CAL Episode 5: The Finale

Ok, doll makers. You are my patient friends who have been waiting and waiting, so without further ado, let's give them finished.

Firstly, I MUST point you in the direction of the most amazing crochet doll maker:
Beth at By Hook, By Hand. She publishes loads of free patterns for dolls and clothes and is where I learned to make dolls and their hair. DO go and visit her- she has patterns for all types of dolls and the most amazing wig-making tutorial too.


Hair

Ok, this is what you do:

With your chosen hair yarn and with the same hook, you need to crochet the same pattern as the original head and repeat until you have a snug fitting cap which covers the area where you want hair on your doll.



I used 2 strands together of a thinnish yarn to make mine. You could experiment with mohair or other fluffy yarn, too. 

Round 1
5 sc in magic ring OR
Ch 2, 5s c in 2nd chain from hook. (5 sts)

Round 2
2 sc in each sc (10 sts)

Round 3
(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (15 sts)

Round 4
(2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (20 sts)

Round 5
(3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (25 sts)

Round 6
(4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (30 sts)

Round 7
(5 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (35 sts)

Round 8
(6 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (40 sts)

Rounds 9- ?
Sc 40

Repeat until you have enough of the head covered, then turn out the right way.
This makes a wig cap and means that you don't get bald patches on your doll. (Don't sew onto the head just yet)

Here's how I made my doll's hairstyle (bunches/pigtails), but you could do whatever you want here- be creative and have a try. Anything you don't like can be easily changed, so don't worry.

You now need to wind lengths of yarn for the hair itself. Decide on roughly the length you'll need and then choose a book of the same size to wind the yarn around. Remember to opt for slightly longer hair than you think- you can always trim it later. 



Cut the yarn at one end only- this gives you double the length.



For bunches/pigtails, I found the best method is to surround the edges of the wig cap first.
Push your crochet hook through the V of the stitch:



Hook the yarn and pull through: 



Now pull the tails of the yarn through the loop and tighten the knot.





That's it.
Repeat around the edge.



Now to make the centre-parting.
Make a chain the length of your wig from the middle of the forehead to back of the wig cap.



Lie the chain in front of you.
You will add the lengths of hair, as you did for the wig cap, but ONLY through the top loops of the V.



Work along the top row.



Turn around.
Now work the hair through the (now) top loops again.



Hair (nearly) done!
Ok, we're on the home stretch now:
Get yourself a long length of cotton and a sharp needle and stitch the wig cap to the head. Make sure it fits tightly and go round a couple of times.
Then stitch the centre parting from the middle of the forehead to the back.



Now, style!! 
High pigtails, or low? A pony tail? Long hair? or short?
It's up to you!



Check out Beth's blog for other hair ideas, too!

What about a dress?



Here's the link to the lovely Molly Chicken's blog, where I found instructions to make my dolly's reversible dress.
Simple and quick. 
[And I am a complete sewing novice and managed this with no problems.]

Crochet skirt

This is for you guys and gals who did a nifty bit of back-loop-only single crochet on Round 8 of your doll's body.



Ok. Put the skirt colour onto your hook with a slip knot and hold your doll upside down, with its legs in the air, with its back facing you.

Hook through the first loop you can see and make a single crochet.



Continue with Round 1: Single crochet around (24 sts)



Round 2: (1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (36 sts)
Rounds 3- desired length: Sc 36.



Finish off and weave in ends.



Have I forgotten anything?
I do hope not.

You should have a lovely Monk, Kat, Doll, Bunny, Bear or maybe something else in your hands.
Hug them now, give them a name and feel super-proud, especially if this is the first crochet toy (amigurumi) you have ever made.

I hope you've enjoyed playing along with this CAL.
Enjoy your week and do post your finished pictures in our Flickr CAL group- click over there on the right to join up.

See you soon.
Xx