How to Knit Doll Legs

For larger or more loosely knitted doll legs, use a larger needle size.

Doll legs are knitted flat and the two long sides are then sewn together to make a round "leg" shape. The ends of the legs are tapered using the bar increase technique, in order to give them a more realistic shape. You can choose the color of the doll legs depending on the skin color of the doll you wish to knit. However, the legs should always be knit primarily in the stocking stitch and sewn so the flat "knit" side faces out on the finished leg.

Things You'll Need

• Skein of yarn
• Straight needles, No. 3 size
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

Instructions

1. Cast 9 stitches onto a straight needle.

2. Knit one stitch in front and one stitch in back of each cast-on stitch--this method of increasing the length of the row is called a "bar increase." Count the 18 stitches you will have once you are finished knitting the row--this is row one.

3. Pearl each of the 18 stitches of the previous row--this is row two.

4. Knit one stitch in front, one stitch in back for every other stitch in the row you have just pearled. Knit every other stitch that is not being increased in the row. Count out the resulting 27 stitches--this is row three.

5. Pearl the next row and knit the row after that. Continue alternating pearl and knit rows--this is called a "stocking stitch" pattern--until you have completed rows four to 50.

6. Bind off all stitches. Sew down the length of the doll leg, using the yarn left from the binding-off and the yarn needle.

7. Repeat the process to knit the second doll leg.

Tips & Warnings

• If using anything other than a No. 3 needle, knit a small swatch as a gauge before beginning the project, to make sure you won't have to adjust the number of stitches in any of the rows in order to produce legs in the shape and size you would like.

References

• Petite Purls; "Miss Bojangles"; Cheryl Bach; 2011
• KnittingHelp.com: Knitting Glossary