Restoring a Vintage Doll’s Soft Body

A large new patient has arrived at my workshop: a soft-bodied doll measuring approximately 50 cm, or 20 inches, tall.

This doll is believed to date from the 1970s and to have been made in East Germany. At that time, East Germany produced a wide range of dolls and soft toys, and one of them has now found its way onto my worktable.

The first step was a careful assessment of the doll’s condition. The vinyl parts clearly carried the marks of time, so I decided that this patient needed a proper spa treatment.

The head and hands were thoroughly washed and then treated to improve their overall appearance. While the vinyl parts were being cleaned, I made a new body cover and attached the doll’s original brown textile feet.

Once the new body had been filled and shaped, it was ready to be reunited with the cleaned vinyl parts.

The result is a large, soft doll with a firm, newly refreshed body ready to return to her owner and to be hugged again.