I have always dabbled in making dolls all through my life. Lately I have become obsessed with making a crocheted doll just for the fun of it. There are so many choices of patterns to choose from so I found a few that I liked and became Dr. Frankenstein…. a foot here, an arm there…. don’t think this one will have a brain, or it will sure be ‘Abby Normal’. So here is my version of a crocheted doll…..
Just the start of the dressings. Much more to do on the doll itself, then the shoes and hair and features…..
08/31/2011 Now that Irene has departed, it’s back to normal. I had a chance to work on this lovely lady a tad more. I had made her shoes, however I was not happy with how they turned out so I put them aside till I can design a pair I’ll be happy with. As you can tell by the following photo’s, I finished the dress and added a pair of pants. I am quite happy with the way she’s turning out.
I was quite impressed with the Youtube video of “making a ‘Curly Q” so I decided to try it on the doll. It worked just fine. But what to do about that bald spot….. I didn’t want to attach too many strands for fear that it would be too bulky on top…..
As you see here in the photo, I crocheted 3 or 4 strands together and attached them as I filled in the head. By the way, you will also notice that I cut off the nose!! Every time I looked at it, I kept telling myself “that definately needs to go!”
The hair is finished. All that’s left is the facial features, shoes, and some little details like buttons & bows. Here is what I have completed so far…. any comments?
I am thrilled with the way she’s coming out. My biggest fear is the facial features. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to respond.
09/06/2011 I have had a great deal of responses to the facial features. I will post a picture in the next couple of days. Right now I stared working on another doll. I have a few people that seem interested in buying them and they’re not even done!!! LOL One lady said she had 5 grand-daughters and would like one for each of them…. oh my aching fingers!!!
09/16/2011 Finally finished!!
This is “Martha”
SOON TO COME, MORE PICTURES OF THE MAKING OF A CROCHETED DOLL. We’re almost done…….
09/16/2011 Not only did I finish one doll, I managed to complete a 2nd doll. Still working on more…..
This is “Jennie”
09/18/2011 COME BACK WHEN YOU CAN, I STARTED WORKING ON ANOTHER DOLL ……. I THINK SHE SHOULD BE FINISHED BY THE END OF THE WEEK 🙂
09/23/2011 I FINISHED A PAIR OF BUNNY SLIPPERS AND STARTED WORKING ON THE NIGHTGOWN. I’LL POST A PICTURE TOMORROW OF WHAT I HAVE FINISHED. I AM HOPING THAT IT WILL BE FINISHED BY SUNDAY. SEE YA LATER…. BACK TO CROCHETING 🙂
10/01/2011 OKAY, SO I FINALLY MADE IT BACK. HAVEN’T HAD A CHANCE TO WORK ON #3 TILL TODAY. SO FAR, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE….. 
I did something a little different with the hair. I made tiny curls for the soft look.
All ready in her nightgown, she has on her bunny slippers. All that is needed is her blanket and Teddy Bear. And of course, her features.
10/01/2011 MORE TO COME……………
10/02/2011 THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY MORNING HAS ME ITCHIN’ TO FINISH DOLL #3. I NEED TO COMPLETE HER SO I CAN START ON ANOTHER…. I’M GOING TO GIVE MY ATTENTION TO A BOY THIS TIME !! AND I DON’T WANT TO LOSE THE IDEA I HAVE IN MY HEAD 🙂
As you can see, I did something a little different with her lips and eye lids. I tried to give her a little more of an expression.
ATTENTION ALL: I HAVE GOTTEN A NUMBER OF EMAILS ASKING FOR PATTERNS. I DO NOT HAVE PATTERNS FOR THESE DOLLS. THESE DOLLS ARE MADE UP AS I CROCHET. THEY ARE SOLELY CREATED DESIGNS THAT I ENVISION. AS YOU SEE FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY BLOG, IT IS A ‘BASIC DOLL’ PATTERN. THE REST WAS FROM SEARCHING THE WEB AND ADDING THINGS I LIKE.
10/23/2011 SORRY I HAVEN’T ADDED ANYTHING ELSE. I’VE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY WITH WORK AND EVERYDAY LIFE. I HAVE STARTED WORKING ON A BOY DOLL AND I FINISHED TWO MORE BODIES FOR GIRLS. I’LL BE ON VACATION NEXT WEEK SO I’LL BE ABLE TO POST MORE PICTURES OF THE WORKINGS.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A HINT OF WHAT I’M DOING, MY LITTLE BOY WILL BE WEARING A SWEATER & JEANS, WITH RED HAIR AND FRECKLES…… CHECK BACK EVERY SO OFTEN FOR THE UPDATES.
10/26/2011 ~~ Martha was adopted today. She has a wonderful home and is loved.
12/03/2011 It’s been a while since I last posted about my dolls. I had all intentions of finishing a few more for the holidays but unfortunately unforseen events stopped me from completing them. I did have a chance to finish some bodies and arms so once things quiet down I will be back on track. I am sill focused on making the boy doll as planned. As a quote from my favorite movie “Keep your eyes on the horizon……..”
02/17/2012 So far I have two sets of arms and a bodiless head. I also sure I finished a complete body but have no idea where it’s resting! I’ll try to complete it by the end of the month. This is going to be the boy I stated a few post back. So onward we go……..
05/20/2012
Just a quick note to let you know that ‘Jennie’ is up for sale on the “Garage Sale Friday” link if you’re interested ~~Donna
Dainty Crochet 
Me too.
very nice
hi,
i crochet a doll before i see yours. yours are great, but if you try to do it by yourself, you will learn so much as if you always ask somebody, how to do the arms, the legs, the body, the head etc. if you can imgine how your doll should look like, try to draw it (if you need). i did my one free style, so i took a picture of a human body (like in biology-books) for the proportions and a picture of the star the doll should look like.
maybe you will do some mistakes, but don’t worry, ravel it out, or try a new one, everyone would look better then the doll before. don’t give up.
at the end you will be got at it and create your own dolls, variations at it and so on.
🙂
Hello love ur dolls and there clothes but i am needin help with arms and legs i want to put fingers and feet i am new to crothing so i am still learning if u can help ill be greatful thx for ur time
I don’t crochet but I have been waiting to see more of Donna’s dolls. I don’t think Donna has a pattern but sees it in her head and that wouldn’t work for me as I knit strictly from patterns. 😦
You are absolutely right! I use patterns as guidelines then do my own thing. Sometimes that’s not always a good thing because people want duplicates and I can never remember what I did previously! LOL Thank you so much for your interest in my dolls. Hopefully I will get back to creating them in the future. Since Super Storm Sandy most of the yarns and patterns I use to create the dolls are packed away until my house gets raised, which hopefully will be in the spring. ~~Donna
Hi Liz, The fingers are fairly easy to do. You need to have at least 10 unworked stitches, fold in half, then working through both stitches chain to desired lenght for pinky. Slip Stitch back down to base and slip stitch to next unused stitch. Again chain to desired lenght (making the next finger a chain longer) and slip stitch back to the base. Continue making the next two fingers in the next two stitches. The last stitch is the thumb. You can do it one of three ways- 1) ch 2, sc in 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch in base, fasten off. 2) ch 1, sc in same stitch, sl st in same stitch, fasten off. or 3) chain 3, slip st in same stitch, fasten off.
The most important thing to remember is the sizing of the doll. If it is a large doll you need to substitute the stitches for other stitches. Example: 20 unworked stitches, fold in half. Working through both stitches chain, lets say, 6, sc in next 5 chains, sl st in next base stitch, sl st in next stitch, chain 7, sc in next 6 chains, sl st in next base stitch. Slip stitch in next stitch, chain 8 (middle finger)…… and proceed with the sc and chains till you reach the thumb. For the thumb I would chain 3, dc, chain 3 back to the base, fasten off.
thank you
Good task publishing Makings of a Crocheted Doll | Dainty Crochet. I would like to read more on this matter.
Thanks for stopping by. There will be more info as soon as I slow down at my 9-2-5 job. Kindly check in every so often for updates.
Great info, sweetie! Keep it up! BTW, I suggest you should make this website a bit more social.
Barbara Clark
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Thanks Barbara!! I am trying to make it more user friendly 🙂
Great article if you ask me. Thank u for providing that data.
Greg Davidson
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Thank you. Amazing what a hook & thread can do!
I love your dolls! I think you were right to remove the nose in the beginning although the ears looked too big at first, too. Once you put the hair on, the ears looked fine. I am sure all of your little darlin’s will find happy homes for Christmas.
Susan
Thank you Susan for your honesty. Funny you should mention about the ears. My crochet buddy said exactly the same thing you said ~ They were too big….. until I put on the hair. She kept saying ‘Take them off’ but I refused. Some things you have to be persistant about… LOL I knew the hair would cover most of it… and Thank God, I would have never heard the last of it…… LOL
Hey Donna It’s Ida, remember me from triconic labs? Well just saw your work on facebook. I went away on a women’s retreat, and I went to a work shop they were crocheting rugs, out of tee shirts. 100% cotton shirts. I must come and show you. I never thought it could be done, but to my surprise it was.
Hello IDA!!! Wow, great hearing from you. I know about the rugs from tee shirts. There are loads of patterns all over the web on how to make them. Once made, they will last a life-time!!! LOL Yes, we must get together… long time no see and many years between us 🙂
Your dolls are gorgeous. Now you need to live close to me and give workshops. I would love to learn this. Anyways I would like to know if you sell them. Just too cute. Linda
Thank you so much for your comment Linda. I truly love creating these dolls. Each one is different. I don’t think I’d be very good at doing a workshop, most of my ideas come from web patterns and I re-create them in my head. I will however, guide you through one if you wish privately.
You asked about selling them? Yes, I am in the process of making as many as I can for the Holidays and putting them all up for sale in November on this Blog. Please remember, they are one-of-a-kind. ~Donna
Very nice job. I have been making dolls and bears, but always have problems with the face.
Thank you BearyAnn. Facial features are the most important part of doll making. I’ve made miniature ceramic dolls and never had a problem, but putting a face on cloth or crochet is another story. Love your Bears!
well, martha certainly turned out great! all your hard work on her facial features paid off. she’s very cute.
jd in st louis
http://crochet.craftgossip.com
Thank you so very much. If it wasn’t for all the help from the crochet group, I couldn’t wouldn’t have finished them. Thanks for your support.
I am still working on the face. Also started another doll with sneakers and hood. I’ll post a picture soon.
Donna, I can’t wait to see the boy doll and hope you will pick up where you ended very soon. Isn’t it a shame ‘real life’ gets in the way of our playtime.
Linda, I have a whole bunch of arms and legs but no bodies!!! I am itchin’ to make more but haven’t had the time. Work is putting a damper on my crochet time 😦 Can’t wait to retire so I can play in my crafts 🙂
hey, can you do for the boy doll hair which is standing up (like in the 80s)? this isn’t that easy, because you have to make “long” hair, otherwise it’s ravelling out all time….
🙂