottom of the large head spool. Cut a whole in the center for threading.
• Paint to decorate face and hat
• Glue
• 2 pencils

Assembly:

Refer to photo for assembly.

Cut the elastic cord into two 12 inch pieces and one 2 foot piece.

Legs:  Tie a double knot at the end of the one 12-inch piece of cord so the knot is bigger than a bead hole to keep it from falling off.   String a bead, small spool, bead, small spool, bead, medium spool, four beads, medium spool, bead, small spool, bead, small spool, bead, tie a knot.   This will seem to have too few beads and spools for the string.  That’s okay. Set aside.

Hat and Brim of Hat:  Paint a small spool and the top edge of a large spool black or whatever color you want the hat to be.  Let the paint dry.

Arms: Tie a double knot at the end of the one foot of cord so the knot is bigger than a bead hole.  This will keep it from falling off.  Thread the needle with the cord.  String one bead, one small spool, one bead, one small spool, and one bead.   Run the needle horizontally through the corrugated cardboard.   This will hold the arms in the center of the body.  Sting one more bead, one small spool, one bead, one small spool and one bead.   Tie a double knot at the other end of the cord.  The cord will seem too long for the beads and spools.  That’s okay because you will part the two center beads to make room for the body.  Set aside.

Body and Hat:  Fold the two-foot length of cord in half and thread from the top through the hat (small spool), the large spool (with painted edge/brim), the hole in the center of the circle of corrugated cardboard, (around the arm sting) and the second plain large spool.  (Refer to photo) Add no beads.   There will be a loop at the bottom of the second unpainted spool ( the crotch).   Temporarily insert a pencil through the crotch loop so it won’t come out.  Tie a knot with the loose ends at the top. Insert a pencil in this top loop above the hat to temporarily secure it.

Final Assembly:

Remove the crotch pencil. Insert the legs through the crotch loop, centering between the middle beads.

Center the arms against the body and glue the cardboard to the head and body spools to secure it.   While the glue is drying, remove the top pencil and pull the body/crotch string tight above the hat, securing the legs to the body and making sure the legs and arms are centered.   Thread one final bead on top of the hat, tie a large double knot to hold the legs, arms, and body together and let the glue dry.   Tie together the two cut ends at the very top to form a hanging loop.

Tie double knots snug to each end of the arms and cut off any excess cord.   Do the same with the legs, cutting off any excess cord.

Paint a face and tummy button on your spool doll if desired.  Decorate or dress her anyway you want or leave her plain.   Have fun!