How to add a face and hair

Embroidery and yarn.

• Safety for under-3s: for babies and children under 3, embroider the eyes and face instead of using buttons, beads or plastic safety eyes, and sew every part on securely. Small parts can come loose and are a choking risk (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission small-parts guidance).

Step by step

1. Sketch the face with an air soluble marker.
2. Embroider with three strands of floss.
3. Start from the back of the head to hide the knot.
4. Drape wool over card and backstitch across the top.
5. Sew the hair down the middle of the head.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Joyberry Studios: How to sew a rag doll
2. Simply Sewing: Rag doll pattern
3. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Small parts and choking hazards