Do you remember the first doll that caught your eye? The one with the cute clothes, adorable accessories, and the snuggly body perfect for hugging? If you got said doll, you probably carried it around for ages, feeding it some of your food, hosting tea parties, and taking it along on car rides. Dolls are still a meaningful part of growing up for children as well as a treasured part of a collection for enthusiasts, and even more meaningful is having one made for you by a dear friend or family member. With this free pattern, you can create a doll that will delight and inspire plenty of hours of imaginative play (or spark conversation as a display piece).
Before beginning this project, you’ll need to collect the following tools and materials:
- Yarn (the pattern recommends using something like Ice Yarns Baby Summer and Ice Yarns Wool Light) – you’ll need colors for skin tone, shirt, sweater, hat, pants, shoes, and purse.
- 2.0mm crochet hook
- Stuffing (polyfiber or pellets)
- Doll wig (you could also make your own out of yarn)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- 5mm safety eyes
- Cardboard
- Buttons, beads, lace, and ribbon for decoration
You’ll also need to know the following crochet stitches:
- Chain (ch)
- Slip Stitch (sl st)
- Single Crochet (sc)
- Double Crochet (dc)
- Magic Ring (mr)
- Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc)
- Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc)
- Increase (inc)
- Decrease (dec)
The head is crocheted by itself, while the legs and body are crocheted together. Arms, hat, sweater, and bag are all crocheted separately and then everything is put together and finishing touches are added. You can use embroidery to make a nose, eyelashes, eyebrows, and a mouth, if you so choose. Once the doll is complete, it should measure about 27cm or 10 1/2 inches.
Want to add this doll to your project list? You can find the complete written instructions, along with a photo tutorial, at Amigurumi Today. You may also want to check out their other projects, like the Gentleman Bunny or the Lion Baby Rattle.
