Princess pearl

1. Trace body pattern templates onto paper. Stick onto card and cut out. Using a fine pencil, mark the arms twice and the body and head once onto the wrong side of calico. Leave 1cm between all pattern pieces: do not cut.

2. Place two pieces of calico together with the markings uppermost and sew on the marked line. Leave openings where indicated. Note that on the head you will be sewing all the way around, leaving no gaps. Once sewn, cut the pieces out with a scant 0.5cm seam allowance. Turn the body, legs and arms right side out. Stuff the body and neck firmly. Sew closed the opening. Stuff arms half way up to the elbows.

3. Sew the arms to the top of the body; the arms must be sewn on neatly. Cut a slit in the top third of the back of the head through one layer only. Turn right side out and stuff very firmly making sure there are no wrinkles on the chin! Stitch the opening closed.

4. Draw on the features. Sew the head onto the neck, and give her a coy little tilt of the head. Wrap the thread around her waist, ankles and wrist to define the body shape, then cast off. Use matching thread to sew in her toes using large stitch right through to the back of her foot.

Dolly hair

1. To make the hair, wrap brown cotton around the tall side of a large book. Make a cut through all strands to give a lovely chunk of hair. Save three long strands for sewing. Remove one third of the chunk of hair and cut 7cm off the end for the fringe. The remaining hair will go to the back of the head.

2. Draw a fine line across the right side of the top of the head, 0.5cm down from the seam. Place the 7cm strands of hair along this