Meet the Thimbelina Doll: A Soft Stitchable Friend for Storytelling and Play -

Hello friends! This is Jennifer Long from Sew A Story. There’s something special about sewing a doll from start to finish. It is a process that invites us to slow down, be thoughtful with our stitches, and create something that holds meaning. The Thimbelina Doll is a project that brings all of that together.

She is a soft, in the hoop machine embroidery doll stitched in sections and assembled with care. With her wings, bloomers, and sweet embroidered face, Thimbelina is ready to become part of your child’s story world or your own handmade keepsake collection.

A Fairy-Inspired Doll with Charm

The Thimbelina Doll was designed using prints from my Thimbelina fabric collection for Riley Blake Designs, which celebrates creativity, kindness, and the joy of small things. Whether you’re using the coordinating fairy prints or mixing in your favorite solids and textures, this doll is an invitation to create with heart.

She comes in three sizes (14″, 16″, and 18″) and includes machine embroidery files for her body, bloomers, wings, and even her hair. With basic stabilizers, a little hand stitching, and some fiberfill, you can bring this soft fairy to life.

And for a bit of festive fun, I also created a mock-up of Thimbelina in Christmas colors. It was such a cheerful twist, and a great way to turn this doll into a sweet seasonal gift or decoration. The pattern works beautifully with winter tones, metallics, and even little embroidered snowflakes if you’d like to personalize her for the holidays.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make one Thimbelina Doll:

C120-SHELL Confetti Cotton – for the body (1/4 to 5/8 yard)
C16865-CORAL Fairy Stitching Dust – for wings and undergarment
Brown wool, felt, fleece, or minky – for hair (fat eighth to 1/3 yard depending on size)
Tear-away and cut-away stabilizers
Embroidery thread
Fiberfill
Turning tools (like a hemostat)

You can personalize her colors, add extra embroidery details, or even stitch a coordinating skirt or crown for her to wear.

A Project That Builds Connection

Whether you’re sewing the Thimbelina Doll as a gift, a memory, or a creative expression, this pattern offers a way to pause and make something with meaning. Dolls often become treasured companions, and handmade dolls carry the added joy of knowing every stitch was placed with love.

This project is perfect for quiet weekend sewing, thoughtful gifting, or creating a collection of fairytale characters that reflect the seasons or the stories in your home.