Russian Nesting Dolls

Designed by Rachel Measham-Pywell © 2008

Sweet little Matryoshka stitchery dolls to make

Photo by Sarah Cooper

What you need

6” piece of cotton or linen fabric for the stitchery front
6” piece of fabric for the back
6” piece of pellon or thin batting
DMC Stranded Cotton Thread – I used dmc 817
Small amount of stuffing
Stitches used – back stitch, french knots and satin stitch

Finished size: 3.5” and 4”

Using a light box or window, trace the Russian Nesting Doll onto a piece of cream fabric using a
sharp fine tipped pencil or wash away pen.

Back your stitchery with pellon or batting to give a soft look and no threads showing through.

Using the photograph as reference and using 2 strands of stranded cotton stitch the design. Use satin
stitch for the cheeks and knot in the neck tie. Add a row of French knots to the apron, as few or as
many as you like!

When your stitchery is complete, lay it out flat. Lay your piece of backing fabric on top, so that the
right sides are together.
Flip the Russian Doll over, and using the quarter inch foot on your sewing machine as a guide, sew
around the outside stitchery line, leaving a small gap for turning. Trim around the Russian Doll a
quarter of an inch from your seam, clip the curved edges, then turn your Russian Doll through the
small gap, press and fill with stuffing. Slip stitch the gap closed.
Decorate your finished Russian Doll with a button or two! Make a few to add to your collection.