Patterns by
Colette Wolff
Platypusnow Designs

With her 9-patch dress patchwork-trimmed apron and sunbonnet framing an innocent face, Bridgit is 19" of irresistible Americana.

Six pattern pieces, without a seam around the neck, combine to shape her stuffed body which is seam-jointed at shoulder, hip and knees. Bridgit sits as nicely as she stands in the unobtrusive holder we show you how to construct.

Each step in the making of the doll, her stockings, undershirt, drawers, petticoat, dress, apron, sunbonnet and shoes is thoroughly explained and illustrated in this pattern booklet. Bridgit's patchwork skirt and apron trim, which look so time consuming to cut and sew, are actually quick and easy following the special methods described.

• Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.
• 19" body cut from muslin, stitched, and firmly stuffed with seamed joints at shoulders, hip, and knees.
• Felt and embroidered features; yarn wig.
• Removable clothing includes stockings, undershirt, drawers, petticoat, patchwork-trimmed dress and apron, sunbonnet, and shoes.
• Directions for supporting stand.

Booklet includes 9 instructions pages and 3 1/2 pattern sheets.

VERONICA - 24" adult mannequin designed to display fashionable period clothing

Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

• 24" curvaceous figure cut and stitched from unbleached muslin and firmly stuffed.
• To enable graceful posing, arms seam-jointed at shoulders and elbows, legs seam-jointed at hip and knees (optional straight legs).
• Pen-drawn features.
• Removable wig of fine yarn suitable for styling to match the fashion period.
• Supporting stand.

Pattern calls for "Unbleached, Shrinkable Muslin"
Now Available - Go Here!

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VERONICA 1760 COSTUME - Costume Pattern

Veronica modeling the sack, a fashionable gown of the time, which featured a skirt extended at the sides over hoops and deep pleats flowing from shoulder yoke to hem in back.

Booklet contains authentically detailed, full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

• Hooped petticoat, quilted petticoat with quilting design, stomacher with tucker and modesty piece, sack, shoes, and accessories.
• Appropriate styling of Veronica's wig.
• Documentation about this period in Colonial American history.

© Colette Wolff 1981

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VERONICA 1775 COSTUME - Costume Pattern

Under her voluminous hooded cloak, Veronica wears a French−inspired polonaise with laced bodice and skirt pulled up into three puffy swags over a dress-petticoat.

Booklet contains authentically detailed, full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

• Hip buckets and bum roll, petticoat, polonaise, round cuffs, handkerchief, cap, stockings, shoes, and cloak with hood.
• Appropriate styling of Veronica's wig.
• Documentation about this period in Colonial American history.

© Colette Wolff 1976

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VERONICA 1790 COSTUME - Costume Pattern

Veronica fashionably dressed for walking and riding wearing a scarlet great coat; a tall-crowned, flat-brimmed hat; and a buffont, a large kerchief that puffs and billows from her decolletage.

Booklet contains authentically detailed, full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

• Petticoat, neckpiece, buffont, great coat, hat, and boots.
• Appropriate styling of Veronica's wig.
• Documentation about this period in early American history.

© Colette Wolff 1981

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VERONICA 1805 COSTUME - Costume Pattern

Underneath her spencer jacket, Veronica is fashionably dressed in a high-waisted, soft, clinging dress of thin, white muslin, the important fabric of the day.

Booklet contains authentically detailed, full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

• Under garment, bib-front dress, spencer, bonnet, slippers, and indispensable.
• Appropriate styling of Veronica's wig.
• Documentation about this period in early American history.

© Colette Wolff 1981

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VERONICA 1860 COSTUME - Costume Pattern

Veronica wearing a summer afternoon dress with a three-tiered skirt of exaggerated proportions supported by a petticoat spread wide with hoops .

Booklet contains authentically detailed, full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

• Dress with close-fitting bodice, bell sleeves. and flounced skirt; undersleeves; hooped petticoat; drawers; shoes; and bow-tied bonnet.
• Appropriate styling of Veronica's wig.
• Documentation about this period in mid-19th-century American history.

© Colette Wolff 1975

PENELOPE DOLL - 19" Tall Little Girl Doll

Doll Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

• Realistically proportioned 19" body cut from muslin, stitched, and firmly stuffed into three-dimensional shape with seam joints at shoulders and hip.
• Embroidered features.
• Three yarn wig hairstyles ― curly, long with bangs, and pigtails or pony tails.
• Supporting stand

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Penelope's 1830 Outfit - Costume Pattern

Penelope dressed to go visiting in a style fashionable back in the 19th century.

Doll Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

Includes: pantaletes, chemise, and petticoat, all trimmed with tucks and lace; calf-length dress with tucked-front bodice, round yoke, leg o' mutton sleeves; two-toned, laced boots; and chin-tied bonnet trimmed with ribbons and flowers.

© Colette Wolff 1974

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Penelope's Princess Costume - Costume Pattern

Penelope pretending that she's a Princess.

Doll Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

Includes: camisole; drawers; stiffened petticoat; long gown with lacy trim, divided train in back, and front panel outlined with beads; rosette-trimmed slippers; beaded necklace; and sparkling crown.

© Colette Wolff 1974

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Penelope's Contemporary Clothing - Costume Pattern

Penelope as herself.

Doll Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

Includes: party dress, pants, short-sleeved shirt, pleated skirt, A-line dress, nightgown, panties, Oxfords, Mary Janes, and a pair of eyeglasses.

© Colette Wolff 1974

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Penelope's Puritan Costume - Costume Pattern

Penelope dressed like a little Puritan girl living in Massachusetts in the 17th centry.

Doll Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

Includes: shift; petticoat; ankle-length, full-skirted dress with separate long-sleeved bodice and collar; apron; cap; and shoes with silvery buckles.

© Colette Wolff 1974

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Penelope's Norwegian Costume - Costume Pattern

Penelope dressed to participate in events celebrating a special Norwegian holiday.

Doll Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

Includes: chemise, drawers, lace-trimmed petticoat, blouse with puffed sleeves, ankle-length gathered skirt, apron with lace insertion, matching felt vest and cap trimmed and embroidery, shoes with silvery buckles.

© Colette Wolff 1975

• Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.
• 18" muslin-bodied, firmly stuffed, mature figure; embroidered features; yarn wig.
• Unusual knee joints, disk-jointed (or seam-jointed) at shoulders, seam-jointed at hip.
• Removable drawers, stockings, blouse, skirt, sleeveless jacket, and shoes.
• Patchwork totes, cushions, and potholders.
• Wooden bench.

Booklet includes 11 instructions pages and 4- 11" by 17" pattern sheets.

Sally & Sebastion - A pair of playmate dolls!

Two dolls, 13" tall, made with details you'd expect to find in dolls two times as large! Curvy bodies shaped with darts, gussets and precision seaming. Stitched joints at hips and shoulders. Needle modelled fingers, toes, knees and belly buttons. Tiny ears. Facial features embroidered over traced outlines. Wigs made from craft fur (or yarn). Sebastion, who is straddling the gate, wears overalls, long-sleeved shirt, quilted vest and sneakers, Sally, whose hooded sweater is draped over the fence wears overalls, short-sleeved shirt and sneakers, colored differently to distinguish hers from his.

11 instruction pages full of details along with a full sized pattern.

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More Clothes for Sally & Sebastion - Clothing Pattern by Colette Wolff.

Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

• Jacket, trousers, shirt, tie, shoes, and pajamas for Sebastion.
• Party dress, panties, Mary Jane shoes, and nightgown for Sally.
• Shorts, polo shirt, sandals, rain slicker, rain hat, and galoshes for both.

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A curly-wigged Cherub with wings; Abigail, an old-fashioned little girl with long braids; Teddy Bear with vest and bow; and a stout, Bearded Man with bulbous nose and movable arms.

Doll Patterns Included...

• Cherub- a 6" sock doll with movable arms and legs.
• 5" Abigail doll with dress and bonnet in included with body construction.
• 5" Teddy Bear with body made from four pattern pieces.
• 3½" Bearded Man with movable, button-jointed arms.

Booklet contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

Pattern for three easy-to-make dolls... 5" Abigail, 8" Debbie and 13" Susie

• Pen-drawn facial features traced from patterns.
• Debbie has movable legs; Susie has seamed joints at shoulders and hip.
• Debbie and Susie have curly wigs of yarn; embroidery floss makes Abigail's braids.
• Abigail and Susie are self-dressed; Debbie wears removable panties and dress.
• Susie's got a secret − it's in the stuffing!

Pattern contains full-size patterns and detailed, illustrated instructions.

Two blank muslin-bodied doll figures: an easy-to-make 15" silhouette figure (15" Spirit Doll) and a realistically shaped 18" figure (18" Challenge Doll), both intended for you to characterize with features, wig, and clothing that YOU create.

Includes...

Two pattern pieces, stitched and firmly stuffed, make a 15" curvy figure with separately attached movable arms 15" (Spirit Doll).

Four pattern pieces and many darts, plus firm stuffing, shape an 18" doll figure with movable arms and legs (18" Challenge Doll).

These are basic body patterns. The 15" Spirit Doll and 18" Challenge Doll invite you to develop their blank figures into doll-persons with facial features, wigs, and garments that reflect your imagination.

~ Quilted and Decorative Item Patterns Below ~
by Colette Wolff

go to... Doll Patterns ~ Animal Patterns

Go to... Dolls ~ Animals ~ Quilted/Decorative

Designer Profile

COLETTE WOLFF: A STITCHER'S JOURNEY
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Cloth, a sewing machine, and a threaded needle have been constants in my life. I study stitched fabric disciplines, I create with and write about stitching fabric.

My Mother taught me to sew on my Grandmother’s treadle sewing machine when I was a child. My Grandmother taught my sister and me to embroider on the stamped pillow cases and hand towels that we would buy at our local Woolworths' dime store. I remember helping my Grandmother tie a pieced quilt that was spread out on the dining room table. In my teens I started making clothes for myself using that same treadle sewing machine and patterns from Simplicity, Butterick, and Vogue catalogs. 

I like to say that I’m self-taught in the fiber disciplines I work within—sewing, cloth dollmaking, soft sculpture, quilting, embroidery, garment making, fabric manipulation—but that doesn’t credit the many patterns, books, magazines, and museum exhibitions that were my surrogate teachers along the way.

In the late 1960s, a craft shop owner talked me into teaching a quilting workshop.  My local library had two quilting books.  I checked them both out, studied, designed a quilt block project that included both appliqué and piecing challenges, and devised a lesson plan that kept me one class ahead of my six students for six sessions. That was the first among years of positive, learning-while-doing-and-teaching experiences.

I also owe a debt to the negative learning experiences I had.  When I wanted to learn from what others had done, I was often frustrated by sloppy patterns and inadequate, inaccurate instructions. Fueled by frustration --- and naive confidence --- I thought I could do better.

PLATYPUS was invented to publish the patterns and instructions for dolls and toys to stitch and stuff designed by Colette Wolff.  It began in 1969 with one mimeographed pattern and a classified ad in a folksy women's magazine.  A year later, the first PLATYPUS mail order catalog included six patterns.  Inventory continued to grow and successive catalogs expanded accordingly.  Sales increased during the '70s and '80s when display ads for PLATYPUS patterns appeared regularly in national craft magazines.  I also wrote articles about dollmaking and quiltmaking for these magazines and traveled to teach classes and seminars around the country.

The last PLATYPUS catalog-in-print, #11, was published in 1991.  Entitled "Special Things to Sew," it offered 50 items: two informational booklets, 10 pattern leaflets, and 38 pattern booklets, 15 of which included patterns for multiple items-to-make.  PLATYPUS discontinued operations in the mid '90s, but requests for PLATYPUS patterns and instructions never ceased.

 The research required for one of my PLATYPUS pattern projects, a fashion doll wearing authentic 18th and 19th century garments, introduced me to fabric configurations I never knew existed.  Intrigued with the possibilities of viewing these three-dimensional techniques separated from their usual dressmaking environment, I gradually understood the potential for sculpted surface design inherent in fabric maneuvered with needle and thread.  But first I needed a “vocabulary” of techniques.  In 1996, The Art of Manipulating Fabric by Colette Wolff, a manual of three-dimensional textile techniques, was published.  

Textile art describes work created using fiber materials and fiber construction.  It’s an inclusive artistic discipline — for me, a place where the skills acquired for PLATYPUS andThe Art of Manipulating Fabric merge.  As a textile artist, I can choose from that diversity of techniques to make one-of-a-kind sculpted works of stitched fabric.  The process stimulates and absorbs my creative imagination.

Colette Wolff

Back to Colette's Patterns... Click HERE!