American Folk Art Dolls
Create a unique doll character inspired by American Folk Art using simple sewing techniques.
Teaching artist: Martha Worthley
Classroom teachers: Campbell, Laughbon, Neuman, Welch
Grade 5
Lesson: Students create a 3-dimensional soft sculpture doll of an invented character
using fabric and other fibers over a series of several class sessions.
Student:
Target learning: Creates and uses a paper pattern for a soft sculpture figure.
Criteria: Calculates and cuts 2-D paper shapes and then uses them to guide cutting fabric pieces for 3-D doll head/torso, arms and legs.
Target learning: Uses hand and machine sewing techniques.
Criteria: Makes a running stitch by hand and machine-stitched seam with fabric inside out, turns fabric pieces right side out and fills with stuffing/batting.
Target learning: Uses embellishment techniques for characterization.
Criteria: Adds facial features, hair, clothing and other details to give identity to
figure using buttons, beads, embroidery, sewing and/or drawing.
Vocabulary (click here for the glossary)
2-D
3-D
character
detail
embellish
pattern
seam
soft sculpture
stuffing
Resources
Art of Marita Dingus
Contemporary dolls
Books on folk art
Community volunteers furnishing sewing machines and guided instruction.
Materials
Donated sewing materials, diverse fabrics, threads, polyester batting, embroidery thread, yarn, lace, trim, buttons, beads, sewing needles, scissors, sewing machines
Resources introduced and creative process
Teaching artist:
Shows examples of folk art in books and examples of contemporary dolls made by artist Marita Dingus. Introduces tradition of hand-made toys made from available materials. Leads students in study trip to exhibit at local arts center to view fiber arts with figurative soft sculpture included. Guides students in seeing that dolls are embellished to give them identity, with faces made from clocks, beads, embroidery, etc.
Demonstrates cutting 2 pieces of fabric into a shape approximately 3” x 4” to make a small pillow: Using hand-sewing techniques (running stitch) threads a needle, ties a knot in thread, put the fabric pieces wrong side together, and sews the pillow on three sides. Turns right side out, with seams hidden on the inside. Stuffs the open side with batting, sews the pillow closed. Shows the process of starting with a shape, making a seam which makes the shape smaller, turning it right side out and stuffing it, changing it from a 2-D to a 3-D form. Demonstrates embellishing pillow with embroidery stitches and adding lace or trim.
Demonstrates making paper pattern for figure, pinning it to fabric and cutting out fabric. Demonstrates making the body and head as one piece, starting with several different versions, to show transformation in size and shape from paper to sewn object. Demonstrates making and adding arms and legs as simple rectangles sewn with one seam into tubular
Demonstrates sewing the body and legs of the doll on a sewing machine. Reminds students that fabric has to be sewn with right sides together so that it can be turned right-side-out and stuffed. Community classroom volunteers assist students with own dolls. Bodies are turned right side out and stuffed, sewn closed, arms and legs are attached.
Demonstrates adding features for the face by using embroidery, buttons, beads, or drawing a face on paper that is laminated and sewn to the doll. Adds hair, clothes, accessories to further give identity and character to doll. Facilitates creative writing with doll speaking in first person.
Teaching Artist Comments:
The teachers and I talked about whether or not the students should start with creative writing about the character they wanted to create, or write about the character after they made it. We started with making the dolls. The dolls acquired a life of their own through the creative process. I firmly believe that having the freedom to see what turns up was a generative spark of interest for these students. They had a wide array of fabrics donated from the community and chose all kinds of colors and patterns for their figures. The materials were inspiring.
Assessment
Reflection Questions:
Did you start with an idea for your doll’s character or identity, or did it evolve? Did the materials give you ideas?
How did you embellish upon the figure to give the doll a personality?
What were some the challenges you encountered when constructing the 3-D doll figure? How did you solve them?
Essential learnings
Arts 1.1 concepts: 2-D to 3-D form
Arts 1.2 skills and techniques: sewing
Arts 4.1 connection to other disciplines: social studies
Arts 4.4 arts reflect culture and history