Of all the dolls I've made, this is definitely my husband's favorite. Princess Belle in her blue peasant dress. This also was one of the quicker ones to make because the design itself is pretty simple. I hope you enjoy making her as much as I did!
Materials:
Skin- Loops and Threads Impeccable (aran)
White- I Love This Yarn (white)
Brown- Red Heart Super Saver (coffee)
Blue- Red Heart With Love (blue Hawaii)
White Embroidery Floss
Black Embroidery Floss
Crochet Hook size C (2.75 mm)
Hefty Embroidery Needle
Stuffing
This doll is worked from the top of the head in continuous rounds down until the legs split. Then one leg is worked at a time. Arms, hair, and apron are made separately and attached afterward. The skirt is picked up at the waist and worked to the hem. Eyes are embroidered directly onto doll. Belle measures about 5.5 inches tall. Using a different yarn weight, using a different crochet hook size, and personal tension will alter that.
Head and Body
R1- using aran, make magic circle with 6 sc, pull tight
R2- 2 sc in each stitch around (12 st)
R3- *sc in next stitch, 2 sc in same stitch* rep to end (18 st)
R4- *sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in same stitch* rep to end (24 st)
R5 to R11- sc in each stitch around (24 st)
R12- *sc in next 2 stitches, sc2tog* rep to end (18 st)
R13- *sc in next stitch, sc2tog* rep to end (12 st)
R14- sc in each stitch around (12 st)
R15- change to white, *sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in same stitch* rep to end (15 st)
R16- *sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in same stitch* rep to end (18 st)
R17- change to blue, sc in each stitch around (18)
R18 to R20- sc in each stitch around (18 st)
R21- sc BLO in each stitch around (18 st)
R22- sc in each stitch around (18)
Next is splitting the stitches between the two legs.
R23- ch 3, skip 9 sc, sc in next 9 stitches (12 st)
R24- change to aran, sc BLO in each stitch around (12 st)
R25 to R27- sc in each stitch around (12 st)
Make sure to end R27 in the middle of the back of the leg.
R28- change to brown, sc in next four stitches, 3dc puff st in next four stitches, sc in next four stitches (12 st)
R29- st in each stitch around (12 st)
R30- dec by sc2tog around (6 st)
BO, leaving a four inch tail
Using blue, start the right leg. Join in the back next to the left leg, leaving a 6 inch tail at the beginning. This is used to sew up the crotch at the end.
R23- sc in next 9 stitches, ch 3 (12 st)
R24- sc in next st, change to aran, sc BLO in each stitch around (12 st)
R25 to R27- sc in each stitch around (12 st)
Again, end R27 at the middle of the back, even if it means not doing the last stitch or adding a stitch.
R 28- change to brown, sc in next four stitches, 3dc puff st in next four stitches, sc in next four stitches (12 st)
R29- st in each stitch around (12 st)
R30- dec by sc2tog around (6 st)
BO, leaving a four inch tail
Arms, make 2
R1- using aran, make a magic circle with 6 sc, pull tight
R2- *2 sc in same stitch, sc in next 2 stitches* rep to end (8 st)
R3- sc in each stitch around (8 st)
R4- change to white, sc in each stitch around (8 st)
R5 to R8- sc in each stitch around (8 st)
R9- sc2tog, sc in next 2 stitches, sc2tog, sc in next stitch, slip in last stitch, BO leaving a 6 inch tail
Skirt
The skirt is crocheted directly onto Belle's body using the loops at her waist (there should be 18 st). These rounds are not continuous; they are joined with a slip stitch at the end of each) Hold the doll with her head down, feet up. Using the blue yarn, join at the back middle, ch 2.
R1- *2 dc in same stitch, dc in next 2 stitches* rep to end, slip to join (24 st)
R2- ch 2, *dc in next 3 stitches, 2 dc in same stitch* rep to end, slip to join (30 st)
R3- ch 2, *2 dc in same stitch, dc in next 4 stitches* rep to end, slip to join (36 st)
Edge- change to white, *ch3, slip in next stitch BLO, slip in next stitch BLO* rep to end, BO
Apron
Using white yarn, ch 8
In third chain from hook, dc. Dc in each stitch to end (6 st)
Ch 2, turn, dc in each until one stitch left, 2 dc in same stitch (7 st), BO leaving a 8 inch tail
Make a separate chain with white yarn that is long enough to go from top corner of apron around the waist to the other corner. This is the tie of the apron. If you don't want to make a separate piece, you could just embroider the tie using white yarn.
Hair
R1- using brown, make magic circle with 6 sc, pull tight
R2- 2 sc in each stitch around (12 st)
R3- *sc in next stitch, 2 sc in same stitch* rep to end (18 st)
R4- *sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in same stitch* rep to end (24 st)
R5- sc in each stitch around (24 st)
R6- *sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in same stitch* rep to end (30 st)
R7 to R8- sc in each stitch around (30 st)
Now we stop working continuous rounds. This is where we are going to crochet the strands of hair starting with the ones in the back.
Slip in the next stitch, ch 10. Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc in each stitch back to the main piece. Do this 4 times. You now have five hair strands.
Sc 13 stitches, or enough to get to the front of the hair piece.
Make two more strands with the following:
Slip stitch in the next stitch, ch 23. Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc in each ch back to the main piece. Repeat one more time.
Sc along the hair piece to get back to the strands in the back. BO leaving a 12 inch tail
Dress Straps, make 2
Using blue yarn, chain about 10, BO leaving a four inch tail
Bow
Using blue yarn, chain about 23, BO leaving a four inch tail
Once all your pieces are made, it's just a matter of sewing them on and embroidering a couple details. I always try to hide my knots and tails within the doll. For the embroidery on the face I always hide it under the hair. For the tails at the feet and things on the skirt, I hide them in the body and usually tie the knot in the little hole between the legs. This is the order I followed when I made Belle:
Stuff the head, body, legs, and arms.
Sew on the arms to R15 or 16, whichever you prefer. I did R15
Embroider eyes and nose (and mouth/eyebrows if you choose) using embroidery thread and a small bit of aran yarn for nose. I do the eyes first and then the nose.
Sew the apron to the skirt, centering it on the front.
Sew the straps down from the neckline, up over the shoulders, and to the blue neckline in the back.
Sew or embroider with white yarn the apron tie.
Fold the ends of the Bow chain to the middle and sew it to the hair piece just above the short, middle strand of hair.
Sew the hair piece to her head. Fold back the two long strands to make her bangs and sew them down well.e
Using the tails on the feet, sew the hole shut.
Double check that everything looks good. Add more stuffing to the body if it needs more, and sew the crotch shut. Do you best to hide the knot and draw the tail a long way through the body before snipping it.
I hope the result is worth the effort! Please let me know if there are any confusing directions or if you get stuck. I'm pretty new at sharing crochet patterns. I aim to get better with time!