Cover Image Property of Greystone Press
This image property of Greystone Press
TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Dolls and You
  • 1. Soft Rag Dolls Are Easy to Make
    • How to Scale a Pattern to Specific Sizes-Using the Pattern-Sewing the Pieces Together-Stuffing the Doll- Finishing the Doll-Face and Hair-A Molded Face for a Rag Doll-Use Old Bisque Head for Model-Buckram Forms a Mask-Putting on the Skin-Painting the Features-Get the Right Proportions for Face and Body-Simple Simon Rag Doll-Bonnie, the 35-inch Rag Doll With Molded Face- How to Make a Lenci-Type Doll-How to Make and Dress Mary Lou-Underwear-Dress-Slippers-Hat.
  • 2. How to Make More Advanced Dolls
    • A Wire Frame for the Doll-Using a Pipe-Cleaner Frame-Details That Add Charm to the Doll-Begin with Simple Forms-Two Ways to Form the Nose-Needle Modeling the Face-Complexions-Forming the Eyes, Nose and Mouth- Humorous Dolls with Appliquéd Features-Hair, Wigs, Head Coverings-Making a Wig of Human Hair-The One-Piece Wig-Two-Piece Wigs-Yarn Hair Sewing in Hat.
  • 3. Dressmaking and Fancy Costume Designing for Dolls
    • The Different Doll Types-The Size of the Doll Determines the Choice of Fabric and Trimming- Choosing the Best Material-How to Put Colored Designs on Plain Fabrics- Steps in Color Designing-Painting Fabric Can Be Easy-How to Experiment with Designs-Cutting Out Doll's Dresses and Costumes-How to Avoid Waste of Material-Sewing and Finishing the Doll's Dress- Finishing Edges-How to Press Tiny Seams-Effective Trimming for Doll's Clothes-For Unusual Effects-Paint Your Trimming on-Wool Felt for Flowers and Trimmings-Old Stand-bys-Embroider Is Lovely Trimming-Williamanna's Jack and Skirt.
  • 4. Dolls in Authentic Foreign Dress and Historical Costumes
    • Fairy Tale, Fantastic and Historical Dolls-An Important Rule of Dressmaking-Modern Display Dolls by Great Designers-A Picture Gallery of Dolls in the Costumes of Many Different Countries and Periods of History, Suggesting Ideas for Doll Wardrobes
  • 5. Making Novelty Dolls for Fun and Entertainment
    • Southern Mammy and Baby-Yarn Dolls-How to Dress Up the Yarn Doll-Sea Shells-Chamois Skins and Old Gloves- Soap Heads-Putting Wigs on the Soap Head-Using a Body of Soap-Dried Fruit Faces-Clothespin Dolls-Rubber Ball Heads-A Body for the Rubber Ball-Old and New Novelty Dolls-Mary Ann and the Soldier Boy-The TWo-Minute Doll-How to Whittle a Wooden Doll-Painting the Features-If You Want an Easier Penny Wooden-China Boy Costume-Making the Jacket-The Value of Lining
  • 6. How to Model and Cast Doll and Portrait Heads
    • Modeling the Features-Start With the Nose-Smoothing the Surface-How to Shape the Lips-Finishing the Neck and Shoulders-Making a Mold-Casting a Doll's Head-Casting Materials and How to Handle Them-Homemade Compositions-Using Semi-Liquid Casting Materials-Decorating the Finished Cast-How to Use an Enamel Coat- Skin Made of Fabric or Kidskin-coating the Head With Wax-Portrait Dolls-Analyzing Dominant Features- Study the Eyes-A Child's Nose-The Mouth Takes Skill-Making the Portrait Head-When to Stop Modeling.
  • 7. The Story of Dolls
    • Ancient Sculptors Carved Dolls-Long Ago Dolls Became Big Business-Homemade Dolls Ranked Among the Finest- Nativity Groups or Creche Figures-A Lovely Group from Italy-A Cape Cod Artist-Dolls From the Fifteenth Century-Dolls Were Court Favorites-Paris the Fashion Center for Dolls-The Backbone of Today's Collections.
  • 8. What Goes Into Doll Collections
    • How Do Great Collections Start?-Where to Find Out About Dolls-Where Do Old Dolls Come From?-An Example of a Hoax-Classifying Dolls According to Material-Old Dolls of Foreign Origin-The German Toymakers-Early Wood Dolls-Dolls Portrayed by Famous Artists-Young Victoria's Dolls-Vermont Uses Its Maples-Wax Dolls-Papier Mâché and Composition Dolls-America's Earliest Doll Manufacturer-China, Bisque and Parian Dolls- Leather Dolls-Rubber and Celluloid-Rag Dolls-Novelty Dolls-When Is a "Figure" Not a Doll?-What Kind of Dolls Shall We Collect?-Story-Book, Portrait and Costume Dolls-Watch for Quality-More Doll Types Everybody Likes- How Much Should a Good Doll Cost?-Specialized Collections.
  • 9. Old Dolls
    • Detecting of Doll Dates-Facts Are Hidden in Details-Learn About Part Replacements-Style of Hair-Do Reveals Dates- Age Told by Shoulder Curve-Comparing Models of Different Times-What Is the Importance of a Date?-19th Century Fashion Points Reveal Clues to Dating-Authentic Fashion Details of the 1830-1850 Period-Shoe and Bonnet Taken From a Swiss Wax Doll, 1849-Fashions of the 1860's.
  • 10. Fitting Backgrounds for Dolls
    • Ideas for Arranging Dolls in Scenes That Are Realistic Or Timely-A Dramatic Doll Display at Christmas Time- Small Group Can Be Effective-A Doll Sewing Party, a Tea, and Other Scenes-A Famous Collection in a Tiny Church.
  • 11. Making a Doll House
    • "Scale" for the House-Cutting Windows and Doors-Wallpaper from Gift Wrappings-Putting in Floors-A Gable Roof- A Real Scale This Time-Miniature Furnishings-How to Make Furniture-A Family of Dolls.
  • 12. The Home Doll Shop
    • Starting in Your Home, With Four or Five Basic Doll Types-How to Display Your Dolls-Outside Selling Opportunities-How to Advertise-A Real Shop-Rental and Location-Simple Decoration-Keep Books!-Total Your Costs- How to Price and Sell Large and Small Dolls-Doll Faces That Sell
  • 13. Doll Language and Definitions
    • Explanations of Terms Used by Hobbyists and Collectors to Describe Dolls of Many Types, Materials, and Ages, As Well As Their Noteworthy Features: Penny Woodens, Peg Dolls, Stump Dolls, Blockheads, Flanders Babies, Lay Figure, Joel Ellis Doll, Mason and Taylor Doll, Witch and Wizard Doll, Pedlar Doll, Shoulder-Head, Deep Shoulder, Swivel-Necked, Oval Eye, Biedermeier, etc., etc.
  • Index

Title: The Complete Book of DOLLMAKING and COLLECTING
Author: Catherine Christopher
Publication Date: HC:1949
Publisher: Greystone Press, NY
Page Count: 288
Book Dimensions(ht. x w.): 9 1/2" x 6 1/4"
ISBN: None

PATTERN RATING:Star Rating. Patterns are pretty minimal, have to be resized, and have no markings on the patterns themselves to help the crafter.

INSTRUCTION RATING:Star Rating. The directions aren't broken down into steps and there are very few illustrations to go with them. Ms. Christopher's writing is fairly engaging, though, and I could follow along fairly well. I would not recommend this book to a rank beginner as other than a reference book.

SUMMARY- All the photos are black and white, and it was written before the definition of "Doll" got expanded to encompass the art doll. I found this book a fascinating read both for its historical context and the great coverage of doll forms.