Pocket Dolly

This is my first attempt at actually writing a pattern;  a cute little dolly that is easy to alter and improve upon. The design is basic enough for a beginner, but versatile enough to be modified by an experienced crochet enthusiast. (It is important to note that I am not terribly skilled at wigs/hair, so you will probably only improve upon this technique. Feel free to improvise!) This pattern uses basic American crochet terms. Sc is single crochet, hdc is half-double crochet, dc is double crochet, SC2TOG is single crochet two together (a decrease stitch), sl st is slip stitch, etc. You may make this as a gift or for charity, but please do NOT sell this pattern or any dolls made from it.

YOU WILL NEED:

Three colors of yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver), in quantities less than 100 yards each. This is a gross overestimate, but I am not certain of the exact quantities needed per yarn. You will want a skin-tone (or pastel) yarn for the skin portions, a bright solid for the dress, and a variegated yarn for the skirt trim and hair.

One size F hook

Some sort of stuffing

A yarn needle

The head, body, and skirt are all made in one piece in continuous rounds, NO JOINING REQUIRED. The arms and legs are made separately, as well as a bottom piece to hold in the stuffing! The hair is tricky, so we'll get to that at the end. LET'S BEGIN!

Do NOT join rounds; pieces are worked in continuous rounds!

HEAD/BODY/SKIRT

Starting with the skin/pastel color yarn.

1) Ch 2. 6 sc in 1st ch. (6 sc)

2) 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)

3) *2 sc in next st, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sc)

4) *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st. Repeat from * around. (24 sc)

5) *2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st. Repeat from * around. (30 sc)

6-11) Sc in each st around. (30 sc)

12) *SC2TOG, sc in next 3 st. Repeat from * around. (24 sc)

13) *SC2TOG, sc in next 2 st. Repeat from * around. (18 sc)

14) *SC2TOG, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (12 sc)

15) Sc in each st around. (12 sc)

Stuff head. Change to the solid color yarn.

16-23) Sc in each st around. (12 sc)

24) Ch 1, 2 hdc in each st around. (24 hdc)

25) Ch 1, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st. Repeat from * around. (36 dc)

26) *2 dc in next st, dc in next st. Repeat from * around. (54 dc)

27-28) Dc in each st around. (54 dc)

Change to the variegated color yarn.

29) Sc in each st around. (54 sc)

30) *Ch 5, skip next st, sl st. Repeat from * around.

Fasten off.

BOTTOM PANEL

Starting with solid color yarn.

1) Ch 2. 6sc in 1st ch. (6 sc)

2) 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

LEGS (make two)

Starting with the skin/pastel color yarn.

Ch 2. 6 sc in 1st ch. Continue sc around until piece measures 4 1/2 inches long.

Do not stuff.

ARMS (make two)

Starting with the skin/pastel color yarn.

Ch 2. 6 sc in 1st ch. Continue sc around until piece measures 3 inches long.

Do not stuff.

ASSEMBLY:

Stuff body. Evenly space legs on either side of bottom panel, and sl st bottom panel w/legs to body underneath the skirt, at the last 12 sts round. Sew with needle if you are not comfortable with sl st. Evenly space arms on either side of body above the skirt near the neck, and sew to body.

HAIR (using the variegated yarn)

(This is the technique I used in the above picture, and it is very simple.  Feel free to look up wig/hair tutorials online if you are ambitious, as this technique is not the prettiest, but it is sturdy.)

1) Measure and cut a bunch of strands of yarn, about 14 inches long.

2) Starting at center of forehead, draw four strands of yarn through two stitches. Knot the two sides together tight against the head, twice.

3) One row up, draw four strands of yarn through two stitches. Knot the two sides together tight against the head, twice.

4) Repeat to nape of neck. You should have a bushy head of hair from a middle part.

5) Pull hair into two pigtails and fasten with yarn.

That's it!  You're done! Now you have a pocket dolly to keep with you, or give away.