Cover Image Property of PUBLISHER
This image property of Publisher,
scanned from my private collection
TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Introduction
  • The Carving
    • Copying the Patterns
      Preparing the Wood
  • Carving the Doll's Head
    • Making a Fiddlebow Sander
  • Carving the Hands
  • Carving the Feet
    • A Repair Tip
  • The Doll's Body and Clothing
    • The Patterns
      Cutting the Fabric
      Assembling the Body
      The Bloomers
      The Dress
      The Pinafore
  • Painting the Doll
    • Assembling the Doll
      The Wig

Title: Country Dollmaking
Author: Nancy and Tom Wolfe
Publication Date: TPB:1988
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., West Chester, PA
Page Count: 88
Book Dimensions(ht. x w.): 11" x 8 1/2"
ISBN: 0887401295

PATTERN RATING:Star Rating Patterns are full-size with some markings to aid the crafter. The doll head, hands and feet are all carved out of wood and you are given the patterns for cutting out the blanks for these on a bandsaw. The patterns for the body clothes are hand drawn and very basic.

INSTRUCTION RATING:Star Rating The patterns are broken down into very small detailed steps, and each step has its own photograph illustration. The last section on painting and assembling the doll is full color. I really don't think you can get better than that.

SUMMARY- While the dolls they chose to give as examples are not to my taste(look way too much like cousins of mine!), the methods of construction and their detailed instructions were well worth the price of admission. I've done a considerable amount of wood carving(I grew up on a farm - we had plenty), and can tell you with confidence that Mr. Wolfe knows what he's doing and lays out his projects extremely well. This book was well worth the price of admission.