DIY Hocus Pocus Doll

August 31, 2023September 5, 2023 - handmadejoy

I made these Hocus Pocus Dolls from Dollar Tree Socks! This is an easy beginner sewing project, perfect for kids or adults. Below I have a detailed tutorial and the free SVG files and printable template for the faces are available to download.

Using socks makes this is an affordable and easy DIY sewing project. This is a great project for kids, who can complete it with beginner sewing skills. I have included options for different sewing levels so this project can be adapted for even the youngest sewers. Have fun picking out your patterned socks, you can pick whatever colours and patterns you like!

DIY Hocus Pocus Doll Supplies:

3 pairs white socks
3 pairs patterned socks
Fibre-fill / poly-fil stuffing
Yarn for hair
Heat transfer vinyl / embroidery thread for eyes & mouth
16×6 inch piece of tulle/fabric for cape
Ribbon

DIY Hocus Pocus Doll Instructions:

1. Cut white sock just below heel. This will be the head of your doll. Stuff and secure with elastic. You could also sew shut if you prefer.

2. Create your doll’s hair using yarn (see note below for link to detailed tutorial) Wrap yarn around a clipboard/piece of cardboard and cut along one side. Sew down the middle to secure yarn together.

3. Place hair on the head of your doll and sew to secure. Style your dolls hair and secure with elastics. For Winifred I styled her hair into two buns on the top of her head. For Mary’s hair, I put it in a high side ponytail then tied elastics up the length and wrapped some yarn around to make it stand up.

5. Cut patterned socks just below the heel. This will be the body of your dolls. Stuff with poly-fill.

6. Insert head into body and sew to secure.

7. Create your dolls face. You can use heat transfer vinyl with my SVG file as I did, or if you prefer you could embroider the face of your doll using my template. Link to download the SVG files and printable templates is below.

8. To create the cape: Sew a gathering stitch along the top of your 16×6 inch tulle piece. Pull thread to gather until it fits around your doll. Sew ribbon on top of gathering stitches.

DOWNLOAD THE SVG FILE & TEMPLATES FOR THE FACES HERE

Tips & Tricks:

Here is a link to a great yarn hair video tutorial by Pin Cut Sew Studio

Add some rice or dry beans to the bottom of the patterned sock before stuffing if you want the dolls to stand up.

Options for younger makers:

Allow them to be involved in all the non- sewing steps. They will love stuffing the head and body, can help wrap the yarn hair and may be able to tie the elastics.
Have them draw the face on their doll using sharpies or fabric markers.

Hocus Pocus Sock Dolls

Make your own Hocus Pocus dolls out of socks! Create your own Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson dolls.

Materials

3 pairs white socks

3 pairs patterned socks

Fibre-fill / poly-fil stuffing

Yarn for hair

Heat transfer vinyl / embroidery thread for eyes & mouth

16x6 inch piece of tulle/fabric for cape

Ribbon

Instructions

1. Cut white sock just below heel. This will be the head of your doll. Stuff and secure with elastic. You could also sew shut if you prefer.
2. Create your doll’s hair using yarn (see note below for link to detailed tutorial) Wrap yarn around a clipboard/piece of cardboard and cut along one side. Sew down the middle with your sewing machine to secure yarn together.
3. Place hair on the head of your doll and hand sew to secure. Style your dolls hair and secure with elastics. For Winifred I styled her hair in two buns on the top of her head. For Mary’s hair I put it in a high side ponytail then tied elastics up the length and wrapped some yarn around to make it stand up.
5. Cut patterned socks just below the heel (this will be the body of your dolls). Stuff with poly-fill.
6. Insert head into body and sew together.
7. Create your dolls face. You can use heat transfer vinyl with my SVG file as I did, or if you prefer you could embroider the face of your doll using my template.
8. To create the cape: Sew a gathering stitch along the top of your 16x6 inch tulle piece. Pull thread to gather until it fits around your doll. Sew ribbon on top of gathering stitches.

Notes

Pin Cut Studio has a great video tutorial on making yarn hair.
How to Make Yarn Hair for Rag Dolls || A Video Tutorial — Pin Cut Sew Studio
Add some rice or dry beans to the bottom of the patterned sock before stuffing if you want the dolls to stand up.
Options for younger makers:
Allow them to be involved in all the non- sewing steps. They will love stuffing the head and body, can help wrap the yarn hair and may be able to tie the elastics.
Have them draw the face on their doll using sharpies or fabric markers.

© handmadejoy

“Oh, look! Another glorious morning. Makes me sick!” — Winifred Sanderson

More Free Sewing Patterns & Tutorials

Upcycle an Old Shirt – See what I made!

April 25, 2022April 26, 2022 - handmadejoy

Want to see some upcycle magic? See how I upcycled an old shirt into three new items. I loved the fabric and details of this shirt, but not the fit. I never wore it but didn’t want to get rid of it because I loved the colour and design so much. I started cutting and made three items from it that now get lots of use!

When you love the colour and fabric of a clothing item but not the fit, upcycling is the answer!

UPCYCLE
reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.

Here is what I made from this ONE shirt:

1. Scrunchies

I used the bottom hem of the shirt to make scrunchies. I was able to make 2 scrunchies from the hem of this one shirt. I love the trim detail and used that as the outside edge of the scrunchie.

Here is my Favourite scrunchie tutorial from Martha Stewart.

2. Face Mask

To make this simple mask:

Cut out 2 – 6 x 9 inch rectangles
Sew right sides together leaving a 1 inch opening.
Turn right side out and stitch closed.
Fold sides and sew to create channel for elastic loops.
Insert elastic and tie knot to from loop.

3. Bowl Cover

I made a mixing bowl cover for my Kitchenaid Mixer bowl. This bowl cover gets a ton of use in my kitchen!

Here is a Mixing bowl cover tutorial from My Frugal Home.

What would you make out of an old shirt you no longer wear?

Bunny Drawstring Backpack Pattern

March 11, 2021September 5, 2023 - handmadejoy

Here is a sewing tutorial and pattern for these sweet bunny drawstring backpacks I made for my nephews. It is just a simple drawstring backpack, but the bunny ears and tail turn it into the cutest little Easter backpack!

Bunny drawstring backpacks with free pattern

These bunny drawstring backpacks are a perfect gift bag for Easter goodies. Fill it with Easter treats, books, and gifts for the perfect Easter Gift for the littles in your life.

Materials Needed:

2 x 14 inch by 16 inch rectangles of main fabric (I used white canvas)
4 x ear pieces ( 2 lining and 2 main fabric ) SEE PATTERN DOWNLOAD AT BOTTOM OF THIS POST
2 x 3 inch by 3 inch square in main fabric for drawstring loops
yarn to make pom pom or ready made pom pom
rope or cord for drawstring

NOTE: I used cotton canvas fabric to make these. My favourite canvas fabric is painters drop cloths! I buy the natural drop cloths like this one from Canadian Tire and bleach them. You end up with lots of great white canvas material perfect for sewing!

Canvas fabric pieces for bunny drawstring backpack pattern

SEWING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut out all of your fabric pieces.

2. Sew the ear pieces right sides together. Turn right side out and top stitch leaving the bottom unsewn. Fold the sides towards the centre, pin in place and than baste in place.

3. Fold top of bag over twice leaving room for your drawstring cord to fit through. Pin ears in place and stitch along bottom of the fold. This will be the front piece of your backpack.

4. Take your back fabric piece and fold over twice and stitch along bottom of fold to create drawstring casing. Sew on the pom pom tail.

5. Now you will sew the drawstring loops. Fold 3 x 3 inch squares in half and sew. Turn right side out. Pin in place at bottom sides of bag.

6. Put back of bag and front of back right sides together and sew sides and bottom of bag together. Turn right way out.

7. Insert your drawstring cord through one loop and up through the drawstring and down through the other loop. Repeat in other direction going through other side of drawstring casing at the top. Tie knots in the ends of your drawstring.

bunny ears sewn for bunny drawstring backpack

bunny ears sewn onto front of bunny drawstring backpack

DIY Pom Pom

Making your own pom poms is easy! Here is a link to a great video tutorial by Sheep & Stitch

Use whatever yarn you have at home and you can wrap the yarn around cardboard, or whatever you find at home that works. I wrapped chunky weight yarn around a potato masher to make mine!

bunny drawstring backpack hanging on hook

Bunny Ear Pattern

If you make a bunny backpack I would love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @handmadejoydesigns #handmadejoyblog

Check out my other Sewing tutorials:

Candy Wrapper Zippered Pouch Tutorial

March 10, 2021October 2, 2022 - handmadejoy

Being stuck at home these last few months has given me lots of time to craft with my kids. I have enjoyed having the time to teach them to sew. This is a project they loved. It is a fun and easy beginner sewing project! My oldest, 13 & 10, made them by themselves. My six year old did the cutting and contact paper and then I helped him sew it together.

Yes you can sew plastic with a sewing machine! My kids were completely amazed by this! It will dull your needle, so remember to replace your needle after this project.

You will need :

– candy wrapper

– clear contact paper

– zipper

Cut your candy wrapper at the sides and bottom so you have a front and back for your zippered pouch. Then apply clear contact paper to the front of both pieces.

Next place your wrapper facing down and sew along one side of the zipper.

Place other side of wrapper facing down and sew along other side of zipper.

NOW UNZIP YOUR ZIPPER HALF WAY (don’t skip this step!) so you can turn it right side out after the next step!! Sew along the sides and bottom of your pouch.

Turn it right side out and you now have a zipped pouch! Perfect to use as a pencil pouch or whatever you want. It is a great DIY gift idea for kids to make for their friends too.

Among Us Plushie Pattern – Sewing Project for Kids

November 25, 2020September 5, 2023 - handmadejoy

All of the extra time spent at home on the weekends has given me lots of time to craft with the kids. They have started playing the game Among Us so I came up with this Among Us plushie pattern for them. Made out of felt, this is an easy sewing project for kids.

Sewing is an excellent handicraft for kids of all ages! This project can used with either hand sewing or machine sewing.

My oldest two who are 10 & 12 made it by themselves. However, even younger kids can make this easily with a little help! My 6 year old cut out the pieces and operated the foot pedal while I guided the fabric in the sewing machine.

I used a sewing machine for this project but this would also be a great project for hand sewing. Felt is great for beginner sewing because the edges do not fray.