Creating Traditional Indian Wedding Dolls: A Step-By-Step Guide

Indian wedding dolls are a vibrant and creative way to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of India. These dolls are often crafted with intricate details, donning traditional Indian attire, and are used for a variety of purposes. From cake toppers to decorative showpieces, Indian wedding dolls are a popular choice for those seeking unique and meaningful additions to their celebrations. With a wide range of materials such as wood, fabric, plastic, and even recycled materials, these dolls offer a diverse selection to suit different preferences and occasions. Whether it's a vintage Punjabi bride doll, a handcrafted Rajasthani bride and groom pair, or a modern interpretation of a North Indian Sindhi bride, these dolls showcase the diverse traditions and fashion of Indian weddings.

Using quilling

Quilling is a great way to create intricate and beautiful Indian wedding dolls. Here's a step-by-step guide to making these dolls using the quilling technique:

Materials

To get started, you'll need some basic materials:

• Quilling paper strips in various colours, including gold and cream for the wedding attire.
• A quilling tool to roll the paper strips into tight coils.
• Glue to assemble the coils and create the desired shapes.
• Cardboard or thick paper for the doll's body and base.
• Paint or markers to add details and features to the dolls.

Creating the Dolls

Start by deciding on the size and style of your Indian wedding dolls. You can find inspiration online or create your own unique design. Using the quilling tool, roll the paper strips into tight coils and then pinch one end to create a teardrop shape. These coils will form the basic elements of your dolls' attire and decorations. For the body, cut out two cardboard or thick paper shapes—one for the torso and one for the base. Glue the coils onto the torso to create the intricate patterns of the wedding attire, layering and arranging them to form the dress, jewellery, and headpiece. Use different colours and sizes of coils to add depth and detail.

For the face, you can either paint or draw the features directly onto the torso or create a separate headpiece with a quilled headdress and glued-on eyes and a smile. Add details such as earrings, a necklace, and a nose ring using smaller coils. You can also quill a bouquet for the bride doll to hold. Assemble the dolls by gluing the torso to the base. You can add a stand to the base for stability. Finally, feel free to add any extra embellishments or decorations to your Indian wedding dolls to make them truly unique.

Display and Gifts

These quilled Indian wedding dolls can be displayed as part of your wedding decor or given as gifts to the wedding couple. They make beautiful keepsakes to commemorate the special day. You can even create a pair of quilled wedding cake toppers using the same technique.

Using clay

Materials and Tools:

First, gather all the necessary materials and tools. You will need air-dry clay in the colours you want for your dolls, or white clay that can be painted later. You will also need shaping tools like a small knife, spatula, toothpick, and a rolling pin for sculpting and carving the clay. It is also useful to have smoothing tools like a sponge, small brush, and water to smooth out any imperfections or fingerprints. A water dish is handy for moistening your hands or the clay surface. To prevent the clay from sticking to your work surface, use a glass or plastic plate as a workspace mat. Ensure your workspace is clean and dry to prevent dust and humidity that can affect the clay's quality.

Planning and Design:

Before you begin, plan your design. You can find inspiration from books, the internet, or use your imagination. Decide on the size and style of your Indian wedding dolls, and sketch out a basic design to follow.

Creating the Frame:

Cut the fur off some pipe cleaners and use them to create a frame for your doll's body, including the head, arms, and legs. You can also use wire pieces for the upper and lower arms, upper and lower legs, feet, hands, chest, and hips. Pad this frame with a cheap material like aluminium foil or tape to add volume and save clay. Leave the extra wire uncovered around the elbows and knees to create joints later.

Shaping and Assembling:

Divide the clay into sections for each part of the doll—head, body, arms, and legs. Begin shaping the clay into the desired forms, using your shaping tools and fingers. After shaping the individual parts, gently connect them using wet clay or water, ensuring the connections are smoothed for a seamless appearance.

Detailing and Sculpting:

Now, it's time to add details to your Indian wedding dolls. Use a toothpick or other tools to sculpt facial features like eyes, nose, and mouth, as well as hair, clothing, and accessories. This is where you can really express your creativity and add unique touches. Remember to use reference images of Indian wedding attire for inspiration and accuracy.

Curing and Drying:

Allow your dolls to dry completely, which can take several days depending on the size and thickness of the clay. If using an air-dry clay, work on one body part at a time to prevent the clay from drying out before you finish. For oven-baked clay, follow the manufacturer's instructions, but generally, it's best to bake at a lower temperature for a longer time to prevent burning. Some clays may require a kiln, so choose your clay type accordingly.

Painting and Decorating:

Once your dolls are dry, you can start painting them with acrylics or watercolours to add more detail and character. You can also dress your dolls in fabric or add accessories to make them truly unique. Remember to take your time and be patient during the entire process for the best results.

Storage:

Always store any unused clay in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out and becoming unusable.

Using wood

Materials and Tools

You will need a type of wood that is easy to work with and carve, such as pine or basswood. Other materials include wood glue, sandpaper, paint or wood stain, fabric for clothing, and any desired embellishments like beads or jewellery. Basic tools include a hand saw, knife, sandpaper, paintbrushes, and fabric scissors.

Design and Proportions

Before beginning, it is important to plan the design and proportions of your dolls. Decide on the size and style of your Indian wedding dolls, considering the clothing, hairstyles, and accessories. Sketching out your design can be helpful. Keep in mind that the proportions of the body parts should be harmonious, with the head typically being about one-eighth of the total body height.

Carving the Body

Start by cutting the wood to the desired length for the body of your doll, using a hand saw. Then, use a knife to carve out the basic shape of the body, including the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and legs. Sand the body to smooth out any rough edges, creating a more refined shape.

Adding Details

Use your knife and sandpaper to carve and shape the facial features, including the eyes, nose, and mouth. You can add further detail by carving the hair, any jewellery, and the clothing patterns. Sand the wood regularly to ensure a smooth finish.

Painting and Decorating

Paint the dolls using appropriate colours for Indian wedding attire. You can use acrylic paints or wood stains. Consider the traditional colours and patterns typically used in Indian weddings, such as vibrant reds, golds, and intricate henna designs. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Creating the Clothing

Fabric can be used to create the clothing for your dolls. Choose fabrics that resemble traditional Indian wedding attire, such as silk, cotton, or brocade. Cut and sew the fabric to fit the dolls, adding any necessary embellishments like beads or embroidery.

Final Touches and Assembly

Add any final touches, such as jewellery, headpieces, or veils. Ensure that all the painted details are completely dry before handling the dolls extensively. Attach any movable joints using wood glue, allowing sufficient drying time. Your Indian wedding dolls are now complete and ready to be displayed or gifted!

Using paper

To make Indian wedding dolls using paper, you can follow this step-by-step guide:

Materials:

• Newspaper or coloured paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• String
• Decorative items such as beads, sequins, or fabric

Steps:

Step 1: Creating the Body

Start by cutting out a rectangular piece of paper that is about 9 inches long and 6 inches wide. This will serve as the base for your doll. Fold the paper in half lengthwise and cut along the fold to create two separate pieces. These will be the front and back of your doll. Using glue, attach the two pieces together along one of the long edges, leaving a small gap at the top for the head and a larger gap at the bottom for the legs.

Step 2: Adding the Head and Legs

Cut out a small circle from the same coloured paper for the head, and attach it to the top of the body using glue. For the legs, cut out four thin strips of paper, each about 4 inches long. Glue these strips together in pairs to create thicker legs, then attach them to the bottom of the body.

Step 3: Forming the Arms

Cut out two more strips of paper, each about 3 inches long, for the arms. Attach these to the sides of the body, just below the neck. You can bend the arms at the elbows by folding the paper.

Step 4: Decorating the Doll

Now comes the fun part—decorating your Indian wedding doll! Cut out a small piece of fabric or paper in a contrasting colour to create a dress for the bride doll, attaching it with glue. You can also add beads, sequins, or other decorative items to the dress and the rest of the body. For the groom doll, you can cut out a small jacket and pants from paper or fabric and glue them onto the body. Don't forget to add small details like buttons or a bow tie!

Step 5: Final Touches

Finally, cut a small length of string and attach it to the top of the head to create a loop for hanging your doll. You can also add other decorative touches, such as a veil for the bride or a small bouquet of paper flowers.

By following these steps and using your creativity, you can make a beautiful pair of Indian wedding dolls using paper! Feel free to experiment with different colours, patterns, and decorative items to make your dolls unique.

Using fabric and wire

Materials

First, gather your materials. You will need fabric, wire, sharp fabric scissors, pins, thread, and any decorations you want to add, such as yarn for hair, buttons for eyes, and embellishments. Choose a fabric that is not too stretchy or thin, like cotton or quilting cotton, and avoid jersey, fleece, or plush fabrics.

Cutting and Sewing

Using a pattern, cut out the pieces for the doll's body, limbs, and head from your chosen fabric. Pin the pieces together, lining up the raw edges, and then sew them together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Remember to backstitch at the start and end of seams for extra strength.

Turning and Stuffing

Turn the doll parts right side out using a turning tool, chopstick, or pencil. Stuff the limbs and head firmly but not too tightly with polyfill or cotton. You don't want to overstuff, as this can cause seams to burst. Use a stuffing tool to push the filling into tight areas and smooth out any lumps.

Assembling the Doll

Now, attach the limbs to the torso. Sew on any hair, such as yarn, ribbon, or embroidery. You can also add buttons, beads, or pom-poms for decoration.

Creating the Face

The face is the most striking feature of the doll. To create it, take a piece of cloth in the same colour as the body and place a stretchable cloth piece underneath. Apply glue to the outer side of the stretchable cloth, and stick the two pieces together onto a porcelain face. Once the glue is dry, carefully remove the cloth face from the porcelain, and you will have a semi-hardened cloth face with features similar to the original. Paint the eyes and lips on the cloth face, and then sew the face onto the body.

Dressing the Doll

Finally, dress your doll in appropriate clothing and jewellery, sewing or gluing the outfit in place. You can also add accessories like mini hats, glasses, or jewellery to give your doll extra personality.

With these steps, you can create a unique and beautiful Indian wedding doll using fabric and wire.

Frequently asked questions