How to Draw a Rag Doll

Step 1: The head

Near the top of your paper draw a big round head, a little wider than tall.

Tip Make it big: the head is almost half the doll. Leave room below.

Step 2: Hair and pigtails

From the head's left draw a hair dome over to the right, then 4 fringe bumps back. Add 2 pigtails.

Tip The pigtails are fat teardrops tucked under the hair, beside the cheeks.

Step 3: Eyes and nose

Under the fringe draw 2 big oval eyes with black dots. Add a small triangle nose just below, between them.

Step 4: Smile and freckles

Under the nose draw a U smile. Add 2 freckles beside each eye.

Step 5: Two bows

Where each pigtail meets the hair draw a bow: a small knot with 2 teardrop loops and 2 ribbon tails.

Step 6: The dress

From each cheek draw a long line slanting down and out, stopping below the middle. Join them with 5 bumps.

Step 7: Collar, sleeves, patch

Draw a puff sleeve each side, from the dress line back to it. Add a collar, buttons and a patch.

Step 8: Arms and mitten hands

From under each sleeve draw a floppy arm sloping down and out, ending in a mitten hand with a thumb.

Step 9: Legs and shoes

Under the hem draw 2 long legs ending in round shoes. Stand the shoes on a ground line.

Step 10: Leg stripes

Draw 6 short lines across each leg, in pairs, to make 3 stripes between the dress and the shoes.

Step 11: Cream skin

Colour the face, arms, hands and legs cream, but not the cheeks, nose, stripes or shoes. Leave the eyes white.

Step 12: Pink cheeks and patch

Colour a round pink cheek under each eye, and the patch on the dress pink.

Step 13: Red hair and stripes

Colour the hair and pigtails red, around the bows. Colour the leg stripes and the nose red too.

Step 14: Blue dress and bows

Colour the dress, sleeves and bows blue, around the patch. Leave the collar white.

Step 15: Black shoes

Colour the shoes black. Go over your lines and your rag doll is done!