How to Knit a Doll

If you are a knitter and sick of the same old sock and scarf show, maybe it's time you tried to knit a doll. Knitting a doll is a terrific challenge and can help broaden your knitting experience in a lot of ways. Once you're "hooked," you can knit up a few and donate them to your local children's hospital or women's shelter to keep the good feelings going! You'll need to look at your yarn collection, and imagine each color as a body part. Feet, legs, body, arms, and face all require a yarn change. Plan ahead and get your needles ready!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 Pair US Size 3 Needles
• Varied Colors of Double Knit Yarn
• Stuffing
• Yarn Sewing Needle
• Embroidery Needle
• Embroidery Thread
• Felted Material Scraps
• Hot Glue

How to Knit a Doll

1. Begin at the bottom. Grab the yarn you selected for the "shoes," and cast on 26 stitches. Knit 16 rows and cut the yarn, leaving enough to weave in the ends later.

2. Switch to your "legs" or pants color and knit 42 rows.

3. Cast off. Repeat step 1 and 2 to make the material needed for the legs.

4. Take your legs or pants color, and cast on 52 stitches. Knit 17 rows.

5. Change to your shirt color and knit 41 rows.

6. Change to skin color and knit 40 rows. Cut your yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread it through the live stitches on your needle. Pull tight and tie off.

7. Make the arms by using your skin-tone color yarn and casting on 20 stitches. Knit 10 rows. Change to shirt color, and knit 46 stitches. Cast off. Repeat to make two arms.

8. Fold the "body" in half, and sew up the long side. You'll want this seam to go up the back of the doll. Stuff and sew up the bottom and then gather a thread around the neck portion and create a neck. Embroider a face later.

9. Fold the arm and leg pieces lengthwise, and sew up the back to make a tube. Stuff and sew ends shut. Attach to the body with needle and thread.

10. Add details like facial features and hair (use tassel method as you would for a scarf).

Tips & Warnings

• Use some left over felted yarn project material and cut out flower patterns or other shapes to sew or hot glue onto the shirt portion of the doll. You can also simply use felted yarn for this whole project, simply cutting the material into sized pieces and sew the project together! This makes a much nicer looking finished project and stands up to kids wear and tear better.
• Do a test run first so that you get an idea of what you can do with this pattern.

Resources

• http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/toys/easy-knit-doll.htm