Hey there, fellow crafters! Fran here, and I’m so excited to share my latest creation with you: Ruth, the sweet little horse doll! It was such a fun project, and I loved bringing her to life with a mix of new and repurposed materials. Let’s dive into how I made her.

Getting Started: The Body and a Little Bit of Magic

To give Ruth her soft, huggable body, I used a beautiful, fluffy wool. It’s perfect for creating a squishy friend! For her eyes, eyelids, and nose, I used a little bit of needle felting. This technique is like painting with wool, and it lets you add all those tiny, expressive details that really make a doll come alive.

From Old to New: Ruth’s Wardrobe

One of my favorite things about crafting is giving new life to old items. Ruth’s adorable outfit is a perfect example! I found an old blouse I wasn’t wearing anymore and knew it would be perfect for her. For her cozy jumper, I repurposed some upholstery fabric—who knew it could be so stylish? And for her shoes and a few cute heart decorations, I used some soft t-shirt fabric.

All in the Details

I love adding little touches that make each project unique. For Ruth’s beautiful mane and tail, I used my I-cord knitting machine to create those lovely strands. To add some sparkle and texture, I stitched tiny beads into the blanket stitching on the hearts on her shoes and tail. She even has a cute little necklace I made from an old piece of jewelry!

Making Her Pliable and Posing

To make Ruth extra special and posable, I gave her wooden joints in her neck, arms, and legs. This means you can move her around and she can be a part of all sorts of adventures! To finish her off, I even made a cute bow for her head from a leftover piece of the old blouse fabric.

And that’s how I made Ruth! I had so much fun on this project, and I hope she inspires you to look at your own crafting supplies and maybe even some old clothes in a new light. Happy crafting, everyone!

You can see the full process of making Ruth here: https://youtu.be/3_rf6b0H7U4