Inspired by traditional wooden Russian matryoshka dolls, these crocheted lovelies are even cuter than the originals that inspired them! They are crocheted amigurumi-style with hand-embroidered accents.
DESIGNED BY AMY GAINES
Large Doll: bottom = 1¾" (4.5 cm) tall; top = 3¾" (9.5 cm) tall.
Medium Doll: bottom = 1½" (3.8 cm) tall; top = 2¼" (5.5 cm) tall.
Small Doll: bottom = 1¼" (3.2 cm) tall; top = 1¾" (4.5 cm) tall.
Baby Doll: 1⅜" (3.5 cm) tall.
Worsted weight (#4 Medium).
Shown here: Lion Brand Yarn Vanna’s Choice (170 yd [156 m]/3.5 oz [100 g]), in #109 Colonial Blue (A), #110 Navy (B), #123 Beige (C), #126 Chocolate (D), #134 Terracotta (E), #144 Magenta (F), #147 Purple (G), #171 Fern (H), #158 Mustard (I), #180 Cranberry (J), 1 skein each.
Size 4 (3.5 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge.
Stitch marker; tapestry needle; black round acrylic beads (for eyes), one hole, sizes 2mm (small) and 4mm (large), 2 beads each size; 3mm (medium), 4 beads; pink felt, 9" × 12" (23 × 30.5 cm), 1 sheet; small amount of fiberfill; sewing thread, in colors black (for eyes), red (for mouths), and pink (for cheeks); sewing needle.
10 sc and 10 rows = 2" (5 cm) in sc stitch. Take time to check your gauge.
Download the diagrams for this project here.
Sc2tog (single crochet two together)
Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
Daisy Stitch (embroidery)
See Techniques.
French Knot (embroidery)
See Techniques.
Straight Stitch (embroidery)
See Techniques.
With color B, make a ring.
RND 1: Sc 6 times into ring—6 sc, pm in last stitch of rnd, do not turn. Cont to move marker up each rnd.
RND 2: 2 Sc in each of 6 sc—12 sc, do not turn.
RND 3: *2 Sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around—18 sc, do not turn.
RND 4: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around—24 sc, do not turn.
RND 5: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts; rep from * around—30 sc, do not turn.
RND 6: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts; repeat around—36 sc, do not turn.
RND 7: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 8: * 2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts; rep from * around—42 sc, do not turn.
RND 9: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 10: * 2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 6 sts; rep from * around—48 sc, do not turn.
RNDS 11–13: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 14: *Sc2tog, sc in next each of next 6 sts; rep from * around—42 sc, do not turn.
RND 15: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around—42 sc, do not turn.
RND 16: Sc in each st around, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.
With color J, make a ring.
RNDS 1–4: Rep Rnds 1–4 of bottom—24 sc, do not turn.
RND 5: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RNDS 6 AND 7: Rep Rnds 5 and 6 of bottom—36 sc, do not turn.
RNDS 8–15: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 16: Rep Rnd 8 of bottom—42 sc, do not turn.
RND 17: Rep Rnd 10 of bottom—48 sc, do not turn.
RNDS 18–20: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 21: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 22: Sc in each st around, do not turn, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.
Large Doll
Medium Doll
Large Doll
Cheek Template ½" (1.3 cm)
Medium Doll
Cheek Template ⅜" (1 cm)
Small Doll
Cheek Template ¼" (6 mm)
Baby Doll
Cheek Template ⅛" (3 mm)
With color C, make a ring.
RNDS 1–5: Rep Rnds 1–5 of bottom, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 16" (40.5 cm) tail. Yarn tail will be used to sew face piece to top.
With color D, make a ring.
ROW 1: 2 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each of the next 2 ch, [sc2tog] twice, hdc in each of the next 2 ch, 2 sc in last chain—10 sts, ch 1, turn.
ROW 2: 2 Sc in first st, sc in next st, hdc in each of the next 2 sts, sc2tog, hdc in each of the next 2 sts, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st—11 sts, turn.
Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 16" (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew hair to face.
Arrange hair piece placing foundation edge on face edge, and sew in place with yarn tail.
With black thread and 2 large black beads, sew to face for eyes. Sew a smile with red thread. Cut two ½" (1.3 cm) circles (see diagram) of pink felt for cheeks. Sew to face with pink thread.
Arrange embellished face with hair edge along Rnd 5 of top and sew in place. Embroider flowers below face and along edge following diagram for Large Doll; use daisy stitch for flowers, French knot for centers, and straight stitch for stems.
COLOR STRATEGY: PALETTE INSPIRATION
Ever notice how some people just seem to have a knack for combining colors in a way you’d never think of yourself? While it’s true that some folks do have a great eye for colorwork, it’s easy to fake it if you don’t already have the knack. Simply find a colorful item that you love—it can be a painting, a photograph, a flowering plant, or a fabric print. Then, simply look at all the colors in that piece, and choose yarns to match. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to compile unexpected color combinations that are infinitely eye-pleasing.
With color I, make a ring.
RND 1: Sc 6 times into ring—6 sc, pm in last stitch of rnd, do not turn. Cont to move marker up each rnd.
RND 2: 2 sc in each of 6 sc—12 sc, do not turn.
RND 3: *2 Sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around—18 sc, do not turn.
RND 4: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around—24 sc, do not turn.
RND 5: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 6: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts; rep from * around—30 sc, do not turn.
RND 7: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 8: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts; repeat around—36 sc, do not turn.
RNDS 9–11: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 12: *Sc2tog, sc in each of next 4 sts; rep from * around—30 sc, do not turn.
RND 13: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 14: Sc in each st around, sl st in next stitch, fasten off, leaving 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.
With color H, make a ring.
RNDS 1–3: Rep Rnds 1–3 of bottom.
RND 4: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 5: Rep Rnd 4 of bottom.
RND 6: Rep Rnd 6 of bottom.
RNDS 7–12: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 13: Rep Rnd 8 of bottom.
RNDS 14 AND 15: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 16: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 17: Sc in each st around, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.
With color C, make a ring.
RNDS 1–4: Rep Rnds 1–4 of bottom, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 16" (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew face piece to top.
With color D, ch 9.
ROW 1: 2 Sc 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in each of next 2 ch, sc2tog, hdc in each of next 2 ch, 2 sc in last ch—9 sts, ch 1, turn.
ROW 2: 2 Sc in first st, sc in next st, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sl st in next st, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st—11 sts, turn.
Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 16" (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew hair to face piece.
Arrange hair piece placing foundation edge on face edge, and sew in place with yarn tail.
With black thread and 2 medium black beads, sew to face for eyes. Sew a smile with red thread. Cut two 3⁄8" (1 cm) circles (see diagram) of pink felt for cheeks. Sew to face with pink thread.
With color A, sew straight stitches to embroider around face edge, and make a little bow in the center under the face.
Arrange embellished face with hair edge along Rnd 4 of top and sew in place. Embroider flowers below face and along edge following diagram for Medium Doll using daisy stitch for flowers and French knot for centers.
With color G, make a ring.
RND 1: Sc 6 times into ring—6 sc, pm in last stitch of rnd, do not turn. Cont to move marker up each rnd.
RND 2: 2 Sc in each of 6 sc—12 sc, do not turn.
RND 3: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 4: *2 Sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around—18 sc, do not turn.
RND 5: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 6: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around—24 sc, do not turn.
RNDS 7 AND 8: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 9: *Sc2tog, sc in each of next 2 sc; rep from * around—18 sts, do not turn.
RND 10: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn. Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.
Baby Doll
Small Doll
With color E, make a ring.
RNDS 1–4: Rep Rnds 1–4 of bottom.
RNDS 5–9: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 10: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around—24 sc, do not turn.
RND 11: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 12: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.
With color C, make a ring.
RNDS 1 AND 2: Rep Rnds 1 and 2 of bottom.
RND 3: *2 Sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around—18 sts, do not turn.
Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 16" (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew face to top.
With color D, ch 9.
ROW 1: 2 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each of next 2 ch, sc2tog, hdc in each of next 2 ch, 2 sc in last ch—9 sts, turn.
Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 16" (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew hair to face.
Arrange hair piece placing foundation edge on face edge, and sew in place with yarn tail.
With black thread and 2 medium black beads, sew to face for eyes. Sew a smile with red thread. Cut two ¼" (6 mm) circles (see diagram) of pink felt for cheeks. Sew to face with pink thread. Arrange embellished face with hair edge along Rnd 3 of top and sew in place. Split yarn to embroider flowers below face and along edge by following diagram for Small Doll using daisy stitch for flowers and French knot for centers.
With color A, make a ring.
RND 1: Sc 5 times into ring—5 sc, pm in last stitch of rnd, do not turn. Cont to move marker up each rnd.
RND 2: 2 Sc in each of 5 sc—10 sc, do not turn.
RNDS 3 AND 4: Sc in each st around, do not turn.
RND 5: *2 Sc in next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * around—15 sc, do not turn.
RNDS 6 AND 7: Sc in each st around, fasten off yarn, do not turn. Change to color F.
RND 8: Sc in each st around, do not turn. Stuff with fiberfill as you work.
RND 9: *Sc2tog, sc in next st; rep from * around—10 sc, do not turn.
RND 10: *Sc2tog; rep from * around—5 sc.
Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.
With color C, make a ring.
RND 1: Sc 6 times into ring—6 sc.
Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 16" (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew face to top.
With color D, ch 4, fasten off, leaving 16" (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew hair to face.
Arrange hair piece placing along top edge of face and sew in place with yarn tail.
With black thread and 2 small black beads, sew to face for eyes. Sew a smile with red thread. Cut two 1⁄8" (3 mm) circles (see diagram) of pink felt for cheeks. Sew to face with pink thread. Arrange embellished face with hair edge along Rnd 10 of top and sew in place. Split yarn to embroider flowers below face, from bottom edge up along side by following diagram for Small Doll using daisy stitch for flowers, French knot for centers, and straight stitch for stems.