THE paper dolls were more like real people than any of the others. They
were made by cutting heads from colored picture cards or from magazines
and pasting them on cardboard bodies. Then double dress patterns were
folded and cut to slip over the heads of the dolls, and on these
patterns were pasted gowns of tissue paper in all colors and styles.
The children were very particular about dressing their dolls in good
taste, for they knew that by making neat, sensible doll clothes, they
would learn how to dress themselves tastefully when they grew older.
The little girl dolls wore either plain gingham dresses with fresh
white aprons, or simple white gowns. Their hats were plain, without
feathers or flowers, as little girls’ hats should be.
Lady dolls wore dresses that were more elaborate. The colors in these
always harmonized.
[Illustration]
Pattern for paper doll’s dress and hat. The cut across the oval
cardboard hat pattern fits over the top of the doll’s head.
[Illustration: A PAPER DOLL]