My mother made hundreds of Raggedy Ann dolls. She sewed them all and stuffed each body and head so tight, there was never a wrinkle… until her fingers became arthritic and the task was taken over by her faithful companion Maria Julia.  But even though it was painful, she insisted on pulling and tying each strand of the special red yarn for Raggedy’s hair,  embroidered Raggedy’s features, and placed the shoe button eyes in just the right place to reflect Raggedy Ann’s expression of wisdom and loving kindness.

Mother was very particular to make each Raggedy Ann authentic. She combed the fabric stores for bolts of the strongest muslin for Raggedy’s body, just the right red and white stripped fabric for her legs, her black feet, her flower-patterned dress, her white cotton apron and pantaloons. She  scoured yarn stores for the particular color of red yarn for Raggedy’s hair.  She haunted antique stores for shoe buttons, not too large, not too small,  and sprayed then black for Raggedy’s eyes.

Imbedded within Raggedy Ann’s stuffing, next to the candy heart that said  “I love you” were the lucky penny and the wishing pebble. The hearts with I love you were not always easy to find and on occasion were inscribed in her own hand. She always shined the lucky penny and blessed the wishing pebble before securing them next to the “I love you” candy heart.

When she died I inherited Raggedy Ann patterns, bodies, pantaloons, aprons and dresses already cut out and ready to stitch. I have inherited yards of red yarn, bolts of fabric, hundreds of shoe buttons, bags of stuffing; boxes of lucky pennies that need a shine, wishing pebbles already blessed, and candy hearts that say “I love you.” 

Mother made Raggadys for church bazaars, to be auctioned for charity, to give to children and new babies…always  with a copy of the book “Raggedy Ann” by Johnny Gruelle, with the original illustrations.  

Once I gave a Raggedy Ann away that mother had made for me. From that day forward, on those she gifted to loved ones and friends, Mother wrote a special note, in her distinctive hand, in red ink, on Raggedy’s back side.