28th May 2026 Heidi Munan
I learnt to knit when I was in lower Primary school. Nobody asked me if I wanted to learn – knitting was what women did in small-town 1940s Switzerland, so the earlier a girl was started off the more skilled she would grow.
The main output of family knitters was warm clothing suited to the climate. Occasionally, when one of the young wives among the cousinage was reported to be ‘in a delicate condition’, we used finer yarns and prettier colours to turn out tiny garments. But knitting was mainly a somewhat boring chore, until I discovered how to read a storybook and knit at the same time.
Since my marriage, 60 years ago, I have lived in Sarawak. There certainly was no need to knit warm garments, not before air-conditioning took over anyway.
So, why knit dolls?
A chance remark by a visitor from overseas started it. ‘In the Philippines, in Japan, everywhere you can buy beautifully costumed dolls. Why not in Sarawak?’
Why not indeed. I had noticed the traditional clothing of my new homeland from the start. The materials, the styles, the borrowing from one ethnic group to another interested me; later I wrote a book on the subject. But dolls?
I did try to ‘dress up’ some plastic dolls with textiles and beads. Result, disappointing.
Try something else. Knit a Saradoll, no arms and no legs. Reduce the traditional costume to its essentials:
an Iban lady wears a hand-woven skirt, a silver belt and silver headgear, and a colourful bead cape.
a Bidayuh Jagoi lady wears dark blue skirt and blouse, red-black-and-white beads, and a flat cloth cap with streamers.
an Orang Ulu man wears a loincloth, polychrome beads, and a domed hat with a quarter-brim fore and aft (that brim called for some rather fancy knitting…) and so on. Each ethnic group got its pared-down version, and while knitting the quite simple ‘bodies’ I had time to think of other stuff.
That is surely one of the perks of knitting? Unless following a really complicated pattern, the finger movements are automatic. I like to watch TV while knitting, think over my current writing task, or ponder a new craft project.
After dolls, I started making animals; the patterns sort of evolved while I was working on dolls. Oh yes, there was quite a bit of cobbling, false starts, unpicking stuff that just didn’t fit, but I did the main thinking while knitting something easy.
‘The Chinese Zodiac’ started the animals series, then came ‘Borneo Wildlife’. As I sit there quietly knitting and thinking, I look very harmless and peaceful. But watch out for developments – maybe my next brainwave will be ‘Space Monsters, trimmed with fine Beadwork’!
(If anyone wants to see my knitted family of dolls and animals, they’re on sale at the Borneo Cultures Museum shop; the profit goes to the Cancer Society.)
1 thought on “Heidi and the Saradolls Series 1”
Dear Heidi
Thank you so much for sharing your journey into doll making with an intrinsic local flavour. I loved the idea of crocheting while watching TV. We momentarily block out our thoughts as our hands are busy at work and our eyes are focused on the TV. Keeping ourselves occupied is crucial for our mental well-being.
Much love
Beena