Kokeshi dolls:

Kokoro y Sakura

y t o f ollow
eas life
With s a n d
tion By Paloma Rocha
instruc atterns.
size P
 Please, read all of
the instructions before
starting your
project.
. Finished size: 6”.
. Difficulty level: Easy/intermediate.
Runtime: 3 hours.

Tools
. Embroidery needle.
. Pencil or felt marker.
. Scissors.
. Chopstick or pointy tool.
. Embroidery scissors.

Materials
Sakura Kokoro
. Aqua felt (8”x 8”). . Brown felt (7”x 4”).
. Peach felt (3” x 3”). . Peach felt (3” x 3”).
. Pale blue felt (6”x 4”). . Red felt (4”x 6”).
. Scraps of pin and pale pink felt. . Scraps of green felt.
. Stuffing. . Stuffing.
. Embroidery floss. . Embroidery floss.
. Ribbons. . Ribbons.

How to embroider in felt

To embroider the designs, first trace the embroidery template on the thin tracing paper
or a tissue paper and pin this paper on the felt shape, as shown. Using large needle and
embroidery floss, sew along the pencil lines. Then, carefully, tear away the paper to remove
it, using a pin to remove any little pieces of paper.
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 Felt
Felt can basically be divided into two types: wool felt or washable felt. Wool felt is
recommended for these ornaments. These quality materials help dolls look their very best.

Cutting out shapes

Print a page 10 and 11 of this pdf, and cut out templates using scissors. Trace templates
onto felt using a felt marker or pencil and cut out on the line. Cut carefully so edges are
vertical, not slanted.

Cutting tiny shapes

Remove paper
pattern

Paper pattern
Felt
Cut

Cut out the paper pattern roughly and attach it onto felt. Roughly cut out the felt around
the pattern, which will be easier to maneuver and cut to final shape without removing
paper.

Sewing and embroidery

This doll is embroidered and stitched together with embroidery floss.
In case you´re not familiar with one of the stitches, you can practice the stitches a few
times on a felt scraps before working on a doll. None of the stitches are difficult, but can
take some practice to get perfect. Always keep your stitches and the space between them
the same length. Be consistent with your sewing tension.
Or, if you want to keep embroidery to a minimum, you can sometimes glue on certain
elements, instead of embroidering them.
You can experiment and use your imagination to customize the project.
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 1. Applique stitch 2. Overcast stitch 3. Straight stitch 4. Satin stitch
2 in

1out
Keep thread
at right angle

5. Lazy daisy 6. Split stitch 7. Back stitch

1out Working
1out direction

3 out 2 in
2 in

Carry needle 1 stitch

beyond previous stitch

8. French knot 9. Ladder stitch 10. Running stitch

le
circ
Entwice

1. Appliqué Stitch: Stitching a felt piece onto a felt surface. Place the appliqué on the background felt.
Make tiny stitches perpendicular to the edge of the appliqué.
2. Overcast Stitch: Simple stitch over the edge of the felt. Also called whip-stitch, is used to attach two
pieces of felt. This isn´t a decorative stitch, so always use floss that matches the color of the felt and make
the stitches small and neat.
3. Straight Stitch: Use a simple straight stitch to create a motif.
4. Satin Stitch: The satin stitch is composed of parallel rows of straight stitch and is often used to fill in
an area with floss. The make very nice eyes and noses on softies.
5. Lazy daisy: Make a small loop and then anchor it with a single stitch at top for the decorative stitch
that resembles a flower petal.
6. Split stitch: Each stitch always emerge from the center of the previous stitch, to split the floss in half.
7. Back Stitch: This simple stitch creates a solid line so it´s great for outlining shapes or creating text.
A backstitch gets its name because you create it moving the needle a stitch backward before moving it
forward to create the next stitch.
8. French Knots: The French knot produces a rounded knot that can be used to create a series of
decorative dots. To make it, bring the needle up at the point at which you want to make your French knot,
hold the thread and wrap it around the needle twice, as shown. Bring the needle back to the starting point
and put the point back through the fabric very near where it emerged (be careful not use the same exact
hole) . Pull the needle to the back of the felt and pull taut. To make a bigger knot, wrap more twists of
thread around the needle and/or use more strands of floss in your needle.
9. Ladder stitch: The ladder stitch is used to attach separate parts such as a doll’s head. It’s called the
ladder stitch because the stitches look like a ladder until you pull the stitches tight to close the seam. Pull
every four or five stitches as you stitch. When the thread is tightened, the stitches should be virtually
invisible.
10. Running Stitch: The running stitch is simple to make. Make this stitch by weaving the needle
through the felt at evenly spaced intervals. Just be careful to keep the length of your stitches and the space
between them same length.
4
 How to make:
ué
p liq h
1 2 Runn
i
Apstitc 3
stitchng

Running
the n stitch
Se ons od
w
Straigh
t
b a stitc h
4 rib e he 5 6
t h

Satin
stitch French
knots

Back
t
stitch Straigh
stitch
Stuff
9
8
ast
Overc h
stitc
7

Overc
a
Stuff stitch st Painteks
he
the c
Running
Running stitch
stitch ng
n ni h
c
Ru stit

10 11 12

5
 Straigh
t ast
c h Overc h
st it sti t c

Runn
i Appliqué
stitchng stitch
Fren
Stuff
13 kno ch
ts

Ladder 14
stitch

Doll front
Doll front

Doll back
Doll back
Doll back
Doll back
Couture Ladder Doll front Ladder
Doll front stitch stitch
Doll back
Doll back

Doll front Doll front

15
Runn Satin
i
stitchng stitch

Back t
stitch Straigh
stitc h

6
 18 19
Stuff

ast
Overc h
stitc

17
Overc
a
stitch st Painteks
Stuff he
the c

dy
e w t he bo same 20
S e
ing th r the
followtions as fo anging
c h
instru kokeshi, c roidery.
r a m b
saku imono e
the k

Lazyy
dais h
stitc Fren
kno ch
ts
t
Straigh
stitc h

1. Cut the felt shapes.

2. Carefully position the hair at the top of the face piece. Adjust the hair so that it´s centred
correctly and pin in place. Sew the hairline onto de face using tiny running stitch and two
strands of matching floss.
3. Pin the top hair in place on the head. Using the matching sewing thread and needle, sew
around the edges, as shown.
4. Embroider the face (see page 2). Thread an embroidery needle with two strands of
brown embroidery floss and sew the eyes and lashes onto the face piece. The eyes are made
using a few curving backstitches, and the eyelashes with two small straight stitches for each
eye. Make doll´s brows by sewing a tiny straight stitch for each one and placing at a slight
angle. Re-thread the needle with red floss and embroider a small, curved mouth with a few
backstitches. Now, stitch the lips, using horizontal straight stitches positioned very close
together.
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5. Sew several ribbons on the hair front, as shown.
6. Arrange the two petals shapes, as pictured. Using the picture as a guide, sew a small star
of five straight stitches in the center of the flower using two strands of yellow floss. Add a
French knot on the ends of each straight stitch.
7. Align the two buns pieces and sew them together with a overcast stitch, using two strands
of matching embroidery floss. Leave a gap at the bottom of the each bun and fill it with a
tiny amount of toy stuffing, using a toothpick to arrange it evenly.
8. Use craft glue to fix the buns in position on the wrong side of the second head piece.
Align the two head pieces together, right sides out. Thread an embroidery needle with
a two strands of embroidery floss and sew the two head pieces together with a overcast
stitch. Stop stitching when opening is small enough for stuffing. Fill it very firmly with toy
stuffing and stitch it closed.
9. To paint the cheeks, rub a pink artist pastel onto a piece of paper and then apply the
resulting powder to the face with a soft blush or you can use a colored pencil instead.
10. Position the kimono front on the neck, so that the kimono overlaps the neck, as pictured
and pin them in place. Sew the kimono and neck together using running stitch and two
strands of pale blue floss.
11. Sew the blue ribbon on the neck area, using the picture as a guide.
12. Stick the belt onto the kimono front and back, lining up the edges carefully and sew
them in place using running stitch.
13. Add a ribbon on the belt as shown. Carefully, arrange the sleeves, as pictured. Sew
them in position with two strands of matching embroidery floss, sewing around the edges
of each shape with appliqué stitches, leaving the area at each side open. Add the sakura
flowers and the embroidered details, using the picture as a guide. Align the two kimono
shapes together and thread an embroidery needle with two strands of floss. Stitch the
pieces together around the edges of the kimono using overcast stitch, leaving the bottom
open. Pad firmly with toy stuffing, using a toothpick to distribute it evenly, then sew shut.
14. Position the head so that it overlaps the body. Using a long embroidery needle and
two strands of floss, attach them together using a ladder stitch through the head and the
neck and going round and round till the head is secure. If the head seems wobbly, go back
around one more time with the ladder stitch.
15. Cut the felt shapes. Carefully position the hair at the top of the face piece. Adjust the
hair so that it´s centred correctly and pin in place. Sew the hairline onto de face using tiny
running stitch and two strands of matching floss.
16. Embroider the face (see page 2). Thread an embroidery needle with two strands of
brown embroidery floss and sew the eyes and lashes onto the face piece. The eyes are made
using a few curving backstitches, and the eyelashes with two small straight stitches for each
eye. Make doll´s brows by sewing a tiny straight stitch for each one and placing at a slight
angle. Re-thread the needle with red floss and embroider a small, curved mouth with a few
backstitches. Now, stitch the lips, using horizontal straight stitches positioned very close
together.
17. Align the two pigtails pieces and sew together with a overcast stitch, using two strands
of matching embroidery floss. Leave a gap at the top of the each pigtail and fill it with a tiny
amount of toy stuffing, using a toothpick to arrange it evenly.

8
18. Use craft glue to fix the pigtails in position on the wrong side of the second head piece.
Align the two head pieces together, right sides out. Thread an embroidery needle with
a two strands of embroidery floss and sew the two head pieces together with a overcast
stitch. Stop stitching when opening is small enough for stuffing. Fill it very firmly with toy
stuffing and stitch it closed.
19. Paint the cheeks.
20. Sew the body and attach it to the head following the same instructions as for the
“Sakura kokeshi” (from the step 10 to the 14), changing the kimono embroidery.

9
 Sakura:

Hair (cut 1)
Aqua

Head Back
(cut 1)
Aqua

Head Front
(cut 1)
Face Aqua
(cut 1)
Peach

Bun (cut 4)
Aqua

Sakura
(cut 3)
Sakura
Pale pink (cut 1)
Pale pink

Neck
(cut 1) Sleeve
Peach (cut 2)
Kimono back Blue
Kimono front Sakura
(cut 1) (cut 1) (cut 1)
Pink
Blue Blue

Belt
(cut 2)
Pink

10
 Kokoro

Face
Head Front (cut 1)
(cut 1) Peach
Brown
Pi Br
gt ow

Neck
ail n

(cut 1)
Head Back
(cu

Peach (cut 1)
t4

Brown
)

Kimono front
(cut 1)
Blue

Sleeve
(cut 2)
Kimono back Blue
(cut 1)
Blue

Belt
(cut 2)
Pink

11
 Designed by:

Noia Land
©2016 Paloma Rocha.
www.noialand.com

©2016 Paloma Rocha.

This pattern is intended for personal use only
and not for commercial resale. Photocopying,
emailing and the other copying to share these
instruction is strictly prohibited by law without
the designer´s written permission. Thank you
for respecting the designer´s copyright.