Anna & Julia

The most difficult part of social distancing during the pandemic has been not being able to spend time with our beautiful granddaughters. I get to see them through online pictures and videos which I love to see, and the occassional video chat. But I really miss the physical contact, especially the hugs.

I decided to create dolls that reminded me of them to brighten up my days and to keep me busy doing something that I love to do - creating fun things for children.

I started with a picture that their auntie, our talented daughter Jenni Evans had drawn of them. Using this as my inspiration, I created these dolls.

I love how they turned out and now I have something to hug until we can get together once again.

The Anna girl doll is 13" high and the Julia baby doll is 10" high.

Both of the toy animals, Meow the cat and Hop Hop the bunny are 4" high.

See the next step for details

Anna & Meow - 4 ply cotton yarn – One 1.5 oz. ball of skin color, brown, lavender & pink and small amounts of black, white & red.

Julia & Hop Hop – 4 ply cotton yarn – One 1.5 oz. ball of skin color, brown, purple and red and small amounts of light blue & dark blue. For the eyes, use small amounts of sport weight cotton in black and white with 3mm crochet hook.

3.5mm crochet hook

Polyester Stuffing

Scissors

Darning Needle

Always remember to remove your cat or other pet from your work area as needed. This is a regular challenge I have to deal with while creating anything using yarn.

I prefer to make toys from 100% cotton yarn as it wears well, keeps it shape and is machine washable.

You can use any colors that you prefer or substitute acrylic yarn.

To make a smaller sized doll, use sport weight or fine yarn and a smaller crochet hook.

If you do not have any sport weight yarn to make the eyes for Julia, you can split a strand of 4 ply cotton in 2 and use that instead with a smaller crochet hook.

Polyester stuffing is recommended.

Most of the parts are worked in rounds unless otherwise noted.

Mark stitches using stitch markers or safety pins.

Count the number of stitches in each round frequently and make corrections as needed.

Leave a “tail” of yarn with the lengths listed for sewing where noted.

How to basic crochet stitches and magic circle instructions are available at

https://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Crochet-Am...

https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Seaml...

sc – single crochet

dc – double crochet

hdc – half double crochet

tbc – treble crochet

st – stitch

sts- stitches

ch – chain

sl st – slip stitch

inc – increase by making 2 stitches in the same stitch

dec –decrease by crocheting 2 stitches together

x – times – followed by a number that indicates the number of times you repeat what is in the bracket

magic circle – sc # - make a magic circle and work the specified number of stitches in the loop

Head

1. With hair color make a magic circle - sc 6

2. (inc) x 6 = 12 sts

3. (inc, sc) x 6 = 18 sts

4. (inc, sc 2) x 6 = 24 sts

5. (inc, sc 3) x 6 = 30 sts

* Mark last stitch for back of head

6. sc 6, (inc) x 3, sc 12, (inc) x 3, sc 6 = 36 sts

7. sc 6, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 12, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 6 = 42 sts

8. sc 6, (inc, sc 2) x 3, sc 12, (inc, sc 2) x3, sc 6 = 48 sts

9 – 11. sc 48

* Change to skin color

12. thru back loops - sc 48

* Fold flat and mark the sides of the head

13 – 19. sc 48

20. sc 9, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 18, (inc, sc) x3, sc 9 = 54 sts

21. sc 11, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 21, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 10 = 60 sts

22 – 26. sc 60

27. sc 11, (dec, sc) x 3, sc 21, (dec, sc) x 3, sc 10 = 54 sts

28. (dec, sc 7) x 6 = 48 sts

29. sc 3, (dec, sc 6) x 5,dec, sc 3 = 42 sts

30. sc 1, (dec, sc 5) x 5, sc 5 = 36 sts

* Mark last stitch as center back

31. (dec, sc 4) x 6 = 30 sts

* Stuff head firmly

32. sc 2, (dec, sc 3) x 5, dec, sc 1 = 24 sts

33. (dec, sc 2) x 6 = 18 sts

34 – 37. sc 18

* Change to dress color and continue to work in rounds

Body

38. (inc, sc 2) x 6 = 24 sts

39 – 45. sc 24

46. work thru back loops - sc 24

* Change to pants color and continue in rounds

47. thru back loops – sc 24

48 – 50. sc 24

* Cut yarn leaving a 20” tail

Skirt

Join dress color yarn at the center back of row 46 thru a front loop

1. Work thru front loops– (inc) x 24 = 48 sts

2 – 3. sc 48

4. (inc, sc 5) x 8 = 56 sts

5 – 6. sc 56

7. (inc, sc 6) x 8 = 64 sts

8. sc 64

* Cut yarn and weave in end

Embroider the eyes at row 17 - Make 4 stitches that are the width of 3 sc & stitch 3 eyelashes at the sides of the eyes

Embroider the mouth with the bottom at row 27

Make nose in center of face at row 21 – make 5 stitches that are the width of 2 sc

* See pictures for details

Ears – Make 2
1. With skin color - magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc) x 6 = 12 sts

3. ( inc, sc) x 6 = 18 sts

4. sc 18

* Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail

* Sew to the head after you have attached the hair

* Sew to sides of head between the last hair strand and the back hair piece

Legs – Make 2

1. With shoe color – make a magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc) x 6 = 12 sts

3. (inc, sc) x 6 = 18 sts

4. (inc, sc 2) x 6 = 24 sts

5 – 6. sc 24

7. sc 7, (dec) x 5, sc 7 = 19 sts

8. sc 6, (dec) x 4, sc 5 = 15 sts

* Change to skin color

* Stuff foot & stuff leg every 2” as you are making the leg

9. sc 3, (dec) x 5, sc 2 = 10 sts

10 – 13. Sc 10

14. (inc, sc 4) x 2 = 12 sts

15 – 22. sc 12

* Cut yarn leaving a 14” tail

* Sew legs to the bottom row of the pants color

* See picture for details

Arms – Make 2

1. With skin color - magic circle – sc 4

2. (inc) x 4 = 8 sts

3. (inc) x 8 = 16 sts

4 – 5. sc 16

6. (dec, sc 6) x 2 = 14 sts

7. (dec, sc 5) x 2 = 12 sts

* Stuff hand lightly

8. (dec, sc 4) x 2 = 10 sts

9 – 12. sc 10

13. (inc, sc 4) x 2 = 12 sts

14 – 21. sc 12

* Stuff middle of arm from wrist tightly and last 1” at top of arm lightly

* Sew to sides of body on last row of skin color at neck

Dress Shoulder Straps – Make 2

1. Ch 10, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 8

* Cut yarn, leaving a 12” tail

* Sew to front and back at the top of the dress after arms are attached

Hair

Base chain

Ch 51, sc in 2nd chain from hook then start with hair strands

* Hair strands are worked along the 51 base chain stitches

* See pictures for details

Hair Strands

Make individual hair strands as follows, ending each strand with a sc in base chain of 51 sts

1 – 2. ch 11, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 9 in ch, sc in base chain

3- 4. ch 10, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 8 in ch, sc in base chain

5 – 6. ch 9, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 7 in ch, sc in base chain

7. ch 8, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 6 in ch, sc in base chain

8. ch 7, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 5 in ch, sc in base chain

9 – 16. ch 6, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 4 in ch, sc in base chain

17. ch 7, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 5 in ch, sc in base chain

18. ch 8, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 6 in ch, sc in base chain

19 – 20. ch 9, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 7 in ch, sc in base chain

21 – 22. ch 10, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 8 in ch, sc in base chain

23 – 24. ch 11, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 9 in ch, sc in base chain

Back of Hair

Continue to work along remaining base chain stitches in rows

1. sc 24, ch 1, turn

2 – 8. sc 24, ch 1, turn

9. dec, sc 20, dec, ch 1, turn = 22 sts

10. dec, sc 18, dec = 20 sts

* Cut yarn

Assembly

* Pin hair to head at sides of the head where they are marked before sewing.

* Sew hair to head using hair color yarn.

* Start with first hair strands made at the right side of the face in the front loop of row 11 of the head.

* Sew the back hair piece to back of head.

* See pictures for details.

Pigtails – Make 2

Strand – Ch 26, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 24

* do not cut yarn - continue with next strand

Make 5 strand of hair for each pigtail then cut yarn leaving a 12” tail

* Use yarn tail to gather the 5 strands together

* Sew to head on sides at row 6

* See pictures for details

Hair ties – Make 2

1. Ch 13, hdc in 2nd chain from hook, hdc 11 then cut leaving a 10” tail

* Sew hair ties around the base of the pigtails

* See pictures for details

Head & Body

1. With body color - magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc) x 6 = 12 sts

3. (inc, sc) x 6 = 18 sts

4 – 6. sc 18

7. (dec, sc) x 6 = 12 sts

* Stuff head

8. (dec, sc) x 4 = 8 sts

9. sc 8

10. (inc, sc) x 4 = 12 sts

11. (inc, sc 5) x 2 = 14 sts

12. sc 14

13. (inc, sc 6) x 2 = 16 sts

14. sc 16

15. (inc, sc 7) x 2 = 18 sts

16. sc 18

* Cut yarn

Legs – Make 2

1. With white - magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc, sc) x 3 = 9 sts

* Change to body color

3 – 8. Sc 9

* Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail

* Stuff legs lightly and sew flat to the bottom edge of the body

Arms – Make 2

1. With white - magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc, sc) x 3 = 9 sts

* Change to body color

3 – 4. sc 9

* Stuff lightly

5. dec, sc 3, dec, sc 2 = 7 sts

6 – 7. sc 7

* Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail

* Sew to sides of body

Muzzle

1. With white - magic circle – sc 5

* Cut yarn leaving a 10” tail

* Embroider pink nose on muzzle

* Sew on face – see picture for details

Embroider eyes, mouth and whiskers

* See picture for details

Tail

Ch 8, sl st in 2nd chain from hook, sl st in 6 ch

* cut yarn leaving an 8” tail

* Sew onto back of body

Ears – Make 2

1. With body color, magic circle – sc 4

2. (inc, sc) x 2 = 6 sts

* Cut yarn leaving a 10” tail

* Sew to sides of head at row 2

Head

1. With hair color - magic circle - sc 6

2. (inc) x 6 = 12 sts

3. (inc, sc) x 6 = 18 sts

4. (inc, sc 2) x 6 = 24 sts

5. (inc, sc 3) x 6 = 30 sts

* Mark last stitch for back of head

6. sc 6, (inc) x 3, sc 12, inc x 3, sc 6 = 36 sts

7. sc 6, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 12, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 6 = 42 sts

8. sc 6, (inc, sc 2) x 3, sc 12, (inc, sc 2) x 3, sc 6 = 48 sts

9 – 10. sc 48

* Change to skin color

11. work thru back loops - sc 48

* Fold flat and mark sides of head

12 – 14. sc 48

15. sc 9, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 18, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 9 = 54 sts

16. sc 11, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 21, (inc, sc) x 3, sc 10 = 60 sts

17 – 21. sc 60

22. sc 11, (dec, sc) x 3, sc 21, (dec, sc) x 3, sc 10 = 54 sts

23. (dec, sc 7) x 6 = 48 sts

24. sc 3, (dec, sc 6) x 5, dec, sc 3 = 42 sts

25. sc 1, (dec, sc 5) x 5, dec, sc 5 = 36 sts

26. (dec, sc 4) x 6 = 30 sts

* Stuff head firmly

27. sc 2, (dec, sc 3) x 5, dec, sc 1 = 24 sts

28. (dec, sc 2) x 6 = 18 sts

29 - 30. sc 18

* Change to clothing color and continue to work in rounds

Body

31. (inc, sc 2) x 6 = 24 sts

32. sc 24

33. (inc, sc 5) x 4 = 28 sts

34. sc 28

35. sc 5, (inc, sc) x 2, sc 10, (inc, sc) x 2, sc 5 = 32 sts

36 – 39. sc 32

40. sc 5, (dec, sc) x 2, sc 10, (dec, sc) x 2, sc 5 = 28 sts

41. sc 4, (dec, sc) x 2, sc 8, (dec, sc) x 2, sc 4 = 24 sts

* Stuff body and neck leaving 16” tail

Eyes – Make 2

* Use fine cotton to make eyes and 3mm hook

* If you don't have fine cotton, you can split a strand of 4 ply into 2 pieces

1. With black, magic circle – sc 8

* Cut yarn and join round

* Work next row around the black circle

1. With white, sc 1, (inc) x 4, sc 1

* Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail * Sew to head with bottom at row 16

* Embroider a line at top of eye and eye lashes

Nose

Embroider nose in the center of the face at row 18 – make 5 stitches that are the width of 2 sc

Soother – Work in rounds

Base

1. With light blue – Ch 7 – 3 sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 4, 3 sc in next ch, sc 4 = 14 sts

2. (2 sc) in sc, (sc, hdc, dc) in sc, (2 dc, hdc) in sc, sc in next sc, (sl st) in next 2 sc, sc in next sc, (hdc, 2 dc) in sc, (dc, hdc, sc) in sc, (2 sc) in sc, (sc) in next 5 sc = 24 sts

* Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail

Front of Soother

1. With dark blue – magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc) x 2, sc, (inc) x 2, sc = 10 sts

3. sl st in 10 sc – then chain 16, sl st in 2nd chain from hook, sl st in 14 ch

* Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail

* Sew the chain loop to the opposite side of circle

* Sew the front piece onto the base

* See pictures for details

Ears – Make 2

1. With skin color - magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc) x 6 = 12 sts

* Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail

* Sew to head after you have attached the hair

* Sew to sides of head between the last hair strand and the back hair piece

Legs – Make 2

1. With clothing color – magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc) x 6 = 12 sts

3. (inc, sc) x 6 = 18 sts

4. (inc, sc 2) x 6 = 24 sts

5 – 6. sc 24

7. sc 7, (dec) x 5, sc 7 = 19 sts

8. sc 5, (dec) x 4, sc 6 = 15 sts

* Stuff foot & stuff leg every 2” as you are working

9. sc 4, (dec) x 3, sc 5 = 12 sts

10 – 18. sc 12

* Cut and leave 12”

* Sew to bottom of body

* See pictures for details

Arms – Make 2

1. With skin color - magic circle – sc 4

2. (inc) x 4 = 8 sts

3. (inc) x 8 = 16 sts

4 – 5. sc 16

6. (dec, sc 6) x 2 = 14 sts

7. (dec, sc 5) x 2 = 12 sts

* Stuff hand lightly

8. (dec, sc 4) x 2 = 10 sts

9 – 11. sc 10

12. (inc, sc 4) x 2 = 12 sts

13 – 14. sc 12

* Change to clothing color

15 – 18. sc 12

19. (dec, sc 4) x 2 = 10 sts

* Cut yarn leaving a 12” tail

* Sew to sides of body at first row of clothing color

Hair

Base chain

Ch 51, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in base chain

Hair Strands & Bangs

Make individual hair strands along base chain as follows, ending each strand with a sc in base chain

1 – 2. ch 9, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 7 in ch, sc in base chain

3- 4. ch 8, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 6 in ch, sc in base chain

Then continue by working along base chain as follows:

(sc) x 2, (hdc) x 2, (dc) x 2, (tbc) x 2, dc, hdc, sc, sl st, sc, hdc, (dc) x 2, hdc, (sc) x 2 = 18 sts

Then make 4 more individual hair strands along base chain, ending each strand with a sc in base chain

1 – 2. ch 8, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 6 in ch, sc in base chain

3- 4. ch 9, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 7 in ch, sc in base chain

* See picture for details

Hair Back

Continue working along base chain in rows for hair back

1. sc 22, ch 1, turn

2 – 4. sc 22, ch 1, turn

5 – 8. dec, sc to last 2 sts, dec

* Cut yarn

Assembly

* Pin hair to sides head before sewing.

* Sew hair to head using hair color yarn.

* Start with hair strands at the right side of the face in the front loop of row 11 of the head.

* Sew the back hair piece to back of head.

* See pictures for details.

Headband - 4 pieces

Band

1. With clothing color - Ch 60 and join in a round – sc in 60 chains

2. sc 60

* Cut yarn leaving a 24” tail

Bow – Make 2

1. With clothing color – magic circle – sc 4

2. (inc, sc) x 2 = 6 sts

3. (inc, sc) x 9 = 9 sts

4 – 6. sc 9

* Cut yarn leaving a 10” tail

* Sew to Band

Top of Bow

1. ch 10, sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc 8, ch 1, turn

2. sc 9

* Cut yarn and leave a 10” tail

* Sew to band around the 2 bows

* See pictures for details

Head & Body

1. With body color - magic circle – sc 6

2. (inc) x 6 = 12 sts

3. (inc, sc) x 6 = 18 sts

4 – 6. sc 18

7. (dec, sc) x 6 = 12 sts

* Stuff head

8. (dec, sc) x 4 = 8 sts

9. sc 8

10. (inc, sc) x 8 = 16 sts

11 – 15. Sc 16

* Stuff body

* Continue in rounds to make 2 legs

Legs

16. sc 8 sc and join in a round for first leg

17 – 20. sc 8

* Cut yarn leaving a 10” tail

* Gather 8 sts and weave in end

Repeat rows 16 – 20 and finish the same for the second leg

* see pictures for details

Ears – Make 2

With body color – ch 11, sl st in 2nd chain from hook, (sc) in next 2 ch, (hdc) in next ch, (dc) x 2 in next 2 ch, sc in last ch

* Cut yarn and leave 10” tail

* Sew to top of head at row 2

Embroider eyes, nose and mouth

* See pictures for details

Arms – Make 2

1. With body color – magic circle – sc 8

2 – 5. sc 8

* Cut yarn and leave a 10” tail

* Sew to sides of body at row 10