Spend a creative day at Slieve Aughty Centre’s Traditional Skills Workshop Day on November 30th for one day doll making workshop!

The type of dolls made by tutor Laura are known as Waldorf or Steiner dolls. They are crafted entirely from natural materials such as cotton, sheep’s wool, yarn, and fabric. As a result, they are gentle on both the planet and the recipient.

These dolls are characterised by their simple features—just a small nose, and eyes and mouth that are delicately embroidered. They are warm and soft to hold, offering a comforting tactile experience.

“Doll making is something humans have done since the earliest times, and it is a skill that has largely been lost due to the widespread availability of mass-produced plastic dolls,” says Laura.

The dolls can be made entirely by hand. The workshop is structured in clear steps: beginning with the creation of the head and facial features, followed by stitching the body, cap, hands and feet and then assembling the doll. The doll we are making at this one day workshop will be an ideal gift for babies and young children. If you have a special fabric you would like to use I would encourage you to bring it along, otherwise a selection of simple cottons will be available on the day.