Stocking Stuffer Baby Doll and Dolly Sleep Sack

This year, I wanted a little something extra for Lucy's stocking from St. Nick.  I made this super simple knit baby doll, inspired once again by the wonderful pattern from Wee Folk Art.

The basic doll pattern that they have there is such a good jumping off point for personalization and variations.  Even if you think you could never knit toys, I encourage you to go over there, take a peek at the pattern and just give it a try.  The instructions hold your hand every step of the way and I think you'll be really proud of what you end up with if you try.

To make the baby, I followed Kimara's basic form and knit in the round doll construction, only I modified it a bit to use a smaller yarn and make a teeny, tiny baby doll, instead of the 12" baby doll but that pattern was definitely my inspiration and starting off point.

What I Did:
Using size 1 needles and Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sport yarn (colorway "marshmallow") I cast on 56 stitches, leaving a long tail (which you will use to seam up the head later)

Join, and knit in the round for 26 round.  Mark that round with a scrap piece of yarn and then continue to knit in the round for 52 more rounds (total of 78 rounds - using the rule of thirds, with the top 1/3 = the head, the bottom 2/3 = the body and legs).

Next round, Knit 2together all the way around for one round. Then, with a tapestry needle, pick up each stitch from the knitting needles and then pull these stitches tight and knot securely to seam up the bottom.  (You might have to sew together a few stitches so fully close the opening). Leave a long tail of  yarn.

Now you have a tube that is closed at one end.

Optional: Legs
You can leave the doll with a rounded body, of course, as if swaddled.  Or, you can make simple legs, like I did here:

With the long tail of yarn you left yourself, sew a seam up the middle of the doll for about 1 and a half inches - making sure that you are going through both layers of your knit tube.

Now you should have a tube with a sealed, slightly tapered end with implied legs :-)

Turn your work inside out and make a knot or two in your yarn to secure it before cutting your yarn and turning the doll right-side out again.


Follow Kimara's directions and sew a running stitch at the neck-line of your doll. Are you with me so far?

Then start stuffing, making sure to fill both legs if you chose to go that route (you can use a pencil or a chopstick to push the stuffing down if you'd like).

Once you get to the neck, pull the running stitch tightly and secure it.  Then continue to stuff the head.  Keep stuffing until there are not any wrinkles and then, run a tapestry needle through the cast on edge and pull that tightly closed (you may have to sew a small seam at the top)

I chose to add hair, again, following the Wee Folk Art directions.

As an afterthought, I ended up doing about a 1/2 inch seam along each side to imply arms as well.

I think she turned out pretty cute.

(I may try to sneak in a little more hair between now and St. Nick's Day eve)

I know I loved making her.

Thank you, Kimara and Wee Folk Art for the inspiration!

(Ravelry page here)

Teeny Tiny Sleep Sack

To make the dolly's sleep sack, I used the same worsted yarn I created her hair with.  

I cast on 48 stitches with a worsted weight yarn on size 7 needles.  I worked 2x2 rib, knitting in the round, for about an inch.  Then I knit stockinette in the round until the entire piece was about 4 inches long.

I divided the stitches up, grabbed my double pointed needles, placed 24 stitches on each needle.  Then, grabbing a tapestry needles and using Kitchener stitch, I bound off the end, and ta da!  A tiny baby doll in a tiny sleep sack, perfect for a certain little girl's stocking on St. Nicholas day.