Recently, I noticed such a strange thing: sometimes expensive toys for children are not as cute as simple tiny kinders, fluffies donated by someone or an ordinary doll that mom rolled up in 5-10 minutes from the remnants of fabric. That's how it happened to us. Quite by chance, I got to a mini master class on making traditional rag dolls. She brought the result of her labors home and - lo and behold! The kids are busy all evening! I was surprised and decided to make three more dolls.

What did you need for the doll?

Rectangular fabrics, ribbons, threads, synthetic winterizer, cotton wool or gauze.

How to make a motanka doll?

I’ll make a reservation right away that I did not follow the tradition and cut the fabric with scissors, although I was told that the fabric for the winder should be torn by hand.

1. Prepare 5 rectangles of fabric and 1 square. You can cut out the necessary patches in the course of work on the doll.

2. The first rectangle should be a neutral color. It will be dolls. In its center we put a synthetic winterizer, cotton wool (in my case - gauze).

From this rectangle we will make the head and body of the doll

Fold the fabric in half and gather it around the filler to make a ball for the head.

3. We wind the threads well at the base of the head, make a knot.

4. We take a new rectangular piece of fabric and twist it into a roller. These will be the hands of our motanka doll.

5. When the roller is ready, we tightly tie its edges with threads.

It should turn out like this:

6. We take the body of our pupa and put our hands between two layers of fabric.

7. Grab the fabric under the handles and start winding.

8. We make a beautiful blouse for the doll. To do this, take the ribbon and wrap it several times crosswise around the arms and waist.

We tie the ribbon into a knot and lower the edges down. There will be a skirt on top.

9. Take another rectangle of fabric and fold it in half right side out. We put the doll on top, as shown in the photo below.

Raise one layer of fabric and wrap your hand around the doll's waist.

We begin to tightly wind the thread, at the end we make a knot.

10. You can make a lot of such layers of a skirt. I had 3 layers. Only now the second one should be applied not to the back of the doll, but to the tummy. Then Lyalya will come out smart and no bodily tissue will be visible.

11. I made a handkerchief for a doll from a triangle, but you can make it from a square folded in half. Everything is simple here - we tie the head of the doll in the same way as ourselves, only behind it is worth tying the ponytails into a knot.

12. So our traditional motanka doll is ready, you can start the game!

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised how the children, spoiled with beautiful toys, reacted to simple rag dolls. Ksyusha went with the doll to the kindergarten, Sima took her to classes in the children's club, and then asked to take the doll with her to the store. And for several days they slept with motanks in an embrace, it’s a pity there was no photo left.

If you liked this simple rag doll, share the master class with your friends on social networks. Maybe they will also want to make a pleasant surprise for the kids with their own hands;)

Do you want to always get fresh ideas, materials and a variety of coloring pages for activities with toddlers? Then feel free to “Grow smart”!

We wish you more sweet children's smiles!