Knitted in the Round 12″ Baby Doll – Part 1 – Knitting the Body

When Pixie opened her gift that held her new baby doll, pure joy filled her face. (And THAT is why I stay up to 1:00 a.m. every night!) The second photo is when the gown went up and she noticed the belly button. No words… but a look for me that said, “Of course my Gammy would put a belly button on my dolly.” BTW… she named the dolly Malena… actually, Princess Malena!

The dolly in the white sleeper was the one I made for the Little Lady… due on Saturday, and the one below it is the one I made for Pixie’s birthday.

Several months ago I featured a pattern for Basic Knit Dolls. When I designed the dolls, I designed them for beginner sewers, and the dolls are knitted flat, and require seams.

You can find the pattern for the gnome hats HERE.
The doll I’m sharing today is a variation of the 12″ Basic Knit Doll, and it is knitted in the round, so there are no seams on the legs, arms, torso or head. Unlike the Basic Knit Doll, which starts by knitting the legs, with this doll you begin at the head and work your way down.

Click here to add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue.

I will share the pattern in two parts:

The 12″ Doll’s Body
The Face and Hair

Here is Part 1: Knitting the 12″ Doll’s Body

Yarn:
worsted weight yarn (less than 1 skein) – I prefer to use 100% wool because it stands up to play better than acrylics which tend to ball up over time.

Needles:
Size 6 needles or needles that fit the gauge.

Gauge:
22 stitches and 28 rows = 4″ square in stockinette stitch

IMPORTANT: Leave long yarn tails (12″ – 18″) when you cast on or when you cut yarns. These will be used for sewing up the dolls.

DIRECTIONS FOR HEAD, BODY AND LEGS of the 12″ Doll

Head:
Beginning at head and using your double pointed needles (dpn), cast on (CO) 50 stitches.

Divide evenly on 3 needles, join in circle, and place marker (pm).

Knit for 26 rows. This makes up the head. Using a contrasting yarn, mark this row.

Body:
For the body, continue knitting for 40 more rows ending at marker.

Legs:
You will be working 1 leg at a time.

Place 25 stitches on a holder.

Divide the remaining 25 stitches on 3 dpns and join.

Knit for 26 rows.

DO NOT bind off. Cut thread leaving a long tail.

Thread the tail through a yarn needle. Slide the needle through each stitch as you remove them from the knitting needle. Later, this will be pulled tight to gather the stitches for the bottom of the foot.

Now divide the remaining 25 stitches that are on a holder on 3 dpns. Knit the other leg in the same manner.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE ARMS:
You will be working one arm at a time.

Cast on 20 stitches.

Divide evenly on 3 needles, join in circle, and place marker (pm).

Knit for 30 rows.

DO NOT bind off. Cut thread leaving a long tail.
Thread the tail through a yarn needle. Slide the needle through each stitch as you remove them from the knitting needle. Later, this will be pulled tight to gather the stitches for the bottom of the hand.

Knit the other arm in the same manner.

SEWING UP THE DOLL:
Pull the yarn tails at the end of the feet and arms where you slipped the yarn needle through the stitches. By pulling the thread tightly, you will close in the holes at the end of the arms and legs. Tie off on the inside.

There will be a small opening at the crotch that will need to sewn closed. Do this from the inside.

STUFFING THE DOLL:
Use matching yarn to sew a running stitch at the neck line going in and out of every stitch. Leave long ends and remove the contrasting yarn marker.


Stuff the doll beginning with the feet.

When you are satisfied with the amount of stuffing, thread the yarn tail at the head and sew a close running stitch around the head opening.

Pull the yarn tail at the top of the head closing the hole. By pulling it tightly, you will gather the top of the doll’s head. The knit head should be mostly wrinkle free. If you have wrinkles around the top of the head, try adding a little more stuffing. When satisfied, tie it off. Note: There might be a “hole” in the top of the head. If so, simply sew the hole closed by making little stitches across the hole as if darning.

Stuff the arms but do not attach yet.

FORMING THE HEAD:
Pull the yarn that you sewed around the neck firmly to create a neck. When you are pleased with the shape of the head and neck, tie off the yarn, and work the thread ends into the doll so they are not visible.

ATTACH ARMS:
Attach the arms at the side of the doll. The arms should be placed 1/2″ – 3/4″ below neck. NOTE: You may choose to wait until after you have embroidered a face and added hair so the arms do not get in your way.

BELLY BUTTON:
If you like, you can add a belly button to the doll’s stomach using a woven spider wheel stitch.

The completed “nakey” baby with hair and face.