Easy Crochet Doll Tutorial: Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL Week 1

It is Week 1 of our Amigurumi Advent Calender Crochet Along (CAL) and we are starting our project off by learning how to crochet a doll with this easy crochet doll tutorial! I’m calling this doll Advent Amy.

Haven’t heard of the Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL yet? Check out the Amigurumi Advent Calender Crochet Along post that explains what we’re doing, the pattern release schedule and how you can join in all the fun!

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How to Crochet a Doll:

We’re starting off this crochet along by showing you how to crochet a doll. If you haven’t tried crocheting an amigurumi doll before, this easy crochet doll tutorial is a great place to get started because over the coming weeks, we are going to crochet a doll together and I’ll be showing you my tips and tricks for amigurumi making along the way.

Once we’re done our dolls, we’ll be making removeable clothes for them as well. I also have step-by-step video tutorials to complement the free written version you’ll find below.

This easy crochet doll tutorial is going to walk you through crocheting the legs and body of your amigurumi dolls. This crochet doll pattern was designed to minimize sewing and is crocheted in one-piece from the feet to the head.

Next week we will be creating the head for your dolls and creating its hair. The hair for this doll is created by crocheting a wig cap which is kind of like a hat for your doll that looks like hair.

The following week, we will finish off your dolls by crocheting the arms, learning how to embroider eyelashes onto your dolls and adding some finishing touches. In the weeks that follow finishing your dolls, we will begin working on some crochet clothes for them. Be sure to bookmark or pin the Amigurumi Advent Calendar Crochet Along home page so you can refer to the schedule whenever you need to.

Other free crochet doll patterns you’ll love:

• My Girl Pearl
  
  
• My Pal Pascal
  
  

How Do I Join The Crochet Along?

You can join the crochet along at any point and do not need to have been with us at the beginning. The free versions of the crochet patterns released as part of the Amigurumi Advent Calendar Crochet along will remain available on the blog and YouTube channel permanently. You do not need to do anything special to join the crochet along either although, following me on social media and/or signing up for my email newsletter will help ensure that you’re kept updated.

You can also join The Loopy Lamb Crochet Community on Facebook and share your projects there, chat with other participants and see the work that others are sharing there as well.

Where Can I Get a Printable Copy of this Doll Pattern?

• You can purchase an inexpensive ad-free crochet PDF pattern with all three parts of the doll together in one convenient pdf file in my Ravelry and Etsy shop OR
  
  
• Buy the Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL Bundle in my Ravelry or Etsy shops and get this pattern and all the CAL patterns in printable bundle files.

Important Note About The Supply List for this Doll Pattern:

We will not be utlizing all of the supplies listed in the supplies list this week. We will be using them to complete our crochet doll and the clothing that we will crochet for our doll over the coming weeks. This is not an exhaustive list of all of the supplies we will need. This is everything we will need for Weeks 1 – 8 of the Amigurumi Advent Calendar Crochet Along.

What Yarn Should I Use For My Doll?

For this pattern/tutorial and all the patterns in this crochet along, I’m using WeCrochet’s Brava Worsted yarn which is my favourite worsted weight acrylic yarn. If you’re not planning on utlizing Brava Worsted, I recommend utilizing the same yarn brand throughout your project to help minimize any potential issues with gauge/tension later on.

How Do I Change the Size of My Doll?

You can change the size of the doll by using a different yarn and hook size. For a larger doll, use a bulkier weight yarn and bigger hook. For a smaller doll, use a lighter weight yarn and smaller hook. Use that same yarn brand and hook size throughout all the projects and maintain a consistent tension throughout your projects to make sure they fit your dolls.

How do I change the size using the same hook and yarn? Besides the above two options, it would require you to alter the pattern of the doll and all subsequent garment patterns to fit your doll in order to change its size with its current yarn and hook recommendations.

Keep in mind that if you do decide to change the size of your doll, that you’ll need to change the size of your safety eyes buttons, and possibly the size of your advent calendar boxes as well (if you made your doll and clothes with a bulky or super bulky weight yarn, they will not fit in the boxes that I have recommended).

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the item created by this pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

Skill Level:

• Easy

Terminology:

• U.S. Terminology
  
  

Supplies:

• 3.5 mm (E) Furls Crochet Hook
  
  
• Brava Worsted Weight Yarn (100% Premium Acrylic, Worsted Weight (4), 218yds/200m, 100g/3.5oz), 1 skein each of:
  • Colour A: Cream (or preferred skin colour)
  • Colour B: White
  • Colour C: Brindle (or preferred hair colour)
  • Colour D: Mulberry
  • Colour E: Lady Slipper
  • Colour F: Denim
  • Colour G: Black
  • Colour H: Cotton Candy
  • Colour I: Dove Heather
    
    
• 2 – 12 mm Safety Eyes in preferred colour (Mine are from Chateau Bornais Crochet)
  
  
• 9 – 9 mm Buttons in preferred colour(s)
  
  
• Polyester Stuffing
  
  
• Tapestry Needle
  
  
• Multiple Stitch Markers
  
  
• Black Embroidery Thread
  
  
• Scissors
  
  
• Sewing Thread and Needle
  
  
• Sewing Pins (optional but helps make the assembly process easier)
  
  
• Blush and Make-up Brush (optional)
  
  
• 24 boxes that measure at least 2.7” square for the advent calendar. (I got these advent calendar boxes on Amazon)
  
  
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Abbreviations:

• BLO = Back Loops Only
  
  
• CH = Chain
  
  
• CH SP = Chain Space
  
  
• DC = Double Crochet
  
  
• FLO = Front Loops Only
  
  
• FO = Finish Off
  
  
• MC = Magic Circle
  
  
• PM = Place Marker/Stitch Marker
  
  
• PSC = Picot Single Crochet
  
  
• RS = Right Side
  
  
• SC = Single Crochet
  
  
• SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease
  
  
• SCINC = Single Crochet Increase
  
  
• SK = Skip
  
  
• SL ST = Slip Stitch
  
  
• SP(s) = Space(s)
  
  
• ST = Stitch
  
  
• WS = Wrong Side

Special Techniques and Stitches:

• Invisible Finish/Join: FO leaving a long tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle.  Place the tapestry needle through the top of the 2^nd ST from front to back and pull through.  Place tip of needle into top of the last ST of the round, under the back loop of the stitch, and pull through to the back of the work.  Weave in the end. Learn how to do this with my invisible finish/join tutorial.
  
  
• Picot Single Crochet (PSC): Insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over hook and pull through stitch.  Yarn over and pull through one loop on the hook three times.  Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. Learn how to do this with my Picot Single Crochet Tutorial.
  
  

Finished Size:

• Doll is approximately 10.5” tall

Gauge:

• Clothing: 4 sts across x 6 rows = 1” square
  
  
• Doll: Rounds 1 – 4 of the Leg = 1.5” across at widest point.

Notes:

• Gauge is important for ensuring that all of the parts of your doll fit appropriately.  If you don’t plan to match gauge, ensure that you maintain a consistent tension throughout your project. 
  
  
• This pattern is worked in continuous rounds (unless stated otherwise).  Do not join at the end of the row, unless indicated.  A stitch marker is used to keep track of the beginning of the round.
  
  
• For a cleaner SCDEC, do your SCDEC under the front loops only of each st rather than under both loops.  This is often referred to as an invisible decrease.  Learn how to do this invisible decrease tutorial.
  
  
• In Round 1 of the Body of the doll only, the CH 1 is counted as a st and should be worked into in Round 2 of the body.

You can purchase an inexpensive ad-free PDF version of this pattern with all three parts of the doll together + 1 outfit in one convenient file in my Ravelry and Etsy shops
OR
Buy the Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL Bundle in my Ravelry or Etsy shops and get printable versions of all of the CAL patterns at once.

Easy Crochet Doll Tutorial Step-by-Step Video Instructions

Easy Crochet Doll Tutorial Pattern: Advent Amy

Leg 1

Round 1: Using Colour A, make a MC and SC 6 into the MC. (6)

Round 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)

Round 3: (SC 1, SCINC) x 6 (18)

Round 4: SC 1, SCINC, (SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC 1 (24)

Gauge Check: Piece should measure 1.5” across at widest point.

Round 5: In FLO, SC around (24)

Round 6: SC around (24)

Round 7: (SCDEC) x 6, SC 12 (18)

Round 8: (SCDEC) x 3, SC 12 (15)

Round 9: (SCDEC) x 2, SC 11 (13) – Add stuffing to foot.

Round 10: SCDEC, SC 11 (12)

Rounds 11 – 21: SC around (12) – Continue to add stuffing as you go. Stuff firmly.

Round 22: SC 10, change to Colour B, BLO SC 2 (12)

Round 23: In BLO, SC 10, working under both loops, SC 2 (12)

Round 24: SC around (12)

PM into the 3rd ST of the last round of the leg.  FO.

Leg 2

Rounds 1 – 24: Repeat instructions for Rounds 1 – 24 of Leg 1 but Do NOT FO.  We will continue onto the body.

Body & Head

Round 1: Working into the top of the 2^nd leg, SC 8, CH 1, SC into the marked 3^rd ST of the first leg.  SC 11 around the first leg, SC in the CH and SC in the last 4 STs of the 2^nd leg. (26)

Round 2:  SC around (26)

Round 3: SC 7, SCINC, SC, SCINC, SC 7, SCINC, SC 3, SCINC, SC 4 (30)

Round 4: SC around (30)

Round 5: (SC 4, SCINC) x 6 (36)

Round 6: SC 32, Change to Colour A, BLO, SC 4 (36)

Round 7: BLO SC 32, working under both loops, SC 4 (36)

Rounds 8 – 9: SC around (36)

Round 10: (SC 4, SCDEC) x 6 (30)

Rounds 11 – 12: SC around (30)

Round 13: (SC 3, SCDEC) x 6 (24) – Continue to add stuffing as you go. Stuff firmly.

Round 14 – 15: SC around (24)

Round 16: (SC 4, SCDEC) x 3, SC 6 (21)

Rounds 17 – 18: SC around (21)

Round 19: (SCDEC, SC 4) x 2, SCDEC, SC 7 (18)

Round 20: (SC, SCDEC) x 6 (12)

Round 21: SC around (12) – Continue to add stuffing as you go. Stuff firmly.

We are stopping here for this week and will begin working on the head and hair for our amigurumi dolls next week.

Don’t want to wait to finish crocheting your doll?

• Purchase the PDF version of this pattern which includes the full pattern for the doll, two pieces of clothing and an accessory. Available in my Ravelry and Etsy shops.
  
  
• This pattern is available in the Amigurumi Advent Calendar Crochet Along Bundle. The bundle includes
  • The full doll pattern and the first 6 clothing/accessory patterns that we will be making, PLUS an extra hair cap pattern
  • Updated PDF patterns when a new CAL pattern is published: emailed to you directly (for Etsy users) or updated in your Ravelry library for those purchasing on Ravelry.
  • For a limited time: the bundle will be available for a special price of $20 CAD (making it less than $1/pattern!). As of February 1st, the price will increase to $25.

Ready for Week Two of the Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL? <– Click this link for the next part of our CAL.

Check Out This Amigurumi Doll And All Her Outfits

• My Dolly Molly
  
  
• Sleepy Time Molly
  
  
• Molly the Mermaid

I hope that you enjoyed this easy crochet doll tutorial. I’d love to see your progress you’ve made on your dolls!  Share your projects with me on social media by tagging me @theloopylamb or using #theloopylambCAL in your posts. You can also join The Loopy Lamb Crochet Community on Facebook and share your projects there, chat with other participants and see their work as well. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. 

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