How to Make a Round Waldorf Head, Part 1: Initial Shaping

The most easily recognizable feature of a Waldorf-style doll is the head.  They are often sculpted into a characteristically child-like shape, with a high, rounded forehead and prominent crown.  The faces are very simply indicated, often without any nose, and with open, innocent expressions. 

Achieving that perfectly shaped Waldorf head is not difficult, but it may take a little practice.  If you are new to Waldorf doll making, a simple, round head is a good place to start. 

Materials:

Using all natural wool and cotton for your Waldorf-style dolls is not just a matter of philosophy.  Your doll will be much easier to work with, and the finished product will look better and feel better to hold.  To make the head, you will need:

  • unspun wool batting for the stuffing;
  • tubular cotton gauze for the initial shaping (1 inch wide for a small head);
  • cotton interlock (tee shirt knit) in a flesh tone of your choice for the covering;
  • strong craft thread to match your doll skin fabric;
  •  embroidery floss in red plus your choice of eye color for the facial features.
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1.  Cut a 7-inch length of 1-inch tubular gauze.  Stitch across one end two or three times, ½-inch from the cut edge, to close the end.  Allow the stitching to create gathers.  This must be sewn very securely, but does not need to be beautiful.
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2.  Pull a strip about 2 inches wide from the wool batting.  Wind this strip around your fingers to start a ball.  Wind a second strip around the ball, perpendicular to the first strip.  Continue to wind additional strips, layering each one perpendicular to the previous strip.  Try to compress the ball with your fingers and pull the wool strips tightly as you wind.  Your goal is a ball about the size of a small apple.
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3.  Holding the ball of wool in one hand and the tubular gauze in the other, turn the stitched end of the gauze to the inside, as you push the wool into the  gauze “sock.”
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4.  At first, it will look like the ball of wool is much too big to fit inside the gauze.  Cradle the head in one hand and push the wool into the gauze tube with your thumb, while using the other hand to pull the gauze down around the wool.  This will take some patient pushing and tugging, but eventually the wool will compress and the gauze will stretch.
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5. Once the wool is completely inside the gauze tube, fasten off the open end of the gauze with a safety pin.  (This will keep the wool securely inside the gauze, while allowing you to add or remove wool if needed.  Now, gently  knead this little bag of wool into an egg shape, gradually elongating into a pear shape.  You’ll want to have most of the wool in a firm round ball at the bottom of the bag, with a small amount of wool tapering into a neck towards the opening.  Both the round (head) and narrower (neck)  sections should feel firm but not hard.  If they are too soft, unfasten the safety pin and add more wool.
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6.  Cut a 12-inch length of strong thread or dental floss and tie around the neck with a double overhand knot. (That is, one overhand knot with 2 wraps, NOT 2 overhand knots!  You want this to slip.)  Gently pull the thread snug, then wrap one end of the thread around the neck, make another overhand knot and pull it snug again.  Each wrap around the neck will give additional leverage to pull tighter. 
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7.  Tie the thread off when the neck is well-defined.  The head should be round with a distinct but round chin.  The neck should be filled with wool, tightly compressed and not wobbly.  The chest stub below the neck should be soft. 
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8.  Use a tape measure to verify that your head is round.  The circumference should be 6 1/4 to 6 1/2 inches, and should be consistent measured in any direction around the head.
Next, you will cover the head with your doll skin fabric.  See Make a Round Waldorf Head Part 2: Applying Doll Skin.

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