Figure 5: Picture of completed body.
This project is super easy and super fun to involve children. While an 8 year old girl spent the day with us, I involved her in this craft and gave her the results to take home. She went home happy. 
My apologies for the naked doll photos. Our friend took the doll home to dress in some of her own clothes. When I finish one for my own use, I will update this post with clothed doll photos.
Skill Level: Easy
Cost: less than $10
Time Involved: 1 hour or less
Supplies:
- 3 skin toned pantyhose
- 1 hair color pantyhose or leggings
- lots of plastic shopping bags for stuffing
- safety pins
- paint or permanent marker for facial features (optional)
- baby, toddler, young boy or girl clothes
To keep cost low, save old and torn pantyhose. Encourage friends to save hose and clothing discards for your use. (It helps to promise them a doll in return.) Also, for the cheapest brands, shop for these at discount stores. It’s possible to find hose for less than $2 each.
For this project, I recommend using outgrown kids’ clothing, or buying second hand clothing at consignment shops or yard sales. Clothing may have flaws if used as a porch sitter since this doll is meant for viewing from a distance.
Directions:
- Figure 1: Stuffed pantyhose.
1. Stuff skin toned hose for hips and legs. If legs will show after clothes are on, I recommend using skin tone colored shopping bags. Then stuff skin toned hose for torso & arms. If arms will show after clothes are on, then select skin toned bags. For torso & hips, the color of bags for stuffing does not matter unless the midriff area is revealed by clothes. (Figure 1) Pin horizontally the two stuffed pantyhose together all around the waistband. Vertical pinning is not recommended since this leaves larger gaps between the two hose. Lay pinned hose out to form body. (Figure 2)
Figure 2: Pantyhose attached at waist to form body.
2. Tie the legs of third skin tone hose together. Then stuff hose for head. If there is a visible tag, either cut it off or be careful to pin that area for back of head. Attached the stuffed hose with pins to the body. All skin toned hose are recommended for the head. (Figures 3 and 4)
3. For girl hair, loosely stuff the hair colored hose with bags. Color of bags does not matter if hose are dark. Attach hose to head, higher in front and lower in the back. Pin carefully for less pin visibility. Attach hair bands near bottom of each leg for braids (not actually braided) or nearer to top for pony tails. (Figure 5)
Figure 3: Head attached with pins.
For boy hair, tie legs and stuff under a baseball cap. When I have a boy doll completed, I will post a photo here.
4. Either leave face blank, or use acrylic paint or permanent marker to add facial features. Regular water soluable markers did not work on the nylon. (Figure 5)
Figure 4: Back of head with hose tag.
5. Dress doll in cute clothing. Doll is meant for viewing from a distance. This is ideal for sitting on an outdoor chair or anywhere indoors.
Source of Idea for Reference: Recycled Craft Box by Laura C. Martin.
Figure 5: Hair attached to head with pins.
Figure 6: Picture of completed body.
Figure 7: Close up photo of doll's face.