The doll shape and colour are what make this figure such fun to make and own. Choose your fabric carefully with colour and small print patterns in mind. Blues and lilacs are very calming, whilst vibrant  yellows and oranges are comforting and inspiring.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Print off the template.  This pattern will take up 2 pages of A4 printing.
You will need to enlarge the template as it should measure 12" in height.  
The template should fit an A3 sized piece of paper. 
If you don't have an A3 printer, you will need to have it photocopied larger.
2. For best results trace onto freezer paper and cut out the shape before ironing it 
onto the wrong side of your chosen piece of doubled fabric and then mark around it 
with a fade away marker or mechanical pencil and peel off the freezer paper for 
later reuse . Or draw around a cardboard template.
This doll will fit nicely on a fat quarter piece of material with some to spare.
3. When you machine sew all around the shape, make sure you use a small 2.0 stitch
length and matching thread. Use the template as a sewing guide 
and an open toe appliqué foot if you have one. Leave the opening for turning and 
filling as you sew around the shape. Take the speed of your sewing slowly so as 
to keep the curvaceous figure of the dolls. If you wish, turn the shapes over and 
sew a second time over your first line of stitches. The bias of the fabric 
contributes to the shape and form of the figure.
4. Cut out the shape, trimming to a scant 0.3mm around the seam 
allowance and turn right sides out. (This is made easier using turning tubes)
5. Carefully stuff the figure with good quality, springy polyester filling. 
As you fill the shape, check for puckers and creases.
6. Slip-stitch the opening closed and sew a piece of invisible thread to the 
head so that she can dance.

Whilst these figures are made from relatively simple shapes, their difficulty 
lies in keeping the shapes curved and flowing. If you make a mistake it 
is worth re-sewing just that particular bit and using a quick unpick to
remove any unwanted stitches.

I hope you enjoy making her and watching her lift your spirits as much as I enjoy mine.
Sara Maddocks