If you have leaves to trace, it’s not hard to make leaf peg dolls like those shown above. This is a tutorial you can follow to make your own!

NOTE: These peg dolls are intended to be used for decorations, not as toys. They should NOT be given to any child under age three, as they have small parts which are a choking hazard.

Supplies:

Wooden peg dolls. Medium to large size. They need to be large enough that the leaf you are choosing to trace doesn’t overwhelm the doll.
Leaves, acorn caps which fit your peg dolls head if using oak leaves (acorn caps are optional)
Wool felt
Non-toxic watercolor paint
Beeswax polish
Markers
Wool roving, pearle cotton embroidery thread and a sewing needle with a large eye if you wish to make the crab apples

Making the leaf peg dolls:

Make patterns for the leaves by placing them on a sheet of paper and drawing around each leaf with a pencil. Leave enough room between them so you can cut out each pattern.
If making a crab apple, be sure to give the leaf a stem.
Using the paper pattern, trace the leaf shape onto a sheet of wool felt.
Cut out the leaves. You may leave them plain, or draw the veins on them with a fine tip marker.
Paint the peg dolls to match the leaves you just cut out. You can paint the entire peg a color, or leave the face unpainted. Allow to dry.
Once the peg dolls are fully dry, seal them with beeswax polish. Allow to rest overnight. Then polish with a soft rag.
Assemble the leaf doll by applying craft glue down the center of the leaf. Put the peg doll down on the glue and press firmly. Allow to dry.
For the crab apple, just apply glue to the stem of the leaf and attach it on the back of the peg at the neck.
Add facial details with a marker if desired.
Your leaf doll is complete!

To make the felted crab apples, you will need some red or yellow wool roving.
Pull off a small wisp of roving. Tie a knot in one end. Now roll the piece of roving into a little ball shape.
Wet the roving ball with hot sudsy water. Rub it firmly, around in circles, between your palms, as if making a clay ball. Continue wetting and rolling until the wool is a tight little ball.
Drop the wool ball in the soapy water until you have made all the balls.
Allow the wool crab apples to dry.
Cut a piece of pearle cotton thread about 6 inches long. Tie a knot at one end.
Using a sewing needle with a large eye, thread the pearle cotton on the needle and run it through the center of a felt crab apple. Repeat for all your carb apples.
Take 3 completed apples and tie them around the neck of the peg doll. Trim off the extra thread.

Enjoy your new friends!