How To Make A Peek-A-Boo (Sooky) Doll
Have you ever heard off or seen a peek-a-boo doll. These are dolls that look like real children that stand in a corner hence the name "peek-a-boo doll". These dolls are very easy to make and make great gift ideas.
I have seen a lot of Peek-a-boo dolls made in a variety of different ways. I choose to make them sturdy, very durable and changeable. These dolls are interchangeable, if the clothes they are wearing become dusty or dirty or even tiresome to the eye. Simply change the way they look just like you would with a small child. These Peek-a-boo dolls are made so that it is as simple to change them as it is a small child. This gives variety.
You can use these dolls as gifts or even sell them at the markets. I started making these dolls when I needed some extra cash when my children were small. I made about 6 different Peek-a-boo dolls and took them to the local market and sold them.
Tools Needed.
1 piece of Rectangle wood 25cm x 9.5cm x 3cm
2 pieces of wood 3.5cm x 3.5cm x 2.5cm
1mtr of wire from a craft shop
Craft Glue
1 bag of wadding from a craft store
1 pair of baby cotton mittens
Clothes for dressing about size 1
1 hat of your choice (generally a baseball cap)
1 med Styrofoam ball from the craft shop (for the head)
1 pair of stockings or panty hose
1 thick nail
2 screws
Preparing The Body
The Large piece of wood is the body of the peek-a-boo doll. This needs to have a hole drilled into the center at the top of wood and a hole drilled all the way through from one side to the other. This is for the attachment of the head and the arms.If you can find someone close to you that can make the peek-a-boo dolls body for you out of scrap wood. This will make your project a whole lot simpler and also keep the cost down. The wood doesn't need to be perfect scrapes will do fine as they don't get seen anyway.
Putting The Body Together
Now that you have prepared the wood you need to attach the 2 smaller pieces to the body for the legs. I attach these with the 2 screws so that they have a small amount of give. The wire is placed through the holes at the top of the body. Make sure that you have equal parts on both sides as this is the arms. To get the correct length of the arms just fold the bottom of the wire towards the shoulder leaving a loop at the bottom.Now that you have the peek-a-boo body together it is time to add the padding by using the wadding. Start with the legs. Cut the wadding into small strips roughly about 10cm wide. Wrap the strips around the wood of the legs all the way to the thigh. You may need to do this a couple of times depending on the thickness. Don't make the legs too thick or you will find that the clothes that you have chosen for your peek-a-boo doll won't fit. Glue the wadding into place with some craft glue. You could even use hot glue just be careful that you don't burn yourself like I have a number of times.
Once the legs are done then cut some wider strips of wadding and wrap it around the body. Again give it a generous amount of padding and glue it in place. Don't be afraid to use a lot of glue.
With the arms make sure that you place a piece or 2 of wadding over the loop before you wind the strips upwards toward the shoulder. The arms don't need to be very thick. If you make the arms too thick you will find that you won't be able to fit them into the clothes that you have chosen for your peek-a-boo doll. Make sure that the padding goes all the way to the top of the shoulder. When this is finished you shouldn't be able to see any wood.
Peek-A-Boo Doll Poll
Finishing Off
Now that you have all the padding in place and the glue is dry it's time to cover the padding. The top part of the stocking is used to cover the body and the legs are used to cover the legs and arms of the doll. Cut the stocking ¾ of the way up the leg. Place the peek-a-boo dolls body inside the stocking and stretch the legs firmly and tie a knot at the end of the feet. Then stretch the top over the body. Make sure that it is tight and firm. With the body section pull the stocking over the back and glue it into place. With the remaining pieces of stocking, use the foot part over the hand of the doll and stretch it tight. Tie the two arms together in a knot at the back of the doll (as per diag). Cut off any excess stocking. Don't forget to cover the head with stocking before attaching it to the body.Attach the nail to the top of the head in the hole that you drilled earlier. Cover the nail in a generous amount of glue and firmly press the head into position.
All there is to do now is dress your peek-a-boo doll in the chosen outfit and stand it in a corner for all your friends and family to admire.
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Reader Feedback
We have to make one for our school project. We have to make the bodies and also the clothes. I am doing textiles at school.
Posted August 15, 2008
I go to yard sale's and get sleeper's 3t's and stuff them. To make my dolls. Also use scraps of wood. The dolls are so cute.
Posted May 31, 2008
I love making this dolls. I'm wanting to make some that are Native American. But Im having a problem trying to put hair on them because the hair is shown alot more. If you can help I would apprcate it very much. Thank Cheryle
clholt1957@yahoo.com
Posted May 27, 2008
Thank you! Just what I was looking for.
Posted April 08, 2008
Gail, thanks for the instructions I have been on a mission to find them. I use to make the peek-a-boo dolls years ago. I made one of each of my niece and nephews with their favorite outfits. They were my mothers prize possessions and my siblings fought over them when our Mother passed. I am happy to see them coming around again.
Posted March 20, 2008



