Tutorial: DIY Bead Doll

The possibilities are e n d l e s s with this one! No crown beads on hand? No problem, sub it out for a bow accent bead. Don’t love pink? We’ve got 78+ other amazing colors you can choose from. Don’t like the look of wood beads? You could use silicone beads for this tutorial as well! And to make it e v e n easier? We’ve got a downloadable template to keep things simple!

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

* Remember: make sure you double knot where possible to keep your beads secure. And, as always, loose beads & craft supplies are a choking hazard - keep out of the reach of children under 4!

Supplies Needed:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Using the template provided, cut out two pieces of fabric. Sew (either with a sewing machine, or by hand) approximately along the sewing line, but do NOT sew across the bottom straight edge.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

2. Carefully turn your sewn shape inside out (so that the raw edges are on the inside). Stuff the shape with your stuffing of choice. You could even use fabric scraps! Carefully sew along the bottom to seal in the stuffing.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

3. Put aside the sewn shape. Take your piece of cardboard and jersey t-shirt yarn. Wrap the jersey yarn around the long edge of the board. Wrap your yarn around it approximately 50 times.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

4. Carefully slide the jersey yarn off the cardboard. Cut another piece of jersey yarn long enough to tie around your bundle. Tie it tightly around the middle of the bundle.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

5. Using your sewing scissors, cut all the loops. When finished, put aside your yarn pouffe.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

6. Taking a long piece of regular cord, slide one of your colored 15mm silicone beads on. Pull it down about 3” and loop a long knot. Make sure that the knot is longer in shape, than round.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

7. Thread on 8 x 16mm wood beads, pulling them over the knot you created and hiding the rest of the string. Loop the string back through the last bead to keep it secure and tighten.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

8. Taking your glue gun, push glue into the end bead’s hole to secure the bead. Trim the remaining string so that it's long enough to tie eventually. We left about 5” on ours.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

9. Repeat steps 7-8 to make another leg. Take the two long strands and double knot them tightly together.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

10. Taking a foot long length of cord, tie a knot at one end. Slide on 1 x 15mm silicone bead, followed by 6 x 10mm wood beads.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

11. Thread the same string on the end with a large crafting needle. Push your needle through the ‘shoulders’ of the doll body and pull the string through.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

12. Thread on to the other side another 6 x 10mm wood beads followed by 1 x 15mm silicone bead. Secure the end with a knot. Trim the ends and set aside.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

13. Take another 1.5’ length. Tie a loop knot on the end. Carefully thread on your accent bead, being sure to get both string ends through the hole. Follow the accent bead with one large 1.25” wood bead.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

14. Thread your needle onto the string. Push the needle through the length of the body, and out the bottom.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

15. Taking your jersey yarn pouffe, turn it so that the tie is hidden. Push your needle through the centre of the pouffe.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & CoDIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

16. Taking the loose strings from the legs, and the string coming through the yarn pouffe, tie them together tightly. Make sure to double knot as many times as you think is necessary.

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

17. Your bead doll is finished! She makes the cutest addition to your children’s book shelves and toy shelf! Remind your kids to play with her carefully!

DIY Wood & Silicone Bead Doll Tutorial - Cara & Co

Planning to make her?? Show us your finished DIY Bead Doll by tagging us on social media with the hashtag #createdwithcarasupply!

Happy crafting friends!

xo

- the girls

 

**The products, materials, and supplies sold by Cara & Co. Silicone Craft Supply are intended for use by adults and should never be left unattended with a child.

***Small objects and beads can present choking hazards to young children. Never leave a child unattended with beads or other products. Always dispose of any damaged product. No product is completely indestructible, and fully formed teeth could potentially damage product if chewed aggressively, so responsible attentiveness is needed for any user or purchaser. Customers should always inspect and monitor their products, discontinuing use at the first sight of damage.

****Once our products have been sold and shipped to our customers, Cara & Co Silicone Craft Supply Inc., waives all responsibility and liability from the use of our products. Customers are responsible that their final products made from our supplies meet the appropriate safety requirements for their region. Our buyers understand that by purchasing our products or using suggestions from the above tutorial, the buyer assumes any and all responsibility and liability for the use of the products.

*****Cords, clasps and pacifier clips are not intended to be chewed on and may present choking hazards.

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2 comments

Hi Patsy!
Thank you for your question. The doll measures approximately 10-12 inches in height. Currently, we don’t have a video tutorial available, but we appreciate your suggestion and will consider it for future tutorial content. Xo

Cara & Co Team

Do you have the measurements of the completed bead doll? Do you have a video tutorial?

Patsy Gardner

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