Mr Tumble...

As some of you will have seen on my to do list in the prev post I planned to make my gorgeous little Granddaughter P a Mr  Tumble doll for her second birthday this Saturday.  She loves his programme and is already able to use many of the signs he uses.  She doesn't have special needs but I am certain the more that can converse with children that do the better.


As a lot of you don't know who Mr Tumble is [and why would you unless you have a pre-school child in your life?] I thought I would add a pic of the real thing.  He is a clown played by Justin Fletcher on Something Special which is a programme aimed at special needs children and he uses Makaton Sign language......It's a brilliant programme and all little children seem to love it.

Several asked for updates when I made him so here goes......

 Firstly I have an old favourite when it comes to doll making.  I have used the rag doll pattern from this book very many times and adapted it each time to suit the needs of the doll.  It makes a doll about 16" in height so it is a very huggable size.

I have selected all the materials needed.

I don't have any striped yellow fabric so.....

.....I stripe my own with blue stitching  :-)

Here you can see I have started to make his body.  Iv'e made this pattern so many times now that it is like creating an old friend.

This is the body completed and now I can make him have a personality.

I have made a wig from long fur fabric and glued it in place before stitching it....don't worry he will get a hair cut  :-)







I made the clothes by adapting the pattern to make his waistcoat with yellow sleeves with velcro fastenings, a red dickie bow tieand red felt buttons.....You have to get the details right or they notice you know  :-)

Ta da!

I have added black felt shoes and made him a spotty bag....You can't have a Mr Tumble without his spotty bag can you?  I'm sure I will have one happy Granddaughter on Saturday....don't you agree?  :-)