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14 Inch Charlotte Rose Rag or Cloth Doll Dress

Inspired by the rag doll owned by Laura Ingalls Wilder

14 inch (35cm) Charlotte Rose Rag Doll with Floppy

Dolls & Costumes Website
Susan Kramer
susan@susankramer.com

Charlotte doll body and dress full size patterns

Inspired by doll of Laura Ingalls Wilder

E-patterns by Susan Kramer

(intermediate sewing level)

Charlotte Rose doll body pattern at this page

Charlotte Rose dress pattern and sewing instructions as follows:

The real Laura Ingalls Wilder doll had a blue and pink calico dress. I used red and pink calico for my Charlotte Rose doll.

This cloth doll is based on the Charlotte doll owned by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a child. The photo below is a replica in the Herbert Hoover Museum:

Charlotte Rose dress bodice

Following the instructions below make your 1 inch square graph paper and transfer the pattern markings.

You may use the pattern for your own use and gifts, but not commercially.

To make your 1 inch square (2.5cm) grid graph paper

First, take an 8.5x11 inch piece of plain paper and draw 1 inch squares - I do this by drawing horizontal lines 1 inch apart down the page, and then vertical lines 1 inch apart across the page.

Next, looking at the .jpg image you want to enlarge, copy what is in each of my squares into your larger squares.

Hint: If you think you will use the pattern many times, cut out the pattern pieces in scraps of material or muslin for a more permanent template.

Skirt

Cut rectangle 7.5 inches long and 30 inches wide. Finished skirt length to ankles is 6 inches. This size allows a one half inch bottom hem turned up twice, and one half inch seam for gathered edge of skirt. Skirt seam is center back. Leave 2 inches open at bodice edge and roll and stitch each edge of opening. Close back with ribbons rather than buttons for safety.

***All pattern pieces include one-eighth inch seam allowance***

I hand sew doll bodies and outfits using single strand quilting thread. The doll body is cotton percale and the dress cotton calico.

Bodice Front

Bodice Back

Sleeves

Right sides facing, sew back and front shoulders together. Press seam. Sew short edge of sleeve to bodice. Press seam down. Turn up sleeve edge one quarter inch twice and blind stitch. Press seam. Sew one long seam of under arms and sides. To finish neck edge sew a strip of bias tape and turn to inside and stitch in place. To finish back seam, turn in one quarter inch twice and press. Sew ribbons to top of back bodice and at waist after sewing on gathered skirt.

This is a side view to see how the feet are shaped –

Article, patterns and photographs copyright Susan Kramer