Keith knows a family of five who are adopting three orphaned brothers from Ethiopia. A family friend requested dolls of each family member and Keith was only too happy to oblige.
You can't see the amazing details as well in this picture, but he's gotten it down to corn rows and facial hair. And because everybody was so impressed, Keith wrote down the basic pattern and asked us to share it with everyone. Thank you!
Keith's Dolls
Yarn requirements: Any yarn will work, but DK or worsted weight will work best. Go down two or three sizes from recommended hook size so your stitches are tight enough to keep the stuffing inside. (Example: with worsted weight yarn, use a G hook.)
Leg – Make 2
Chain 5.
At the end of all the rounds (except the last one), do this: join with sl in first sc, ch 1.
Round 1: (work in 1 loop) 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 chains, 4 sc in next chain, sc in next 4 stitches
Round 2: (work in back loop) sc round. (12 stitches)
Round 3: sc in next 4 stitches, s2tog, sc, s2tog, sc in next 3 stitches,
Round 4: sc in next 3 stitches, s2tog, s2tog, sc in next 3 stitches.
Round 5: sc in next 2 stitches, sc2tog, sc2tog, sc in next 2 stitches.
Round 6 -7: sc round (6 stitches)
Round 8: * sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch * repeat from *.
Round 9: sc round (8 stitches)
Repeat Round 9 until the leg is the desired length.
Stuff leg.
On the first leg, finish off. On the second leg, do not finish off, ending with the ch 1 and start the torso.
Torso, Shoulders &Head – Make 1.
At the end of all the rounds (except the last one), do this: join with sl in first sc, ch 1.
Torso Round 1: sc in next 3 stitches, sc in other leg (2nd to last stitch of the last round), sc in next 7 stitches, s2tog (stitch together (1) same stitch where the first stitch in the left leg and (2) the same stitch where the last stitch from this round was made of the right leg), sc in next 5 stitches.
Torso Round 2: sc round. (17 stitches)
Torso Repeat round 2 until torso is the desired length.
Shoulder round 1: sc, * sc, s2tog * repeat from *, end with sc.
Stuff torso.
Shoulder round 2: s2tog around.
Head round 1 – 2: sc around (6 stitches)
Head round 3: 2 sc in each stitch.
Head round 4: * sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end.
Head round 5: * sc, sc, 2 sc, repeat from * to end.
Head round 6 -7 : sc around (24 stitches)
Head round 8: *sc, sc, s2tog, repeat from * to end.
Head round 9: *sc, s2tog, repeat from * to end.
Stuff head.
Head round 10: s2tog around, finish off, leaving a 4” – 6” tail.
On needle, stitch through all 6 stitches and pull tight. Finish off.
Arm – Make 2
Reduce your hook size down 1 or 2 sizes. (ie. If you’ve been using an H for the rest of the pattern, then use an F or G for the arms)
At the end of all the rounds (except the last one), do this: join with sl in first sc, ch 1.
Chain 2.
Round 1: 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.
Round 2: *sc, sc, 2 sc, repeat from * to end
Round 3: sc around (8 stitches)
Stuff arm.
Repeat round 3 for desired length, then finish off, leaving a 4” – 6” tail. Sew arm onto body.
Chain 5.
At the end of all the rounds (except the last one), do this: join with sl in first sc, ch 1.
Round 1: (work in 1 loop) 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 chains, 4 sc in next chain, sc in next 4 stitches
Round 2: (work in back loop) sc round. (12 stitches)
Round 3: sc in next 4 stitches, s2tog, sc, s2tog, sc in next 3 stitches,
Round 4: sc in next 3 stitches, s2tog, s2tog, sc in next 3 stitches.
Round 5: sc in next 2 stitches, sc2tog, sc2tog, sc in next 2 stitches.
Round 6 -7: sc round (6 stitches)
Round 8: * sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch * repeat from *.
Round 9: sc round (8 stitches)
Repeat Round 9 until the leg is the desired length.
Stuff leg.
On the first leg, finish off. On the second leg, do not finish off, ending with the ch 1 and start the torso.
Torso, Shoulders &Head – Make 1.
At the end of all the rounds (except the last one), do this: join with sl in first sc, ch 1.
Torso Round 1: sc in next 3 stitches, sc in other leg (2nd to last stitch of the last round), sc in next 7 stitches, s2tog (stitch together (1) same stitch where the first stitch in the left leg and (2) the same stitch where the last stitch from this round was made of the right leg), sc in next 5 stitches.
Torso Round 2: sc round. (17 stitches)
Torso Repeat round 2 until torso is the desired length.
Shoulder round 1: sc, * sc, s2tog * repeat from *, end with sc.
Stuff torso.
Shoulder round 2: s2tog around.
Head round 1 – 2: sc around (6 stitches)
Head round 3: 2 sc in each stitch.
Head round 4: * sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end.
Head round 5: * sc, sc, 2 sc, repeat from * to end.
Head round 6 -7 : sc around (24 stitches)
Head round 8: *sc, sc, s2tog, repeat from * to end.
Head round 9: *sc, s2tog, repeat from * to end.
Stuff head.
Head round 10: s2tog around, finish off, leaving a 4” – 6” tail.
On needle, stitch through all 6 stitches and pull tight. Finish off.
Arm – Make 2
Reduce your hook size down 1 or 2 sizes. (ie. If you’ve been using an H for the rest of the pattern, then use an F or G for the arms)
At the end of all the rounds (except the last one), do this: join with sl in first sc, ch 1.
Chain 2.
Round 1: 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.
Round 2: *sc, sc, 2 sc, repeat from * to end
Round 3: sc around (8 stitches)
Stuff arm.
Repeat round 3 for desired length, then finish off, leaving a 4” – 6” tail. Sew arm onto body.
