A “Forget-Me-Not” Traditional Rag Doll Challenge

My teacher’s sample of the “Forget-Me-Not” traditional rag doll.

Theme: floral needlpoint/applique/fabrics/quilting etc… depicting Forget-Me-Nots

Subject: Traditional Rag Doll

Historical Connections: Forget-Me-Not in Art, Folklore, and Culture:

• In a German legend, God named all the plants when a tiny unnamed one cried out, “Forget-me-not, O Lord!” God replied, “That shall be your name.”
• Henry IV adopted the flower as his symbol during his exile in 1398, and retained the symbol upon his return to England the following year.
• In 15th-century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers. Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armor he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one and shouted “Forget-me-not.” It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love.
• Prior to becoming the tenth province of Canada in 1949, Newfoundland (then a separate British Dominion) used the Forget-me-not as a symbol of remembrance of that nation’s war dead. This practice is still in limited use today, though Newfoundlanders have adopted the Flanders Poppy as well.
• Freemasons began using the flower in 1926 as a symbol well known in Germany as message not to forget the poor and desperate. Many other German charities were also using it at this time. In later years, by a handful of Masons, it was a means of recognition in place of the square and compass design. This was done across Nazi occupied Europe to avoid any danger of being singled out and persecuted. The symbol of the forget-me-not in modern Masonry has become more prevalent and exaggerated claims about the use of the symbol are often made in order to promote sales of bumper stickers of the symbol. Today it is an interchangeable symbol with Freemasonry and some also use the Forget-me-not to remember those masons who were victimized by the Nazi regime. In English Freemasonry it is more commonly now worn to remember those that have died as a symbol that you may be gone but not forgotten.
• J. R. R. Tolkien refers to the flower in his poems.

Materials: listing

• fabrics and type
• cotton batting
• notions

Methods of Construction: process

• Select a traditional rag doll pattern or design your own.
• Measure, cut, sew, stuff, and incorporate into your doll or doll’s clothing Forget-Me-Not design.
• Those doll designs including traditional needlepoint and/or some kind of quilting/applique methods are preferable.

Expectations/Objectives/Goals: listing

• Students will demonstrate the process of interpreting sewing patterns.
• Students will demonstrate the theme and subject combined in a rag doll.

Exhibit: Finished figures will be exhibited inside a showcase located on the school property or be photographed by the instructor and uploaded to an internet forum/blog.

Feedback/Assessment: Students will either participate in an online discussion, classroom critiques or be expected to fill out a self-assessment form.

Include the following on a label with your finished project:

• A Title
• Your Name
• The date the project was completed
• The materials used
• An approximate size

More Craft Resources for Forget-Me-Not:

• Exquisite forget-me-not doily and bowl
• Angela Pullen’s Forget-Me-Nots
• Cross Stitch Forget-Me-Not Bouquet
• Forget-Me-Not pin cushion
• handmade Forget-Me-Not anniversary card
• Handmade wool broaches

Forget-Me-Not Doll Inspiration:

• Forget-me-not doll by Joanna
• A porcelain figurine of a child in a Forget-Me-Not dress
• A forget-me-not flower rattle doll
• A Waldorf Doll dressed in Forget-Me-Nots
• A Forget-Me-Not paper doll from the National Museum of Play
• A talking Fifi and the Flowertots Forget-Me-Not Plush
• Forget-me-not Elf miniature doll
• A vintage “hankie baby” (pew baby) made from a kerchief with needlework of Forget-Me-Not
• A Seeley’s mold china baby dressed in Forget-Me-Not blue
• Foreget-Me-Not Jackie Doll
• Forget-Me-Not mouse by Barby Anderson
• Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls: Forget-Me-Not

Related articles

• Freebie Friday – More Free Rag Doll and Waldorf Style Doll Patterns (themagicbean.typepad.com)
• Sofia’s Waldorf Doll (linguadora.typepad.com)
• the frugal waldorf doll experiment – the results (knit5together.typepad.com)

What are the differences between two dimensional and three dimensional doll patterns?

The differences have to do with the number of pattern components and the way these are used in the doll design.

In two dimensional designs, there are most frequently only two flat surfaces to work with: a front and a back side of the doll. However, some doll patterns like these do include an additional boot. This boot or shoe will be a pattern that is two dimensional as well, having only a front side and a back side. Now given that these patterns have only two sides, it is not correct to assume that your doll will not “look” three dimensional. However, those who have little experience in making dolls will assume this is what it means when the pattern is labeled as such. Dolls always take on a 3D quality when they are stuffed. The proportions of a two dimensional doll pattern are very specific to the eventual appearance of a rag doll. This in turn makes the stuffing of a rag doll, an art form in and of itself. This you will quickly determine on your own after having stuffed a doll incorrectly. Hence, the random affectation from somewhere in the classroom, “Teacher, my doll looks funny.”

A three dimensional pattern eliminates much of the guess work or “experience necessary” when stuffing a doll. These patterns must be constructed in a particular order and the the darts must always be lined up in order for the doll artist to have success with them. This is because the compensation for inexperience comes in the manipulation of components within the design. Neither pattern type is necessarily superior, these are merely options given according to the skills and preferences of those artists using them. In other words, three dimensional doll patterns do not necessarily make more attractive dolls or are not more valuable to doll collectors because of their number of parts.

There are, in fact, many highly valued rag dolls in museum collections that are constructed from simple, two dimensional patterns. I enjoy working with both types of patterns. Students, most usually do not. This is because a three dimensional pattern “looks” more intimidating prior to it’s assembly.

Related articles

• Getting Started- a custom doll (ragdollsrising.com)

A rag doll for my daughter’s birthday

I made this rag doll back in the early 1990s for my oldest daughter’s second or third birthday. My interests in making dolls have always been somewhat focused on the “plaything” aspect of dolls. I have yet to make many dolls that are not intended to be played with by little people. This doll had double stitched seams and she was painted with non-toxic materials. Her face is influenced by those features frequently found on 1930′s rag babies.

Related articles

• Competition is good (ragdollsrising.com)
• Walmart.com: Lalaloopsy Nintendo DS Game + Mini Doll Only $21.93 Shipped (hip2save.com)