If you are tight on funds or just want to make your own dolls, here are the materials needed for Mary and Joseph, and of course, baby Jesus. It doesn’t look like a lot of work, but it is multi-pieces to put together and purchase.
Materials:
Felt pieces
Twine, yard, or ribbon
Pom pom balls
Non-toxic paint
Glue gun and sticks
Soft bendable wire
Pipe cleaners
Purchase 2 sheets felt for the bodies of Mary and Joseph.
For Mary, purchase 1 sheet felt for the veil and 1 sheet felt for the clothes. Use string, yarn, lace or other material of your choice for the sash.
For Joseph, purchase 1 sheet of felt for the head covering and cloak, and 1 sheet felt for the clothes (different colors for each). Use string for the belt.
For optional hair and faces, purchase black, non-shiny paint with a tip.
Glue sticks and a glue gun to glue the body together and attach clothing parts.
For Baby Jesus, use a scrap of same body color felt. Take a pom pom ball, and cover with felt. Use 5″ soft wire to twist. Cut extra felt off. Use ribbon (non-wired) to make the wrap, cut per the pattern piece. Wrap and glue. Paint small face if desired.
Cut all the pattern pieces in the specific colored felt pieces chosen for each part.
Use 2 pipe cleaners to create the skeletal structure
Construction Instructions:
Make the skeletal structures for Mary and Joseph first, using two pipe cleaners per doll as the picture below shows. Glue the felt body to skeleton.
Then, beginning with Mary, place the clothes piece over her head. Put several spots of glue under it to hold it in place, but allow ability to place baby Jesus under Mary’s clothes. Place the veil behind Mary’s head. Glue a small amount of the veil on the head in the front middle. Pull the sides of the veil towards the center, hold and glue in place. Finish gluing the veil so it doesn’t come off and looks natural. Add the sash and tie. Turn the doll over and place sash behind veil. Glue a dot on the veil so it cannot be removed, the same with the sash. Kids often like to undress dolls and then pieces are lost. Using black or brown craft paint, make the eyes, nose, and mouth, careful to not use too much. Start small. Add hair if desired with a part in the middle and it going to each side.
Now, with Joseph follow the same instructions starting with making the body. Put on Joseph’s clothes, and move to the hood. Glue the hood down all around the face, moving the material to look gathered around the face. Place the cloak on, bringing the wrap sides down in front and gluing in place. Add a string tie. Paint the face, adding a beard if desired.
For Pattern Pieces, click here. We used a regular-size spice jar to make the head section of the skeleton.
Place the baby Jesus under Mary’s clothes and tighten the sash if necessary.
Our pre-made dolls aren’t perfect, but made with love and prayer. They have been blessed by our Pastor. If you do make yours, you might consider asking for a blessing over them as they teach your children about Advent.
Email me at contact@cathytrowbridge.com if you have any questions.