Boy Sock Rag Doll Pattern and Tutorial

Julian, this little boy sock rag doll, reminds me of the first boy I ever liked in second or third grade. His name was Elijah. I don’t remember his last name. When I think back, it was very very  innocent. I didn’t fantasize about marrying him or being intimate with him in any way—but I liked him in a way that I couldn’t find words for at the time. 

This the first time in my life that I realized that there was a fundamental difference between boys and girls. I am the older of two brothers—but they were my brothers—I love my brothers but I didn’t notice that they were different psychologically. I knew they looked physically different but it wasn’t significant in my understanding of male and females and how they coexisted in the world.  

For me, making male dolls carry a different energy than my female dolls. Maybe I don’t understand their language—but I find them to be quiet. They are not talkative like my female dolls. They don’t want to play with me like my female dolls. I tried to think of various poses for Julian but he wanted to get the photo shoot over with quickly.

For many doll makers their male dolls look very feminine.  I think the basic ideology of a modern day doll for most people is a girl doll. We say things like, “getting all dolled up,” or “she is pretty as a doll,” to convey quintessential femininity.

So for many of us female doll makers, I think when we make a male doll we try to capture the bare bones of masculine gender physical traits—but we rarely capture the  collective male soul energy.  As a matter fact, we call male dolls action figures. 

I don’t understand why a male doll is called an action figure even though he is made just like a female doll in terms of materials. Male Barbie dolls—called Ken dolls-- do not sell as well as female dolls. I think they discontinued Ken but I am not one hundred percent sure.

My son and I had a huge argument about the way I made DeMatter’s Beard. (He is the father of the Jungle Beauty Goddesses) My son said , Ma no man wears his beard like this—what man have you ever seen with a beard like this? I told him that I have a right to make a male doll look any way my imagination chooses to do so.

DeMatter (Father of the Jungle Beauty Goddesses)

Long story short—capturing masculinity beyond clothes and hair can be very difficult because the collective energy of doll making is for dolls to be cute, cuddly, inanimate girlfriends to tell our secrets to, play dress up, and have tea.

Julian feels like a little boy to me. His girlfriend, Jewel asked me to make her best friend Julian. I hope Julian doesn’t become angry with Jewel for requesting his presence in doll form. If Julian appears to be unhappy, I think we should all agree to call him an action figure.

I hope you enjoy this little boy sock rag doll tutorial. Do you think he holds the energy of a little boy?

 Cassandra George Sturges

" I know there is a doll inside of you who is just dying to come to life--but only you can bring him to life. Thank you so much for listening."

Make a doll come to life 

 

Greetings Dollings, in this Julian handmade sock rag doll Tutorial, I am going to show you how to trace and stuff the pattern, attach the bead nose, and attach the ears to your little boy sock rag. This is part 1 on how to make Julian the sock rag doll. To make this handmade sock  rag doll you will need  a single pair of knit men’s socks, Mountain Mist or Morning Glory Fiberfill, a doll needle, upholstery  thread, gesso, paint, yarn,  buttons, felt, and sewing machine or sewing needle.