Knitted Doll Pattern: Detailed Instructions for Creating a Stylish, Supportive and Safe Doll with Lots of Hair

Please Read Before Knitting

This knitted doll has lots of hair, so the head and body needs support or the doll will flop. The support used is a jumbo straw. The straw is put inside the dolls head and body and then surrounded by the toy stuffing. This is just a precaution, but if this doll is being knitted for a small child then the straw needs to be omitted. Also any accessories, such as beads, jewellery, hair bobbles or clips etc., anything in fact that the child could choke on. The main focus on the doll is the hair, lots of it! The hair that can be styled in many different ways, bunches, plaits, ponytail etc. with hair slides, bobbles and ribbons added. The hair can also be cut shorter or layered. If this doll is for an older child, teenager or adult, they could be shown how to add the hair, instructions on how to do this are given in the pattern. Hair can be added, or taken away and replaced again with long hair. Different colours can also be added. The possibilities are endless. The dress is very basic and is sewn onto the doll. The main focus on the doll, as mentioned above, is the hair, not dressing and undressing the doll. She also has long legs, and is designed to sit on window sills, shelves etc. as long as she is supported at the back.

Abbreviations and Instructions

cast on cast off ws = wrong side rs = right side k = knit p = purl st(s) = stitch(es) kfb = knit in front and back of stitch (this increases a stitch) k2tog = knit 2 stitches together to make one stitch ss = stocking stitch (knit a row, purl a row) gs = garter stitch (knit all rows) The dolls on the photos are made from the same pattern using different coloured yarns. The pattern below is for the doll with Black hair, called "Veronica". The Yellow haired doll is called “Hannah", and the coloured yarn used is given in brackets on the pattern. Finished length of doll is approx. 45cms (18 inches), sitting position approx. 22cms (9 inches). Materials used for Veronica (Hannah in Brackets) Yarn and Toy Stuffing used is Approximate and Colours used are only Guidelines Double Knitting yarn (DK) is used throughout this pattern Also known as Light Worsted and 8ply Yarns used:- Black - 80 grams - 100grams for hair (Yellow) Black - 25 grams - for dress, boots and neck choker (Bright Pink) Purple - 10 grams - for tights, pants and bows (Light Green) Skin coloured - (For this doll I used a Light Cream yarn) 20 grams Blue - small amount - for eyes Pink - small amount - for mouth Toy Stuffing - 40 grams Size 3mm needles (USA 2 and UK 11) are used throughout this pattern 3.50mm crochet hook (USA E/4) for attaching the hair Tapestry needle Jumbo straw - “bendy' bit cut off

Veronica and Hannah

Boots (make two the same) using Black yarn (Pink) cast on (18sts) row 1: p row 2: k1, kfb in next 16sts, k1 (34sts) row 3: p row 4 - 9: ss for 6 rows row 10: k5, k2tog 12x, k5 (22sts) row 11: p row 12: k5, k2tog 6x, k5 (16sts) row 13: p row 14: k5, k2tog 3x, k5 (13sts) row 15: p row 16 - 17: ss for 2 rows row 18 - 21: gs for 4 rows Do not break off the Black yarn (Pink) as this is continued with the tights

Legs (Tights)

row 22 - 23: \*change to Purple yarn (Green) ss for 2 rows row 24 - 25: change to Black yarn (Pink) ss for 2 rows\* row 26 - 73: repeat from \* to \* 12 more times castoff

Stuffing the Boots

Turn inside out and oversew the bottom of the boots. Turn right side out and mattress stitch up the back of the boots, and then stuff them.

Stuffing the Legs

Mattress stitch an inch or so, then stuff lightly, continue until all the leg is stuffed, but leave the last four rows with no stuffing in. Two of these rows will be inserted into the dolls body. Oversew the top of the leg, making sure the back seam is straight. Bows (make three the same) two for boots and one for dress using Purple yarn (Pink) cast on 10sts row 1 - 2: ss for 2 rows row 3: k2tog to end of row (5sts) row 4: p row 5: kfb (inc) in every st (10sts) row 6: p row 7: k cast off leaving a long piece of yarn to stitch the bow

To Make up the Bows

With right sides together, oversew cast on edge and cast off edge, and also the edge stitches, leaving a small opening in the middle of the bow. Turn the bow right side out and sew the opening. To give shape to the bow, wrap yarn around middle of bow two or three times, pull tight, and make a knot at the back. Stitch the bow to the top of the boot.

Body using Purple yarn (Green) cast on (30sts) row 1 - 12: ss for 12 rows (pants) change to Skin coloured yarn row 13 - 36: ss for 24 rows Neck row 37: k2tog to end of row (15sts) row 38: p row 39 - 42: ss 4 rows

Head

row 43: kfb in every st to end of row (30sts) row44: p row 45 - 64: ss 20 rows row 65: k1, \*(k2,k2tog)\* repeat from \* to \* to last st, k1 (23sts) row66:p row 67: k1, \*(k2,k2tog)\* repeat from \* to \* to last 2sts, k2 (18sts) Leaving a long piece of yarn, thread the 18sts onto a tapestry needle and pull the yarn, closing the top of the head.

To Make up the Body and Head

Using a tapestry needle mattress stitch the head together, but not the neck, and stuff using the toy stuffing. Then insert the straw, pushing and twisting it into the head, (or if you find it easier, put a small amount of stuffing in the top of the head, then add the straw, and while holding the straw in place add the stuffing). Continue mattress stitching, stuffing the neck and body as you go, make sure the straw is kept in the middle and the stuffing surrounding it. Cut the straw about an inch from the bottom and continue stuffing, cushioning the end of the straw. Once the doll is stuffed body measurements should be approx. 6 inches wide, all the way down the body, head not included.

Attaching the Legs to the Body

Using a running stitch insert the last 2 rows of the legs into the opening of the body. Stitch the gap in between them. Finished length of doll is approx. 45cms (18inches), sitting position approx. 22cms (9inches)

Arms (make two the same) using Skin coloured yarn cast on (10sts) row 1 - 32: ss for 32 rows (arm) row 33: k2tog to end (5sts) (wrist) row 34: p row 35: kfb in every st to end of row (10sts) row 36: p row 37 - 40: ss for 4 rows (hand) row 41: k2tog to end of row (5sts) Thread 5sts onto a tapestry needle, pull sts together. Stuff lightly, but do not stuff the ‘wrist’ (decrease and increase rows). Mattress stitch for about an inch and stuff lightly, continue in this way until the whole of the arm is stuffed. Oversew the ends of the arms making sure the seam is straight. With the seam facing the side of the body, attach the arms, just at the base of the neck area.

(Boobies' (make two the same) using Skin coloured yarn

cast on 8sts row 1 - 8: ss for 8 rows cast off With right sides together, stitch around the knitting, leaving a small opening to insert the stuffing. Turn right side out and gather the stitches, pulling all the sides together. Sew the opening and attach to the body, placing them underneath the arms.

Attaching the Hair

Using a long piece of Black (Yellow) yarn measure how long you would like the hair to be, and then double it. Cut several strands. Using the crochet hook, hook on about two stitches from the top of the head.

Fold two strands of yarn in half and hooking the middle of the folded yarn, pull the loops through the stitches.

Copyright @ 2013 Linda Howard Hook the four ends of the strands of yarn and pull them through the loop, pulling them tighter will create a knot at the base of the dolls head.

There are now four strands of hair. This method makes really thick hair, but if you prefer, just use one strand of folded yarn, making two strands of hair. Continue in this way until all the hair area on the head is covered. Once the hair is all in place, then a few strands of Purple (Pink) or any other colour can be added. Trim the hair to the length required and enjoy styling it.

Ears (make two the same)

Using Skin coloured yarn make 2 or 3 loops over the top of each other at both sides of the head, and fasten off securely. For the earings use a plastic bead or a piece of jewellery, you can use anything as long as there is a hole to thread the yarn through and then insert into the ear.

Adding Features to the Face

Before you start, mark the face, using coloured pins, where the eyes, nose and mouth will be.

Eyebrows - using Black yarn (no eyebrows for Hannah) make two stiches, arch shaped or straight. Eyes - using Black yarn (Brown for Hannah) make one straight stitch (small or large) underneath the eyebrow, three small upward or slanting stiches for eyelashes. Using Black yarn (not for Hannah) make a small stitch under the black line for the pupil and using Blue yarn also make a stitch or two for the iris.

Nose - make one stitch going across the face in Skin coloured yarn.

Mouth - using Pink yarn make a diamond shape (small or large) and then fill in. If you want to give your doll a smile, then add a small upward stitch at the corners of the mouth.

Sculpturing the Face

Insert a tapestry needle between the stiches and manoeuvre the stuffing around to give the doll cheeks, forehead, chin etc. Design your own unique features on the doll.

Black Dress using Black yarn (Pink) cast on36sts row 1: k (ws) row 2: k (rs) row 3: p row 4 - 37: ss for 34 rows (or more depending on how much of the ‘boobs' you want to show, so before casting off wrap the dress around the doll to check for length) cast off Straps for the Dress or Leave Strapless (make two the same) using Black yarn (Pink) cast on 12 sts cast off 12sts

Making up the Dress

Wrap the dress around the doll, opening at the back, mattress stitch the seam, keeping it in line with the back seam on the doll. Decide on how much "boobies’ are going to be on show (if any) and then stitch in between them, and also around the bottom of each one to give them shape. Stitch on straps.

Making the Waist Smaller

Using Purple (Pink) yarn and a tapestry needle, sew stitches around the waist area and pull tightly to give indentation to the waist, tie in a knot and fasten off at the back. Sew the bow to the front of the dress, or add pieces of jewellery, i.e. small bangles to use as a belt, or ribbon. Neck Choker using Black yarn (Pink) cast on 20 sts row 1: k (ws) cast off (rs) Wrap choker around neck, stitch at back. Pieces of broken jewellery, beads etc., can be sewn onto the choker.