Learn how to make a precious DIY wooden peg doll nativity set with free patterns included. This is a fun activity to do with children and grandchildren. A DIY wooden peg doll nativity set tells the story of the first Christmas and is easy enough for children to assemble themselves. This is a great Christmas gift for kids!
This Christmas I finally was able to make a wooden peg doll nativity set. I had thought about making a wooden peg doll Nativity set for some time, and finally got to it this week. I love nativity scenes because they are a reminder of the first Christmas, Christ’s birth.
Jesus’s birth was a lowly, silent entry into the world. He entered the world in a barn, uncomfortable. I imagine Mary re-adjusting herself and her sweet baby all night, unable to get comfortable in her bed of straw. Smelly, I can see all the animals going the bathroom where the new baby was sleeping.
The wooden peg dolls have a way of conveying the simplicity in Christ’s birth. The wood is natural, raw and humble.
So let’s get started with our DIY wooden peg doll nativity sets!
Here’s the supplies needed for a DIY wooden peg doll nativity set:
- Free Pattern for peg doll clothing
- 7- 2 3/8″ Peg dolls
- 1- 1″ baby peg doll
- Small piece of birch wood that has a flat top
- Fabric and/ or felt for each peg doll
- Twine or ribbon
- Hot glue or other strong glue
- scissors
- Barn wood
- 2 nails & Hammer
- wooden star
Or just get the entire Nativity Peg Doll kit below:
To make it easy for you I have also created a kit where you can buy all the items together. It is available on our SHOP page.
Here’s how to make a DIY wooden peg doll nativity set:
These wooden peg doll nativity sets are very easy to assemble, and kid friendly. So I hope that you enjoy putting these together with your child or grandchild. And most importantly that you will have an interactive way to share the good news of Jesus’s birth year after year with your nativity set!
Cut out the patterns for peg doll clothing
Start by downloading the patterns for each peg dolls clothing. And cut the twine/ ribbon to size for each character. Here are the items needed for each peg doll.
Step 1: Baby Jesus Peg Doll
Let’s start with the baby Jesus peg doll. You will need the 1″ peg doll and a white piece of fabric that is cut in a 2″ square. Fold on of the top corners and set the wooden peg doll’s head on that corner. Swaddle the baby Jesus and glue the fabric in place.
Step 2: Mary Peg Doll
For the mother Mary you will need a 2 3/8″ peg doll. A covered fabric for her outer garment and a plain color for her inner garment. Cut out the pieces according to the pattern.
Start by gluing the inner garment on Mary. Then take the outer garment and wrap around Mary’s head. I sewed a seam on the top of the piece of fabric to go on Mary’s head so the fabric would not unravel.
Using your twine, tie a belt around Mary to hold the outer garment in place. I tied the twine around her head but you could also do it around her waist.
Step 3: Joseph Peg Doll
You will use one of the 2 3/8″ peg dolls. Gray felt, gray fabric (for head piece) and a plain color fabric for his inner garment. Cut out the pattern pieces for the Joseph peg doll.
Glue the inner garment on Joseph. Next tie the outer garment in place and the head piece.
When adding the head piece it is helpful to put a dallop of glue on the top of Joseph’s head. This will hold the fabric of the head piece in place. Then use the twine and go around Joseph’s head.
Step 4: 3 Wise Men Peg Dolls
With the three wise men you will need 3- 2 3/8″ peg dolls. Three pieces of fabric for the inner garments, 3 pieces for the outer garment, some gold twine or ribbon for their belts and crowns. I used velvet pieces I had left over from making velvet pumpkins this fall. You will repeat the process for each wise man.
I used two different ribbons for the crowns but you can chose what you like.
Attach the inner garment with hot glue. Then attach the outer garment by tying the gold twine around the wise men’s waist. Use the gold ribbon to glue a crown onto the wise man’s head.
Here are the wise men peg dolls all put together and ready to worship the new born king!
Step 5: Shepherd Peg Doll
For the shepherd peg doll you will need a 2 3/8″ peg doll, fabric for the inner and outer garment, twine, a small piece of fabric for the head piece, and a small stick to use as a staff.
Attach the inner garment with hot glue. Tie the outer garment around the waist with the twine with the small twig in between the shepherds outer garment and the twine. Use a small bit of hot glue on the top of the shepherd’s head to attach the head piece. Then tie twine around the shepherd’s head to hold it in place.
Step 6: Angel Peg Doll
For the angel you will need one 2 3/8″ peg doll, gold ribbon, and white felt. Cut out the pieces according to the pattern.
Attach the garment to the peg doll with hot glue. I glued it in the back in the same place the wings will be attached.
Attach the wings and the halo to the angel peg doll.
Here’s an extra picture of the angel, just because I think its so cute!
Step 7: Make your wooden nativity set stable
In order to make the stable. We cut two pieces of barn wood to be about about 4″ x 1″ thick. Then we cut a piece of the barn wood diagonally to the same thickness that would lay across the two pieces to make a small stable. We added a 1.5″ wooden star in the center.
Then we cut a small piece of birch for the baby Jesus’s manager. I put a piece of felt on the bottom to prevent it from rocking around.
And that’s it! Here’s the little family all dressed up! And here they are altogether! I thought they were pretty cute and I added a couple of trees and a small sign to add to their charm.
My daughters were a little disappointed that I didn’t add faces to the little peg dolls but I guess I liked the simple look of the wood. And perhaps we will still add some later, but for now I am pretty satisfied with our DIY wooden peg doll nativity set. What do you think? Do you think faces would add something to the set?
Either way this is a fun craft to do by yourself or with your kiddos. I hope you enjoyed it and be sure to check out the rest of the 12 days of Christmas posts soon!
Take care and God bless!
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