The Topsy Turvy doll is a doll that has a sad face at one side and a happy face at the other. Traditionally, they had a coloured face at one side and a white face at the other but these have fallen out of favour to be replaced with sad/happy face. Normally the sad doll was dressed in rags and the happy doll dressed in gowns. I had one as a child that was Cinderella in rags and Cinderella at the ball. She was beautiful. I don’t know if she was made for me or if she had been bought but I loved her all the same.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to make one for quite some time now and never quite managed to get the arms right. Recently though, while looking through books in a charity shop, I came across an old series of books called Stitch By Stitch (which, by the way, reminds me of the song Step By Step by Annie Lennox and now I can’t get that song out of my head). Within the pages of this book was a pattern and instructions on how to make your very own Topsy Turvy doll.
Happy
Shortly after I also bought a copy of the stitching magazine, Inspirations, which also contained a pattern and instructions for a far more elaborate doll that I might try one day. This doll is from the pattern in the book.
Surely this was a sign, so I have been making my very own doll this past week. It’s a lengthy process, not least of all because I don’t have a working sewing machine and have to hand stitch it all, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it in the end.
Sad
I’ve been working from home the past two months, which has saved a couple of hours (and more) on my working day, allowing me some crafting time in the evening. Tomorrow I go back to work in the office so I doubt this will progress any further until the weekend.
I’ve promised it to Iona when it’s finished. She wants me to dress it in a kilt and jumper…not at all a girly girl!
I know you also need to hear Annie Lennox so you too can have that song stuck in your head. Right now I’m alternating between this and Van Morrison’s Moondance, which Alasdair is learning to play on the trumpet.
Tags: craft, doll, embroidery, handmade, harder than it looks, sewing, topsy turvy
