I love a crafty project, but when it comes to sewing, although I am keen to make stuff, I am also very much a beginner.
I picture myself tailoring my own dresses and making fancy costumes for the kids, but in reality, the only thing I am an expert at (on a good day) is using my sewing machine to stitch in a straight line.
Beanie has been asking me whether I could make a doll for her ever since she first saw what became one of her favourite animations, Coraline.
As soon as she received a ‘Sew Your Own Molly Doll’ kit, it became all she was talking about. On the night we got the kit, she even slept with her doll (well, the kit in the cardboard box) and she was desperate to get sewing.
She did all the cutting herself and was so careful to do it right it was really sweet.
I started sewing an arm for her, so she would know what to do, and she immediately declared: “I know what to do! You put the needle in, you take it out and pull! Let me do it Mummy!” OK then.
Although she knew the theory, she still struggled a bit in practice so I helped her with all parts, starting and leaving the last straight line for her.
After an hour, we had both arms and legs ready to be stuffed and we put everything aside for the night.
When we went back to it, Beanie did not fancy needlework anymore so I did the rest of the sewing. She absolutely loved stuffing her doll and seeing her take shape.
When we were done, she declared: “Molly is my best friend. Forever and ever!” She even took her to the park, to the swimming pool and to Chessington.
We absolutely loved this little sewing kits for a number of reasons:
– It contains absolutely everything you need for the project, from the doll pattern to the needle to the pencil or scissors.
– There are only 16 steps to follow. They are well detailed and illustrated.
– The instructions are in English, French and German. Guess what my French friends’ children are getting for Christmas?
– No previous knowledge or sewing skills are needed.
– It teaches children basic sewing skills with the perfect goal: having your own homemade doll.
– It does not take forever to make the doll.
– The result is a really pretty doll, which gives the children taking part a real sense of achievement.
As soon as we finished making our Molly Doll, I ordered another four to give as presents!
I found this little project so lovely that I looked into ‘sew your own’ kits and ordered a couple of different ones for my children as they make nice projects for rainy days or holidays.
Here are the cutest homemade doll or teddy kits I could find:
Sew Your Own Elvis the Elephant
How cute are these? I bought a penguin for Crevette as a stocking filler.
Craft Sewing Kit Soft Personalised Doll by WILD THINGS FUNKY LITTLE DRESSES
Mini Personalised Doll Kit Elf by WILD THINGS FUNKY LITTLE DRESSES
Large Doll And Doll’s Dress Kit In Teal Blue by LITTLE RAGSMITH
Disclosure:
The lovely people at dotcomgiftshop sent us a Molly Doll for Christmas. They did not ask me to write about it. I loved it so much I decided to write about it and find more ‘sew your own’ toys. They kindly offered to give one away to one of my readers. I have included some links to Amazon and as an affiliate, if you click on the links and order from Amazon, I may receive a small commission.
I have teamed up with dotcomgiftshop to give away a Molly Doll to one lucky reader.
How to enter the giveaway:
You can pick and choose a range of ways in which to enter. The only one you must click on to get into the draw is the one asking you to leave a blog post comment. You must also leave a comment telling us what your favourite treat is for Christmas.
Entries are open until 23.59 p.m. GMT time on 2nd January 2017. Good luck!
DotComGiftShop – Molly Doll
Disclosure:
– The prize will be supplied directly by dotcomgiftshop.
– The giveaway is open to UK residents over 18.
– All opinions are my own.
I have listed this giveaway on ThePrizeFinder, SuperLucky, Competition Database and Loquax.
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My iPad x
probably when me and my siblings got my Mum an iPad, she loves it so much
The Crystal Maze board game because I wanted it so much and didn’t think I was getting it
The best present I was ever given was a poem that was written for me by a loved one
Has to be a personalised family photo for my mum
I was bought a sewing machine by my partner Ian, best present ever!
Mu husband bought mine when I was expecting our third baby. Love my sewing machine too!
an electric car aged 8 x
I have 4 grandchildren, the latest being 11 weeks old. I have knitted them all clothes & I really enjoyed doing this & they are all special to their parents & one offs.
That’s so lovely. I bet they’ve kept them all for their children to see when they grow up.
An ipad
It was a beautiful hand made bracelet from my neice -so special because she made it all by herself 20years ago
Handmade presents are always the best, aren’t they?
Has to be my duo boots, 1st pair of boots I ever had that fit properly.
A teddy when I was about 6-7
These are lovely kits
Good quality watch for fiancé.
My fav gift of all time was a Girls World, Basically a dolls head that you could style and add make-up too.
I used to love mine too!
Oh this is a hard question….If you ask the my girls it would be their tablets or laptop but in my opinion it would be for my youngest her monkey teddy which she takes everywhere and my eldest it would be her poo emoji slippers….They’re so funny! 😀 x
That monkey teddy must be really special for her… and the poo emoji slippers sound like every kid’s dream, bwahaha!
I think it was probably a personalised mirror to hang on the wall- not the most expensive but if you mean the most appreciated
Meaningful presents are so special, aren’t they?
a set of sylvanians
A mac book to my brother
Wow, now that’s not a small present!
I gave my brother a helicopter flight once
That’s brilliant!
Hello. I always struggle to think of the “perfect gift” but I did once buy a mag sub for someone in a subject that they’d mentioned they were interested in learning about. They got really into it, still keep it up, are really good at it and sell some of their work so hopefully, I helped a little.
Oh that’s a brilliant anecdote, thanks for sharing Caroline!
my sindy house
So far it was the play kitchen for my little girl. She absolutely loves it!
A pair of Emerald Earrings
I took my best friend a trip to Las Vegas, all expenses paid and we got to meet Britney Spears too
Whaaaaat! Gosh, don’t say that out loud, everyone will want to become your best friend, he he!
A black patent vanity case, which I received when I was 10, I thought I was so grown up!!!
I got one when I was 12 and I carried that huge vanity case around everywhere for years!
I believe the best present i have given was when i was out shopping on a freezing cold day i saw a homeless person sat in a doorway shivering so i bought her a bundle of thermal sleeping clothing / sleeping bag. I believe it was the most appreciated present i have bought anyone, thanks.x
This is such a heart-warming anecdote. If only more people helped people around them and looked after each other, the world really would be a better place.
A pair of Vans for my bro xx
My brothers all wear Vans but I’m not sure whether I’d choose the right colour for them 🙂
i always like to get a little something that means something whether its a mam/dad/grandad/nana etc
my son home this christmas from australia.
I saved £10 a week for almost 25 weeks to buy my husband a Playstation 3 back when they came out…he actually cried when he got it! 🙂
Awww bless, that’s so thoughtful… not the PS3, but the fact you spent so long saving for it and he appreciated the gift so much he cried. Love, love, love this!
an Amstrad 464 computer when i was 12. It was the latest computer then and the first one we ever had at home. it was ancient looking back but we had a lot of fun with it
We got an Atari when I was about the same age, and although you could do nothing other than playing games on it, my mum and I thought it was the best thing ever!
A dance Matt to my niece
Some aromatherapy play doh x
I got my Husband some flying lessons! He loved them and is still slowly learning now!
A samsung tablet to my 2 year old so she didnt fight her sister for hers?
My favourite present was a necklace with three diamonds, one for each of our angel babies. I can wear them everyday
Oh Jennifer, I would too. Your necklace is so special.
My bear Bimbo, still got him over 50 years later
I gave my nephew a balance bike that I won – he loves it!
I got my brother a photo canvas, a collage of his baby & other family photos. It turned out lovely and he treasures it!
We got my son a kitten last year and they have been inseparable ever since
my daughter ,to my husband ( she was born on Christmas day )
i got my husbands name tattooed on my bum as a fun surprise haha
My son who was born 4 days before Christmas In 2005
I bought my husband a flying lesson which he loved but it was also a great day out for the family at the airfield.
I gave my mum a grandparents photo album as a gift, and it was our way of telling her she was finally going to a nanny.
Oh that’s the best thing ever. I bet she was surprised and now treasures the album!
My lace making starter kit
The best one i ever received was my ‘mum’ ring and the best one i gave was a family tree cross stitch i made for my mum
My boyfriend bought me a Nintendo NES console the first Christmas we were together! I had told him that I has one growing up and was absolutely gutted when my parents gave it away, I didn’t bring it up again but he remembered and surprised me on Christmas morning with it! I still play it now 5 years on!
Oh that’s so sweet!
a watch for my boyfriend
I like to spend time making cakes and cards
I like to give hand on gifts to children such as making jewellery etc
a blue and white dog pj case….. do they even make these anymore?
A dolls house to my lovely niece x
I got my husband a scrabble board game, and spelt out his real present – that we were going on holiday! I even managed to get the sellophane back on again, it looked brand new and unopened! He was shocked!
Oh wow, that’s just amazing! Love the fact you managed to get it to look new with the surprise message inside: priceless!
This year for my nephews I bought an astronaut costume for the biggest, a small wooden rocket for the youngest and a book to share on how to catch a star by O. Jeffers… quite proud of myself ;-)))
They’re brilliant pressies!
my family
I won an iPad and a personalized case in 2 contests a couple of years ago. Luckily, this was before I had bought my husband his Christmas gift. He absolutely loved it.
That’s brilliant! I bet he loved his pressie 🙂
A dolls house for my daughter
a playhouse in the garden for my little boy
A number of years ago I bought my husband a MIG welder. I think that would be classed as the best present I have given but you would have to ask my family to be sure 🙂
Love this and Beanie looks like she enjoyed helping to sew her Molly doll. I’m hoping that this year’s Christmas present to hubby will be the best one ever (it’s a handmade present which I’ve been working on for most of the autumn!) but my best one so far is my annual present to my mum – the promise of a bouquet of fresh flowers every month throughout the year.
I love this present to your mum, it’s so, so thoughtful. I remember you mentioning this before and I love it! Can’t wait to find out what you made for your Hubby. x
a friend had lost their job so i made up a box full of their favourite treats and gave it to them.
That’s so kind of you!
my nephew is having a cheese and onion hamper this Christmas (he loves cheese and onion sandwich)
Probably concert tickets because I knew they really wanted to go 🙂
a competition win of a trip to Paris to my parents.
My daughter 12 years ago she was the best Christmas present ever ?
mmy sewing machine i love it
A trip to New York on the QE2
a pretty bracelet
My first computer- it was a revelation
My bicycle
The best gift I’ve ever given were tickets to Justin Beiber … My teenager actually hugged me and said Thank You!
A clock 🙂
i gave my parents a characature of themselves
My family is all I need
A teddy as big as me when I was little
i cant really pick but definately the homemade gifts i have given
A puppy!! This year I got given a cavapoo and she’s going to be my therapy dog and I love her!!!
an electric typewriter
My Pilates book!
A ukulele was my best present
Sylvanian Families. They were my favourite toy.
A bike for my son
That must be for my husband he had an old VHS with his parents at a christening I got it converted to a dvd there wasn’t a dry eye in the house brought back lovely memories of them both
We did that for my grandparents a few years ago. Best thing ever!
No one every complains about the prezzys I give, I’m happy with chocs or bath goodies
A personalised painting of my Nan and Grandad’s garden.
I loved my game boy so much when I was little. It gave me an escape from other things happening around me.
My north face coat! Super warm
A bike to my little boy
Well, I guess that depends on the views of the person who received it! This Christmas, my husband said his favourite present was the Godfather trilogy boxset.
A magic set. Turned out to be my niece’s hidden talent!
A handmade dress for my great niece. Both she and my niece (her mum) loved it!
This year my children spoilt me I love my new charm for my pandora bracelet
I gave my niece a cross stitch sampler for her wedding and she loved it!
My favourite treat at Christmas time is always the Christmas cake! It’s so delicious, I was very spoiled this year and received a slow cooker from my mother, I love it!
a laptop
a necklace with my grandsons fingerprints on to my daughter-in-law
A blanket I knitted my eldest daughter for when she moved out to University, took me months. I’m still trying to knit one for my middle daughter, that’s taken me a few years !
my daughters bike
We found out we were expecting on Xmas eve. That was my hubbys best X,as gift
Oh that’s wonderful! Congratulations to the two of you!
I bought my hubby some new ski’s for Christmas, i’ve never seen him so surprised and happy at the same time lol
A collection of Agatha Christie books.
A bike for my son
A girls world when i was little.
my laptop x
A photo book for my nan
My sons bike last year, he’d been asking for a new bike for ages and was so excited when he saw it.
gave my daughter and son in law a ps4
We didn’t have much money this year so the gift of spending quality time with my lovely family
my husband a brand new truck
I gave my Mum a signed photo of Noel Edmonds and she positively beamed; I’ve literally never seen her so happy!
A new laptop for my dad.
Poo! A History of the World from the Bottom Up! book, eldest loved it even though it was aimed at older kids 9+ the twins also loved the realistic poo in their Xmas stockings – although it became a huge effort pretending to be surprised
Brilliant! I was intrigued by the title of the book (quite understandably) so I looked it up and I’ve just ordered it for my 8yo! Thanks for the inspiration.
this year a trampoline to the grandchildren they are so so happy
I gave my husband a hand knitted sweater which i had to knit when he wasn’t around as i wanted it to be a surprise.He wore it until it literally fell to pieces and he keeps asking me to knit him another one.
Oh that’s so sweet!
My guinea pigs!
sewing machine
These are so cute! x
Thanks Catherine!
spin art – wish i still had one
A pink mini netbook, it was beautiful
I spent almost a year knitting a scarf for my Mum. I had to learn how to knit and I wrote Happy Mother’s Day in white wool against a red background and then I backed it with white satin. It took a lot of planning for a novice.
A beautiful canvas of my children
isle of wight tickets
These are so cute and such a clever idea x
My young grandson gave me a brightly painted pasta necklace!
I think the best present I have ever given was 12 months of dates to my husband. They were all pre-planned and they meant that no matter how busy life got, we made time for each and created some wonderful memories. I plan to make a scrapbook out of them to give him next year.
That’s such a brilliant idea! You should do that every year 🙂
I’m hoping too but worry I will run out of date ideas – we even did silly little things like building a blanket fort to have a carpet picnic in while we watched movies. We covered it in fairy lights. It was such a good time. I think this would be a great gift for others as well – best friends, grand parents – they always say the greatest gift you can give is time 🙂
Oh that’s absolutely brilliant, I love this! I’m trying to do something similar with my children and for January to March, I’ve got 9 days out on a one-to-one basis (I have 4 children) so they are over the moon they’ll each get their mummy to themselves for a whole day every couple of months. Just like you, what we’re doing is not necessarily costing anything, but the important thing is I’m committing to be with them 100% on those days and it will be brilliant!
Best present is the bike I got my daughter and my fave Christmas treat is the Christmas dinner
Ti sento bracelet
My ipad
This year after making 8 dinners for my family, I managed to make another 10 dinners from the left overs and gave them the a homeless camp in our town centre, this is the best gift I’ve ever given.
Break in Paris 🙂
A handmade quilt
An I pad air
Xbox one that my son had 2years ago, it is used daily
A bike for my son as he is obsessed with bikes so he was so excited to get one x
Gosh, I am not sure but probably money for my children who are saving for large purchases.
my dolphin chain
My aunt bought me a doll and then made loads of clothes for her . I really loved it
a phone for my son
has to be my sister bought me a break to see the family.
A supercar driving experience
Sinclair spectrum computer
Flowers to my mum
engagement ring
I adopted a chicken for my wife 🙂
Airline tickets to Australia 🙂
Monopoly game when I was about 10. I still have it.
Oops, got distracted reading other posts and forgot to say the best present I’ve ever given, not received. I gave my mum a collage of photos of her and my dad.
My Kindle that I had this Christmas .x
i think it would be the iPad I gave my hubby – he never puts it down lol
I once was given a reighley striker.
Many years ago I gave an Xbox to my husband and he still says it was the best gift ever!
A personalised water colour painting of my family x
My daughter wants to be a zookeeper, so I got her a ‘Zookeeper experience day’ 🙂
That’s brilliant!
My diary , i would be lost without it x
my first bycycle
I bought a clarinet for my husband a couple of years ago, he loved it!
My cross necklace from my nan
A pamper day for my mum <3
My little girl would love this, and it’s so sweet. the best thing I have bought for a present was an ps4 for my son
giving mum and dad a canvas of all there grand kids
this year, a kenwood mixer 🙂
A handmade wooden aga play cooker for my two little ones
A few years ago I gave my Dad a breadmaker – he loves it
When i was little we had 1 main present and then 1 or 2 small things. One year i got a doll, when u lifted her arm up and down her hair grew out of the top of her head. I remember like it was yesterday. I loved that doll
I had that doll too! Best pressie ever.
She was awesome, i looked about for something similar for my daughter but could never find one.
🙂
the best present I’ve probably given is an X-Box One for my husband – it’s probably also the worst as I have to listen to soldiers screaming ‘attack this objective’ 24/7 …
I brought my mum a photo album with photo’s from her 70th birthday which she loved
I think whe my mum took me to disneyworld for xmas was prob the best pressie for me as a kid – as an adult its prob my new laptop!
Playdoh is always a hit in our house!
Love the dolls! Just beautiful! My little girl would love to make one !
I bought my youngest granddaughter an iPod this Christmas so she didn’t keep taking her sisters when they weren’t looking. She’s only three but loves the Teletubbies.
kindle
keep fit sindy
TV
A positive pregnancy test 🙂
I got my fiance a PS4 which he had been wanting for ages but never had the money for.
A gold cross pendant we got for our nan afters hers was stollen
For my father for his 60th birthday a photobook with photos from when he was a baby all the way up to today! He loved it, thought he was going to cry at one point.
I did that for my father-in-law’s 60th birthday 🙂
A framed family photo
my bike 🙂
A rainbow brite doll!
A vintage guitar
A sewing machine to my daughter. She loves making things!
Matching sentimental necklaces to my closest friends and family so they knew just how much they meant to me 🙂 Dxx
My converse, favourite colour too! Teal!
A holiday
I created a personalised photo album for my Mum. She loved it!
I surprised my husband with a trip to the Bahamas, it was a combined birthday/christmas and belated honeymoon