FAQs
Shipping
Orders are hand made to order and currently we are shipping from our UK studio within 3 days of ordering.
UK delivery
UK delivery starts at £1.50 and increases depending on the size and weight of your parcel. We use Royal Mail First Class Signed For. Once your order ships, you'll receive an email with tracking information.
International delivery
We ship worldwide using Royal Mail International Tracked. The parcel is handed to your country's national postal service for final delivery. Most international orders arrive within 10 working days, but customs processing can add time — and that's unfortunately beyond our control.
Any customs charges or import taxes on arrival are the responsibility of the customer. Please check our Shipping Policy for full details.
About Our Dolls
What's the difference between Heirloom, Keepsake, and Lovey?
All our dolls are lovingly designed and handcrafted in the English countryside using noble and hand-dyed fibres — but each collection has its own personality.
Heirloom dolls are our signature collection — hand-embroidered art dolls, each one a limited edition of 100. They arrive with a numbered letterpress tag and glitter-printed dust bag. These are decorative pieces, designed to be displayed and treasured rather than played with. They feature delicate hand embroidery, long ties, and small decorative elements that make them unsuitable as toys. Stands are available to help display your doll beautifully.
Keepsake is the little sister collection — smaller dolls featuring original watercolour paintings of our signature details, printed onto natural linen and handcrafted into beautiful dolls. The Keepsake collection has been CE and UKCA tested and is suitable for gentle play for ages 3 and up.
Loveys are the baby of the family — soft, snuggly, and perfectly sized for little hands.
Are Thicket & Thimble dolls like mass-produced toys?
Not even a little bit! Every doll is made entirely by hand, so each one is truly individual. We use torn and ripped edges on garments to embrace a faded grandeur aesthetic — it's all part of the charm.
Can Thicket & Thimble dolls be played with?
Our Keepsake and Lovey collections have been CE and UKCA tested and are designed for gentle play for children aged 3 and up.
Our Heirloom dolls are collectible art pieces for decorative display only. They are not toys and are not suitable for play. They feature delicate hand embroidery, small decorative parts, and long fabric ties. Each Heirloom doll carries a sewn-in label stating "DECORATIVE USE ONLY." Please keep them out of reach of young children.
Are all the dolls the same?
Never! Each doll is handmade, so there are always gentle variations — and that's what makes them special. We occasionally need to use alternative trims and finishes to those pictured, too. Your doll will be beautifully unique.
Will the colours match the photos on the website?
We do our very best, but screens and monitors all show colours a little differently. Some of our hand-dyed details may also vary slightly due to the nature of the dyeing process — it's part of what makes each piece one of a kind.
Are the clothes removable?
Keepsake doll garments are removable for extra play possibilities. Heirloom and Lovey garments are not — they're designed as a complete piece.
Do the dolls sit?
Heirloom dolls are standing-style and look their best upright (though the legs do bend). Keepsake dolls are rag-doll style and sit beautifully.
Sizing & Materials
What size are the dolls?
| Collection | Size |
|---|---|
| Heirloom dolls | Approx. 45cm (feet to top of head, not including ears) |
| Heirloom swan, goose & peacock | Approx. 35cm (head to base) |
| Heirloom owl & hedgehog | Approx. 24cm |
| Keepsake dolls | Approx. 37cm (not including ears) |
| Keepsake swan | Approx. 32cm |
| Loveys | Approx. 27cm (not including ears) |
What are the dolls made from?
Heirloom: Irish linen with hand-embroidered, 100% wool European felt appliqué on the face, hands, and feet. Wool felt ears are hand-sewn. Stuffed with hypoallergenic filling and finished with a soft organic cotton tag. Garments are unique — often made from vintage and hand-dyed materials, always in limited numbers.
Keepsake: Original watercolour paintings printed onto natural linen, with hand-sewn 100% wool felt ears. Stuffed with hypoallergenic filling and finished with a soft organic cotton tag.
All dolls are designed, printed, and made in Kent, England.
How do I care for my new friend?
When your doll arrives after their long journey, you might wish to gently separate any layers on the skirt. Our dolls are not washable but can be spot-cleaned with a gentle detergent and warm water. We recommend displaying them out of direct sunlight, as this can fade the colours over time.
Ordering & Availability
What's the current lead time?
Our dolls are handcrafted to order and currently dispatched within one week. If you're ordering for a special occasion, please let us know and we'll try our very best to accommodate your timing.
Are the dolls in stock or made to order?
Most Heirloom dolls are made to order. We usually hold a small stock of Keepsake dolls, but they do sell out.
An item says "Sold Out" — will you be restocking?
Each doll is unique, and once they're gone, they really are gone! But we release new designs frequently — sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram to hear about new releases first.
The outfit I like is listed under a different animal — can I switch?
Usually, yes! Just get in touch and we'll see what we can do.
Packaging
How are the dolls packaged?
Heirloom dolls arrive beautifully packaged in a postal box with a white cotton glitter dust bag and a numbered letterpress tag.
Keepsake dolls arrive in a postal box with a letterpress round tag.
We also offer gift boxes, greetings cards, doll stands, gift sets, gift cards, and hand-embroidered monograms.
Please note: we can't always guarantee dust bags for international orders when we need to keep parcel weight down.
About Thicket & Thimble
How was the brand started?
Now that's a story worth telling! Head over to our About page to find out how it all began.
Can I visit Thicket & Thimble?
We're an online-only studio and don't have a physical shop — but you can find our dolls at selected stockists. Check our homepage for the current list.
Copyright
All Thicket & Thimble designs — including character likenesses, garment designs, patterns, and photography — are protected by copyright and trademark. By purchasing a Thicket & Thimble doll, you agree not to replicate, copy, or duplicate any element of the doll or garment design. Thicket & Thimble is a registered trademark.
Still looking for an answer? We'd love to hear from you — get in touch!
