Marlo

I started out with the same basic rag doll pattern I've used in the past.

For his hair, I wanted it to have a varied texture to sell the "ghostly" effect, so I used three different colors. Each color is cut into many small lengths, and I sewed them in a varied pattern down to a central piece of yarn to make them easy to attach to the head. Recently I've been experimenting more with folding each piece of yarn in half, which makes half of the strands into loops and gives the hair a curly texture. When sewing on the hair, I start by lining the edge of the face, before filling in the back until I'm satisfied with how full it looks.

(If you didn't notice, I often do things slightly out of order, so he already has his clothes in these photos. Time to show off those!)

Shirt

His shirt is made from a standard rectangular pattern with measurements taken directly off the doll. All the stitching is done in light teal for an ethereal effect. It's made exactly as I would make a human-sized shirt, down to real working buttonholes and buttons.

Vest

For the vest, I used the vest pattern I had previously made for my Wolf doll. The vest is lined, and he has working welt pockets, but no buttonholes for the buttons.

Pants

His pants are also made from a pattern I had previously drafted for my Wolf doll, though Wolf's pants had an elastic waist, while Marlo has a proper waistband with belt loops. The back welt pockets and side seam pockets are functional, and so is the belt! I discovered this tiny belt buckle at Re-Claim It while I was also sourcing most of his fabric. It was fate, really, along with the white toddler shoes which fit him perfectly.

Coat

His coat started as his shirt pattern, just with the length extended. I also added a little curve to the tops of the sleeves and the sides of the arm holes, since it would be a lot more visible than the undershirt. I was donated this lovely grey fabric that already had a beautiful weathered and torn-up edge that could be used, so I cut all my fabric pieces to take full advantage of it. His coat is lined with the same fabric as the outside, and has real welt pockets in the front for his hands.

Gloves

His fingerless gloves are simply little grey socks with sections cut out of them.

As mentioned, I found a pair of second-hand toddler shoes for him. I was not about to make shows from scratch. I believe they're from the 80's, based on the packaging and the stains the metal had begun to leave on the leather. I would have preferred boots, but with his pant legs covering them I can just imagine they are.

For accessories, he got a little square kerchief tied around his neck. He also has his own little socks! Which are simply his leg pattern sized up and sewn out of the same fabric as his coat.

Though I have been considering this entire time whether to give him a face, I've put it aside for the moment. I'm not sure what expression I want him to have, or if my usual simple style of paitning doll faces would even look good on him. I think without a face he looks appropriately ghostly, but would still like to see him with a bit more character.

I had been so undecided on how I wanted it to look, Marlo went without a face for nearly a year!

In early 2024, I commissioned my friend November Gorrell/NovellaG to draw Marlo and his friend, Ray. I enjoyed her art style so much, that later in on March I asked if she'd make a few face sketches onto a picture of the doll, so that I could see how I liked it and use her concepts to design his face.

All concept art by November Gorrell/NovellaG

As you can see, I didn't use any of the expressions exactly, but combined how they were spaced in the concept art with an expression more like the original commission.

Something still felt a little.. off, though. Disjointed. I decided that the painted face was too stylized alongside the clean, realisitc outfit. So I went in to each piece of clothing and painted along the seam lines, in the shadows, and roughed up all the weathering spots. It also brought in a lot more blue/teal into his palette, which I love!