The outfit for this yarn doll is based on a design from the 1960s. Other yarn dolls were not dressed with felt or material; instead, the yarn formed the dress for a girl (or the pants for a boy). Yarn dolls were made during the Colonial America period from homespun yarn. Yarn was one of the first products to be industrialized in North America. The Coats and Clark Company in the United States first marketed Red Heart Yarn in September, 1936, and the first acrylic yarn in 1959.
Making yarn dolls became a popular pastime, and the yarn doll was listed as a craft activity in one of the earliest Brownie Scout Hand Books. Yarn Dolls are a fun and easy craft project that is perfect for a group activity or an individual.
For the history of spinning wool into yarn, please see the historical background for our Wool Drop Spindle Only (4602).Likewise, see our Wool Roving (4603) for the historical background on wool roving.
The above info is copyrighted by Historical Folk Toys, LLC and has been properly registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. All rights reserved. Any reprint or reuse -- in any form or by any means -- is strictly prohibited without our written permission.