I have always been interested in wood dolls and thought in some vague
way that I might want to carve one myself one day.
So I was looking for some doll items online and came across a picture of
the sweetest little wood doll. She was called a "Hitty" doll.
I had never heard of a Hitty doll!
Below is the original Hitty, doll who lives in the Stockbridge Library Museum, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. She was found in an antique shop by Rachel Field in 1927.
Two years later Hitty, short for "Mehitabel", was the heroine
of her own novel, "Hitty, her first hundred years,"
written by Rachel Field.
Well, I ordered the book and started reading it immediately.
At the same time I went in search of a Hitty doll of my own.
Most Hitty dolls are carved from wood, some are made from fabric.
The more I researched the more I was amazed at how many people carve their own Hitty dolls!
Challenge accepted!
I decided I would carve a Hitty of my own.
I found this starter kit and ordered it from:
I had no idea what to do next!
More research about wood carving and after ordering and receiving
a set of carvers knives, I was off!
The most helpful video I watched was this one:
This showed me some basic carving technique and I
just rushed ahead in my normal impulsive manner.
Next I started on the torso, how hard could it be?
These dolls are deceptively simple in appearance.
Creating facial features is tricky, but I persevered.
Next her arms.
Getting there.
Here is my first try at putting her together.
Not too bad for a first try!
Painting her face was another puzzle. The paint kept leeching
out into her face, hmmm.
I tried again with less water and the features were better.
My husband, the woodworker, was a great help at this point.
I decided to use tung oil as a finish.
The tung oil gave her skin a nice warm color and set the paint.
I like her!
Here she is all dressed.
One thing I learned as I tried to dress her is that you must leave
space between her arm and torso, or her dresses won't fit easily.
I was originally going to make her a puff-sleeve dress, but the arm situation
made this impossible and I had to try a simpler style.
And a view of her pantaloons.
Well, what's next Hitty?
(maybe a sister)
Final note:
I kept thinking my Hitty reminded me of something and I finally figured it out!
The mother from the original Fisher Price toys! HA!
I actually had these toys when they were all made of wood. Funny.
Final note:
I kept thinking my Hitty reminded me of something and I finally figured it out!
I actually had these toys when they were all made of wood. Funny.