A bum for my dolls...

I have been "bummed" out about this problem for years: How come my dolls never sit so well? It is a fact that traditional waldorf style patterned dolls have trouble sitting nicely. The original waldorfy pattern does not allow for a real bottom. The doll has a rectangular box-type of shape. The legs fold out from under that box. If you try to sit the doll on a smooth surface - even when you lean it agains a wall - the doll tends to slide down and lay flat. This is especially true when the doll is in the nude and sitting down on a smooth surface.

It's very frustrating for the dollmaker and seller when trying to take photos. It has been bothering me even more lately. So since I am in the process of freshening up my shop and going back to the drawing board I decided to add a "butt" panel to my original doll pattern design.

I took an oval piece of fabric and added it to where I normally just insert the legs. This way the doll gets a more cylindrical shape. I was quite intrigued by the results. The doll can sit nicely on her bottoms without having to lean against an object. From now on dolls will be able to listen to lectures from me about putting on their best smile during photo shoots. I love it!

I think many a doll collector and doll mama will be happier too that their dolls won't keep sliding down when they are trying to pose them on a chair or a bookshelf.

I am very please with how the first prototype doll turned out. Unfortunately I didn't get very good pictures during the process of making this first one. It was too dark in my studio. When it's 100 degrees outside I close all the blinds...Otherwise I'd perish in my little studio that is surrounded by windows.

So the photos here just demonstrate that it is possible to sew some sense into a little dolly. After years you can still improve and tweak a pattern you thought was quite perfect and make it even more so...