Little knitted dolls

Each doll is knitted in one piece. The arms and legs are formed by stitching through all layers after the doll has been sewn up and filled. The neck and feet are pulled in with gathering threads. The basic pattern given below can be varied as desired. The number of rows in each part of the doll can be increased or decreased to suit individual designs. Garter stitch can be used to vary the texture. You'll need Small quantities of 4, 5, or 6-ply wool in bright colours for bodies and faces, boucle wool for hair. (Thicker wool can be used for hair, belt and cuff.) 1 pr 2.75 (No. 12) knitting needles Tapestry needle for sewing seams 2.00 (No. 7) crochet hook Polyester fibre for filling Abbreviations K - knit; P - purl; st(s) - stitch(es); cont - continue; tog - together; st st - stocking stitch; inc - increase; dec - decrease; sc - single crochet; ch-chain; rep - repeat; alt - alternate; foll - following; beg - beginning; patt - pattern. Boy doll Cast on 34 sts for cuff. Knit 6 rows. Change to trouser colour and st st 16 rows. Knit 2 rows in contrast colour for belt. Change to jumper colour and st st 10 rows. Work 2 rows st st in contrast colour for neckband. Change to face colour. 1st row: K6, K2 tog, K18, K2 tog, K6 (32 sts). St st next 9 rows. Change to boucle wool for hair. 1st row: K1, inc next and foll 29 sts, K1 (62 sts). Knit 3 rows without shaping. 5th row: K1, (K2 tog, K1) 20 times, K1 (42 sts).

6th and alternate rows: Knit. 7th row: K2 tog, K1 to end of row (28 Sts). 9th row: K2 tog 14 times (14 sts). 11th row: K2 tog 7 times (7 sts). 12th row: Knit. Cast off. Note: If a thick boucle wool is used for hair, increase every alternate stitch in first row of hair and knit 5th row without decreasing. Variations Overalls: Follow basic pattern to 15th row of trousers. Last row: P21, turn. Next row: K8. Work 7 rows on these 8 sts continuing pattern, cast off. Pick up 8 sts at back of bib. Join in wool and complete last row of trousers. Change to jumper or belt colour and follow basic pattern to complete doll. Red check overalls - Trousers: Follow basic pattern to last row of cuff. 1st row: *K2 red, K2 white, rep from to * end. 2nd row: *P2 red, P2 white, rep from * to end. 3rd and 4th rows: St st red. Rep these 4 rows 3 times. St st 3 rows keeping patt correct. Next row: P21, turn. Next row: K 1 red, K2 white, K2 red, K2 white, K1 red, turn. Work 7 rows st st in correct patt, cast off. Pick up 8 sts at back of bib. Join in wool and complete last row of trousers. Follow basic pattern from belt to complete doll. Separate legs: Cast on 17 sts and follow basic pattern to 10th row of trousers. Rep for other leg. 11th row: Knit across both legs to join. Follow basic pattern from 13th row of trousers to complete doll. Cap: Complete face, change to cap colour and knit or rib 4 rows without shaping. 5th row: K1, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog, K10, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog, K1 (28 sts). 6th and alt rows: Purl. 7th row: K3, K2 tog, K4, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog, K4, K2 tog, K3 (24 sts). 9th row: K2 (K2 tog, K4) 3 times, K2 tog, K2 (20 sts). 11th row: K3 (K2 tog, K2) 3 times, K2 tog, K3 (16 sts). 13th row: K1 (K2 tog, K2) 3 times, K2 tog, K1 (12 sts). 15th row: K2 (K2 tog) 4 times, K2 (8 sts). 17th row: (K2 tog) 4 times (4 sts). Break wool, pull through remaining sts. Pull up tightly and secure. To make up dolls, see below. Girl doll

To make base cast on 14 sts. 1st row: Knit. 2nd and alt rows: Purl. 3rd row: Inc every st (28 sts). 5th row: K2, (inc 1, K2) 8 times, inc 1, K1 (37 sts). 7th row: K2, (inc 1, K3) 8 times inc 1, K2 (46 sts). Knit next 6 rows. Skirt: St st next 16 rows. Change to colour for belt. 1 st row: (K2 tog, K2) 11 times, K2 tog (34 sts). 2nd row: Knit. Change to colour for jumper and follow the basic pattern for body. Skirt variations Blue and white check: Follow basic part to beg of skirt. 1st row: *K2 blue, K2 white, rep from * to end. 2nd row: *P2 blue, P2 white, rep from * to end. 3rd and 4th rows: St st in blue. Rep these 4 rows 3 times, then follow basic part for belt. Black/brown/white skirt: Follow basic part to beg of skirt. St st 2 rows each, black, brown, black, white (8 rows). 9th row: *K2 black, K2 white, rep from * to end. 10th row: *P2 black, P2 white, rep from * to end. Break off white and cont skirt in black. Green/red/white skirt: Follow basic part to beg of skirt. St st 2 rows each green, red, green, white (8 rows). 9th row: *K1 green, K1 white, rep from * to end. Break off white and cont skirt in green following basic part. Fair Isle skirt: Follow basic part to make base of skirt. K2 tog once at beg of 1st row to reduce skirt to 45 sts. Work 1st and next 15 rows in st st, following colour key (see Fig. 1, p. 68). Belt: 1st row: (K2 tog, K2) 11 times, K2 (34 sts). 2nd row: Knit. Complete doll from jumper following the basic pattern for boy. To make up dolls Weave a thread in face colour across first row of face on wrong side. Take thread to right side and leave. Using ends of wool, sew sides together to form back seam from top of head to cuff. Secure remaining threads. Fill head and draw up thread to form neck. Girl: Fill body section making skirt wider at hemline. Continue sewing seam on base, draw up cast-on stitches and finish off. Using matching wool, form

arms by back stitching through all layers from top of skirt to approximately four stitches from neck. Boy: Fill body section and draw up cast-on row of cuff, stitch securely. Stitch arms as for girl and legs matching centre front with back seam to six stitches from waistline. Nose: Secure a length of wool in face, three stitches below hair to one side of centre. Working from side to side under three knitted stitches pull up nose. Make stitches from side of nose to opposite side of nostril and pull up tightly. Take thread to back and finish off. Embroider eyes and other features such as buttons and collars to complete the dolls.