Church or pew baby doll

[Eileen Hook]

Does anyone have directions on how to make a church baby or pew baby doll? They were used to keep small children quiet during church services. Good for teething kids to chew on. The one I've seen had a cone-like head stuffed with polyfiber and then long strips hung from this and were braided into legs and arms. I've also seen them made of handkerchiefs. This is a good use for scrap cotton!

Thanks,
Eileen

[Elizabeth]

Eileen, I've not seen anything on them for mid-19th century, unfortunately.  I have a feeling that they may be an early 20th century thing, rather than mid-century.  Did you come across a new reference? 

[Sandy Whitlow]

I think that Ragged Soldier's "Rolled Fabric Doll" would answer nicely for a correct "quiet" play doll and is most appropriate for mid 19th century. I've seen a few photos of original roll up dolls and their's is right on the button! 

Sandy

[vmescher]

Church dolls are really neat looking and have a very charming story...

But...

The following is something Virginia prepared in answer to a similar question on another forum.  I've cut and pasted that response into this reply.

I looked in the doll books that we have and did not find anything on
handkerchief doll.  In a web search, I found a number of web sites that say
they were used in Revolutionary times, Civil War times, or mothers made
them for little girls in church, but no one offered any primary
documentation.  Since these dolls would have been used, untied and remade,
there were none shown in any of our antique doll books.   

I also checked all the period girl's activity books, and the only dolls
mentioned were either paper dolls, the rolled fabric dolls similar to the
kits we offer in our catalogue and store bought dolls such as china or
penny wooden dolls.  Some of the books, as well as Godey's, give detailed
directions on how to make doll clothes, but from those directions, it seems
to indicate that the dolls were purchased.  In "The Girl's Own Book" by
Lydia Child (1834) the doll section just briefly described dolls, but more
emphasis was placed on the value of dolls in a little girl's life. 

The only close to period reference I found to handkerchief dolls was in the
book, "The American Boys Handy Book" by Dan Beard which was published in
1882.  The dolls used in this reference called for the dolls to be made and
used in a parlour magic trick, rather than a plaything for little girls.
Directions were given for rolling and folding the handkerchief into a doll.
 In the 1887 companion, "The American Girls' Handy Book" by Linda and
Adelia Beard, did not have any directions for dolls except for cornhusk and
flower dolls.

So we would love to see some primary period documentation for a church doll or handkerchief doll if anyone has any and could share it.  Until then, I wouldn't do them at an event or promote them as a period appropriate activity, despite their attractiveness.  And that advice really hurts because before we researched them ourselves, I'd learned to tie a lady doll, a man doll, and two babies in a cradle, each using a handkerchief or napkin.  They really were cute!  But I don't do them anymore.

Michael Mescher

[Eileen Hook]

Thanks for the help ladies - I haven't found anything new about church babies, I was just wondering if they were period and how to make them.

[Nona Nelson]

I find this really intersting...we have a "handkerchief doll" at kids outstation at the fort....

[Elizabeth]

It may be a good candidate for historical upgrade, Nona.

[Nona Nelson]

It may be a good candidate for historical upgrade, Nona.

I was just thinking that....I may have just called apon myself to make a rolled fabric doll.

[Vickie Westrup]

Eileen,
I have several that I made up for Trader's Fair this last year.  I sold a couple of them.  I can bring one next LH if you want.

Vickie

[Elizabeth]

Vickie, did you come across some pre-1865 references to pew babies?  None of the rest of us are finding anything about them earlier than the later 19th century/early 20th century--earlier references would be greatly appreciated!