This was a favourite project, the students loved designing and making their own soft “Ugly Doll” toy. The school topic was “Celebrate Difference!” Many students had seen the 2019 Ugly Doll movie, but we watched the trailer on YouTube so everyone got a sense of how it related to the topic. We discussed the ideas and messages in the film: e.g. “Our flaws are what make us unique.”
Students set about drafting a shape and design for their ‘ugly doll’ in their scrap books. The shape needed to be fairly simple so that it would be easy to sew around. Arms, legs, ears or any other appendages were added separately. I gave them half and A4 paper to make a template that size to cut out and pin to their chosen felt colour (two pieces cut together).
Felt scraps, buttons, wool etc, could be sewn or glued onto the top piece of felt to create the face, hair etc. They cut out arms, legs, etc. pinning to the body shape.
The two pieces are pinned around the edges and are stitched together, using either a running stitch or a whip stitch, leaving an opening at the top or bottom for stuffing, then stitched up.
Primary School Art 