Raggedy? Yes!--A Few Old Rag Dolls

Do you have an old raggedy doll at your house? Then you have an  "old friend."

"Lucy" ca 1932

I found a book that I love--Stitches In Time. . .A Primer For Recreating Early Rag Dolls. I can't say enough good things about it, so I thought I'd share a few words from the book with you. . .

"When rural mothers could not afford store bought dolls for their youngins, they fashioned them lovingly with scraps at hand while 'making do'." *

"I fondly remember the antiquing adventure when I "discovered" my first old doll. He was a happy boy, old black cloth with hand embroidered facial features and a smile that caught my eye. With his applied ears, floppy little body so huggable and farmy attire, I knew instantly that he was coming home with me. . ." *

Snapshot taken at Country Bumpkins Flea Market, Popular Bluff, Mo

Primitive rag dolls have a charm of their own. Every one I see I want to pick up and hold tight. The older and grubbier she is, the more I like her. The dress might be torn and tattered and her face might be dirty, but I know immediately when one is coming home with me. It's almost like people--some you're just drawn to. . .

Unusual heart shaped face ca 1940s?

They feel like old friends. . .

Black doll is very old. . .stuffed with straw

A Cambino Doll on right from New Orleans ca 1980. . .Black Doll left age unknown. . .

Topsy-Turvy Sock Doll ca 1940

"Handmade dolls were sewn from the humblest of materials, not fancy in nature like their store bought cousins." *

"They were charming, endearing and sometimes naive.

Those are the dolls that speak to us.. .

They tell of a story we can only imagine. . ." *

The dolls in this post are just a few 20th century rag dolls
who befriended me.
They do not appear in Shannon's book.

* Quoted material from: Stitches In Time. . .A Primer For Recreating Early Rag Dolls 

by Shannon McConnachie

Sharing with: * Share Your Cup Thursday @ Mrs. Olson's