Patterns & Downloads
Want to join us? Clicks the links below to download our Dolls of Hope patterns.
For Dolls of Hope and personal use ONLY
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TIPS FOR MAKING
Choosing Your FabricUse soft, cuddly fabrics like fleece or minky — we want every child to receive something as cozy as possible. Here are a few extra guidelines:
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Flannel can be used, but only on one side of the bear. Pair it with fleece or minky on the other side, as flannel is less durable on its own. Pre-washing and drying flannel before sewing will help tighten the fibers.
High-quality quilter's cotton can be used for dolls, but we prefer it not to be used for bears. When in doubt, fleece or minky on both sides is always a great choice. |
How Much Fabric Do You Need? |
Each bear or doll requires two pieces of fabric approximately 12" x 14"
One yard of fabric yields approximately 5–6 bears or 8–9 doll bodies |
How Much Stuffing Do You Need?Each bear or doll takes approximately 3–3.5 oz (70–80 grams) of poly-fil stuffing. A 10 lb box of poly-fil should fill around 50–60 items.
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Fill all the way to the tips of the ears, arms, and legs
Bears and dolls should feel soft and a little squishy — not hard, not limp If you can easily feel your fingers touch through the item when you squeeze it, it needs more stuffing If you're unsure whether you've added the right amount, you can send a video to [email protected] before sewing the seam closed, and we'll help you assess it Do not machine sew the seam closed after stuffing — hand sew it instead, as machine sewing will result in one leg not being adequately stuffed |
Sewing the Face |
Hand or machine embroider the face using embroidery thread.
If hand-embroidering, start on the wrong side of the fabric so the knots are hidden inside the finished bear or doll. A helpful shortcut: Cut small circles out of felt for the eyes and nose, hand sew them on with embroidery thread, then hand stitch a mouth. It saves time and is a little easier than embroidering the entire face. Please do NOT use:
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VIDEO TUTORIALS
Hand Sewing the Seam Closed |
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Full Bear WalkthroughWe recently found this helpful overview video created by Sew Yeah Sew. Please note it doesn't follow all of our current pattern instructions — a few things to keep in mind as you watch:
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SHIPPING INFORMATION
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Due to continued difficulties with the Give Back Box program and the inability to track shipments, we are now encouraging our makers to purchase labels directly from Dolls of Hope. In an attempt to continue to keep shipping as affordable as possible, labels will be purchased for $25 each.
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To purchase a label, visit our Shipping page here:
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Dolls of Hope is a project of The Undaunted Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. EIN: 84-4242549 All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. 📸 All photographs generously shared by Steven Wood and David Lohmueller 🎥 Videos created by Erin Claytor of True Reel Media |
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