The term "rag doll" actually describes almost any stuffed, cotton cloth doll made from scraps of fabrics. Most early American rag dolls were probably stuffed with the least appealing fabric scraps with the best pieces being used for the doll's body and clothes. If the doll had hair, it was usually made from yarn or string. The faces were embroidered in a wide variety of styles or painted. Many of the rag dolls made in before 1800 have not survived due to the disintegration of the fabric over the years.
Since not much history has been written on handmade black cloth dolls, information has been relied on from oral history that has been passed down or from actual dolls that were found. After the Civil War, black women had few opportunities available to them, except dressmaking, and some of them became very skilled seamstresses. They would use leftover scraps from the beautiful fabrics of the clothes they made for their customers to make elaborately dressed dolls.
Beginning in 1893, the E.I. Horseman Company manufactured a black Babyland Rag Doll named "Dinah." This doll was featured on a U.S. 32-cent stamp in 1997. Another black cloth doll was produced around 1900 by the Babyland Rag Company, which also made black dolls with lithographed faces. Patterns for black dolls were produced during the first half of the 1900s. Some of these vintage patterns are still available as reprints.
After the Civil Rights movement, black dolls became less popular, but there is a resurgence in their interest today. Most of these dolls are the cherished possessions of individuals and some are even featured in museums. Many of these have become collectibles and are considered to be valuable folk art.
The type of rag doll pattern included in this kit is referred to as the "pancake style doll" because it is flat on both sides. This is the most common and easiest of cloth dolls to make. Many black rag dolls in the past featured raised facial features, especially the nose. Who knows, the doll you make today may
someday be an historical artifact so we encourage you to sign and date your doll underneath the clothing.
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