About Us

In 2011 when I was pregnant with my son, we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl, and the name we used to avoid calling our unborn baby "it" all the time was "Bandit."

When I started an Instagram shop to sell my son's outgrown clothes and some thrifted and vintage finds, the username "Little Bandit Shop" seemed an obvious choice. I had no plans at the time to begin making masked stuffed animals, but as the idea for Little Bandit Dolls developed and evolved, the shop name became even more apropos.

The concept for what would become Little Bandit Dolls actually originated over three years ago when, needing last-minute Christmas gifts for my nephews, I created some stuffed toys from felted wool sweaters. They were a big hit with my nephews, who called them "Pillow Monsters", and the seed for the design of Little Bandit Dolls took root in my brain. It wasn't until 2.5 years later, then with a son of my own, that I finally began developing the designs that I use now to make the Little Bandit Dolls you see here. My hope is for these dolls to reflect the innocent mischief of childhood play and the possibility inherent in dress-up--when a kid can pretend to be anyone or anything.

I've been sewing since I was about 10 years old. I remember learning how to follow patterns (with my mom's help, using her mom's sewing machine) to earn Girl Scout badges. To this day, sewing is one of the most useful skills I possess, and I am so grateful that it was passed on to me through multiple generations of women in my family. I design all of the items you see here and create my own patterns. Each item I sell is 100% handcrafted with care in my home studio (OK, it's actually my den). I hope you find something you love!

xo,

Avery

Little Bandit Shop is based in Richmond, VA.