Baby dolls are girls' favorite toys. These are miniature dolls up to 12 cm in size. They fit in an adult's hand or a child's palm. Small toys are touching, especially those made by hand. It is not difficult to crochet a baby doll toy using a pattern and description.
Materials and yarn for knitting toys
Craftswomen begin their work by choosing yarn. Even experienced knitters get lost in the variety of threads. Synthetic or semi-synthetic materials are suitable for small handmade dolls.
Please note! Beginner craftswomen use mercerized cotton yarn, while experienced ones use wool and fluffy threads.
Properties and characteristics of the main types of yarn for knitting dolls:
- Vita cotton "IRIS". Very thin, pleasant to work with thread made of long-staple Egyptian cotton, double mercerization. Skeins weigh 20 g, length 125 m. For dolls, it is good to combine it with Pekhorka "Azhurnaya". Knitters without experience should refrain from working with this yarn.
- Pekhorka "Openwork". Natural cotton, skein 280 m/50 g. Soft and comfortable to work with thread with a rich palette of colors. Peach color No. 068 is suitable for the body of small dolls. Recommended hook - 1-1.25 mm.
- Pekhorka "Successful". Mercerized, 100% pure cotton. The quality of the material is similar to "Azhurnaya", but thicker. Craftswomen take a 1.25 or 1.5 mm hook for it, you can even knitting needles. Dolls and things for their summer wardrobe are knitted from these threads.
- Vita cotton "Coco". The yarn is made of mercerized gas-opalized natural cotton. The soft thread is a pleasure to work with. Of all the variety of colors for miniature toys, numbers 3883 or 4317 are most often chosen. It can be combined with Pekhorka - the difference in thickness is imperceptible. It is easier to knit with such yarn than with traditional Iris. The hook size is 1.25-1.5 mm.
- Alize "Forever". 100% microfiber acrylic. In a skein of 300 m, weight 50 g. The material is good for amateurs who have just picked up a hook. The yarn is softer than cotton, knitted with a tool 1-1.25 mm. Flesh color goes under No. 282. For doll clothes, you can use Forever Simli: lurex is added to the yarn, and therefore dresses made from it look festive and elegant.
- Yarn Art «Violet». Turkish cotton. High-quality threads are perfectly twisted. In skeins 282 m, weight 50 g, flesh color – № 6322, recommended tool – hook 1.25 mm.
- Madame Tricote "Perle5". Nice Turkish yarn, quite thick due to weak twist. The hook used is 1.25-1.5 mm, peach color - number 6322.
Important! The manufacturer indicates the required hook size on the skeins of yarn. But for dolls, you need to take a tool 1-2 sizes smaller so that holes do not form in the fabric.
Cotton wool, as a filler, loses to sintepon, polyester fiber and holofiber. Cotton stuffing gets knocked into lumps, spoiling the impression of the work. The bodies of the pebbles are filled tightly, leaving no voids.
The doll should not be faceless. The eyes give it charm. At the training stage, to gain experience, the eyes are made of beads and seed beads. Accessories stores sell ready-made sets on a washer leg. But the most attractive are hand-made eyes. They can be painted or embroidered, but they always remain unique.
Types of dolls
Knitted doll toys are a good gift for a little girl and an adult as a pendant in a car. The thing decorates the interior: put on a shelf, hang on the walls.
What types of dolls are there:
- Soft. The product is knitted entirely (in the round) and filled with padding polyester or other material. Usually the doll looks like a newborn, who is dressed in undershirts, bonnets, and booties.
- With a wire frame. They are characterized by a complex manufacturing technique from two types of wire: strong iron and soft binding. Craftsmen take into account human anatomy: body proportions, the curvature of the spine. First, they make a frame, then tie it up, fill it with synthetic fluff. The most successful filling option is natural sheep wool.
- Large dolls. The baby is the size of a real baby and is made for hugging, keeping your child warm and safe in their crib.
- Amigurumi. This type of handicraft was given to the world by Japanese craftswomen back in the 17th century. Translated into Russian, the word means "knitted-wrapped." At first, cute creatures were woven as amulets. Gradually, fantasy creatures in the form of funny little animals with human features began to emerge from under the knitting needles and hooks. Amigurumi toys are characterized by a positive facial expression, a disproportionately large head, and short limbs. The height of the doll does not exceed 40 cm.
Knitting dolls is a fascinating process. Its uniqueness is that it is impossible to spoil the thing - if something goes wrong, the work is unraveled, the threads are used again for the matter.
Important! Experienced knitters advise to immediately correct the fabric if a loop was accidentally missed: a defective product is a waste of time and nerves.
Symbols on knitting patterns
Craftswomen claim that it is impossible to make a doll from memory. You need to have a clear diagram at hand. The patterns are made up of basic elements: a chain, different types of columns, and other loops.
To designate these elements, graphic images are used that experienced knitters remember. Beginners find it easier to use letter abbreviations:
- k. a – amigurumi ring;
- ss – slip stitch;
- st. bn – single crochet;
- vz. p – air loop;
- pr – increase;
- уб – decrease;
- pp – half loop;
- dc – double crochet;
- hsc – half double crochet;
- vz. pp – air lifting loop;
- psr – front wall of the row;
- p – row;
- zsr – rear wall of the row.
Please note! Each knitting has repeating patterns – rapports. The beginning and end of a rapport are marked with “*”.
Using this code, the needlewoman will understand how to knit a doll.
Step by step process with description
There are many cute dolls - one example is Antoshka, who has won the hearts of children and adults. The demonstration master class will describe the knitting pattern of a 27 cm tall girl Stesha using the amigurumi technique. For it you will need:
- Yarn Art Jeans yarn in milky, beige, pink and white shades, as well as denim colors.
- Alize Bebi Wool yarns in water lily and cream tones.
- Alize Cotton Gold is a charcoal grey shade.
- Hook – No. 2.
- Hollowfiber for stuffing.
- Buttons, beads, cardboard for insoles.
Please note! For clothing, the colors of the threads are chosen according to your taste.
The process step by step looks like this.
Head
1 row – 6 sc in k.a.
2 rows – 6 inc (12).
3 r – (1 tbsp, inc) * 6 (18).
4 r – (2 tbsp, inc) * 6 (24).
5 r – (3 tbsp, inc) * 6 (30).
6 r – (4 tbsp, inc) * 6 (36).
7 r – (5 tbsp, inc) * 6 (42).
8 r – (6 tbsp, inc) * 6 (48).
9 r – (7 tbsp, inc) * 6 (54).
10 r – (8 tbsp, inc) * 6 (60).
11-20 rows – 60 single crochets.
Between rows 17 and 18 insert the eyes, there should be 6 sc. From rows 21 to 28 knit with a decrease:
21 r – (8 tbsp) * 6 (54).
22 r – (7 tbsp. bn) * 6 (48).
23 r – (6 tbsp. bn) * 6 (42).
24 r – (5 tbsp. bn) * 6 (36).
25 r – (4 tbsp. bn) * 6 (30).
26 r – (3 tbsp. bn) * 6 (24).
27 r – (2 tbsp. bn) * 6 (18).
28 r – (1 tbsp) * 6 (12).
29 p – 6 dec (6).
Please note! Now the knitter rounds the hole and hides the thread. Next, the doll's eyelid, eyelashes, and nose are embroidered.
Legs and torso
We knit these parts in gray. We collect a chain, then knit, forming an oval, on both sides of the chain:
1 r – 10 vz. n + 2 vz. pp.
2 row – 4 dc in the 3rd loop from the hook, 8 dc, 5 dc in the last loop, 8 dc, sl st (25).
3 row – 2 ch, 1 dc in the same loop, 4 inc, 8 dc, 5 inc, 8 dc, sl st (35).
4 row – 2 ch, 1 dc in the same loop, 1 dc, (inc, 1 dc) * 4, 8 dc, (inc, 1 dc) * 5, 8 dc, sl st (45).
Cut out the insole to fit the foot. Change the thread to pink.
5 row – for the back half loop 46 sc (the 46th is knitted in the ss of the previous row).
6-8 p – 46 st. bn.
9 r – 24 tbsp. bn, 4 decrease, 14 tbsp. bn (42).
Insert the insole.
10 r – 21 tbsp. bn, 6 decrease, 9 tbsp. bn (36).
11 p – 36 st. bn.
12 r – 18 tbsp. bn, 6 ub, 6 t. bn (30).
13 r – 15 tbsp. bn, 6 ub, 3 tbsp. bn (24).
14 r – (2 tbsp, dec) * 6 (18).
Fill with stuffing. Change the thread to blue.
15-39 p – 18 st. bn.
Please note! Now we need to return to the 5th row, which was knitted for the back half-loop. With white yarn, tie the foot with 46 half-columns without a crochet, embroider the laces, hide the thread.
The upper part of the boots is knitted with Alize Baby Wool yarn.
1 r – 15 vz. n + 1 ch. pp.
2-30 p – 15 st. bn.
The parts are folded, sewn together, and attached to the leg. The second part is knitted in the same way.
Connect the legs with 3 ch. p. Proceed to the body.
40 rows – 42 sc (18 sc along the 1st leg, 3 sc along the chain, 18 sc along the 2nd leg, 3 sc along the other side of the chain).
41 r – (6 tbsp, inc) * 6 (48).
42-44 p – 48 st. bn.
Row 45 - (7 st. bn, inc) * 6 (54).
46-48 p – 54 st. bn.
49 r – (7 st. bn, ub) * 6 (48).
50 r – (6 tbsp. bn, ub) * 6 (42).
Knit the product to the middle of the side with sc, change the thread to pink.
51 p – 42 st. bn.
52 r - for the back half loop 42 st. bn.
53-55 p – 42 st. bn.
56 rows – (dec, 5 sc) * 6 (36) – be sure to knit the decrease first, otherwise the side will turn out straight.
57-61 p – 36 st. bn.
62 r – (decrease, 4 tbsp) * 6 (30).
63-65 p – 30 st. bn.
66 r – (decrease, 3 tbsp) * 6 (24).
Change the yarn to flesh color.
67 R – for the back half-loop 24 st. bn.
68 p – 24 st. bn.
69 r – (decrease, 2 tbsp) * 6 (18).
70 p – 18 st. bn.
Please note! The thread is cut, leaving a sufficient end for sewing.
Return to row 52, which was knitted through the back half loop.
1-2 rows – 42 st. bn.
Sew on buttons.
Hands
The work begins with a flesh-colored thread.
1 row – 6 sc in k.a.
2 rows – 6 inc (12).
3 rows – (5 sc, increase) * 2 (14).
4-10 p – 14 st. bn.
11 r – (5 tbsp, decrease) * 2 (12).
12 rows – 12 sts. bn.
Change the thread to pink.
13 p – 12 st. bn.
14 r - for the back half loop 12 sc.
15-35 p – 12 st. bn.
Fold and connect 6 st. bn.
Next, return to row 14, which was knitted for the back half loop. Knit the cuff:
1-2 p – 12 st. bn.
Now the finger:
1 row – 6 sc in k.a.
2-3 rows – 6 st. bn.
They are sewing on the finger.
Please note! The second arm is made in the same way and sewn to the body.
You can knit or sew a set of clothes for the doll: a vest, a hat, a skirt, a youth shoulder bag.
Face design
Eyes are decorated with beads, embroidered with beads, drawn, knitted using templates. Eyelashes are embroidered or glued on with colorless "Moment" ready-made artificial products.
For eye shadow and blush, take dry cosmetics, apply it using a stencil and blend with a brush. Wigs are bought ready-made, but you can make hair from improvised threads. If you wish, you can embroider the mouth on white calico with red threads, cut it out, and glue it.
Crocheted dolls are a nice toy for kids and a cute accessory for a child's bedroom interior. The main thing in this work is to choose yarn, tools and be patient. Step-by-step MK will teach even an inexperienced needlewoman the technology of knitting soft dolls, toys on a frame, amigurumi dolls.
