Crochet a doll of Malala Yousafzai in this free pattern
Nine years ago today, Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban at the mere age of 15. Instead of silencing her, Malala’s voice has been amplified all over the world. We have crocheted this doll of Malala to celebrate her and the inspirational woman that she is. This doll is part of our Kozu Palm Pals series of mini crochet dolls.
We initially designed this Malala crochet doll for a design contest on Instagram. When we saw that the theme of the contest was heroes, we knew we had to crochet Malala. Being from Pakistan, she is truly an inspiration for us. At such a young age, she has experienced and achieved so much (the Nobel Peace Prize at 17!) and yet continues to work to advocate for girls’ education around the world with grace, humility, and open-heartedness. We are so excited to see what the future holds for this incredible young woman!
This free pattern for an amigurumi Malala doll is a very quick make and would make a cute crochet gift for a teen – even as a small backpack crochet keychain. You could also pair it with her children’s book “Malala’s Magic Pencil” as an educational crochet gift for kids. This crochet doll is in a shalwar kurta (or salwar kurta) and so this pattern can be used to make a Pakistani or Indian crochet doll. You can vary the hair cap using any of the other dolls in our Kozu Palm Pals mini doll series (although a different hair cap may mean that you would have to adjust the dupatta, if you wanted to keep it on the head of your doll). We hope you enjoy this free amigurumi doll pattern!
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Mini Malala Crochet Doll Free Pattern
This pattern is for your personal use only and cannot be sold, copied, or reproduced in anyway without permission from the designers. You may sell finished objects made from this pattern but please give credit to chaicoffeecrochet.com as the pattern designers.
Materials
- Yarn: You need a very small amount of DK yarn in skin colour, black, and two colours for the clothes
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
- Polyfill stuffing
- Two 6 mm safety eyes
- Embroidery thread: A small amount of black and pink for eyebrows and lips.
- Sewing pins
Abbreviations
This pattern is written in US terms.
Ch: Chain
St: stitch
Sl st: slip stitch
SC: single crochet
INV DEC: invisible decrease
INC: two SC in the same stitch
HDC: half double crochet
HDC INC: two HDC in the same stitch
How to crochet a Malala doll
Body
To begin, first make the crochet doll body. Once you have made the body, come back here and we’ll begin Malala’s hair and clothes!
Hair cap
Using black yarn
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 3: (SC, INC) six times (18)
Round 4: (2 SC, INC) six times (24)
Round 5-6 (2 rounds): SC around (24)
The last two rows will be worked in rows, not rounds.
Row 7: Ch 1 and turn. 24 SC (24)
Row 8: Ch 1 and turn. 24 SC (24)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing the hair cap onto your doll. Sew the hair cap onto the head of your doll. The hair parting should be on the right side of the front of the head, above the start of the eyebrow.
Clothes
Tip: The clothes were designed using the same hook and yarn size as the doll. However, as you are making the clothes, keep trying them on your doll to ensure that they fit. If they are too snug or too big, you can go up or down a hook size.
Kurta (shirt)
Note: The first four rows of the kurta are crocheted in rows. At the end of row 4, we join the two ends with a slip stitch and the rest of the kurta is crocheted in the round. The Ch 1 at the start of each row/round does not count as a stitch throughout this pattern.
Using the kurta colour
Row 1: Ch 15. Starting from the second Ch from the hook, 14 SC. Ch 1 and turn. (14)
Row 2: 2 SC, 3 SC in the same st, SC, 3 SC in the same st, 4 SC, 3 SC in the same st, SC, 3 SC in the same st, 2 SC. Ch 1 and turn. (22)
Row 3: 4 SC, Ch 3, Skip the next 4 stitches, 6 SC, Ch 3, Skip the next 4 stitches, 4 SC. Ch 1 and turn. (14 SC and 2 Ch 3 spaces)
Row 4: 4 HDC, 4 HDC in the Ch space, 6 HDC, 4 HDC in the Ch space, 4 HDC. Join with a slip st.
We will now be working in the round so continue working in the same direction.
Round 5: Ch 1, 22 HDC. Join with a sl st (22)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Daaman
We will now be working on the daaman or the front and back flaps at the bottom of the kurta. We are resetting the row count for the daaman.
Count off the middle 10 stitches of the front of the kurta. We will be working on these 10 stitches for the daaman. Attach yarn to the stitch (from the 10 we will be working in) most to the right if you’re holding the kurta upside down. The two stitches on either side (with stitch markers in the photo) will be unworked.
Row 1: Ch 1. 10 HDC. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 2-3 (2 rows): 10 HDC. Ch 1, turn.
Row 4: 10 HDC.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Now turn the kurta around and do the same at the back.
Sleeves
Attach yarn to the Ch space where the armhole has formed.
Round 1: Ch 1. 10 SC evenly around the sleeve. Sl st to the first st. (10)
Round 2-3 (2 rounds): Ch 1. 10 SC evenly around the sleeve. Sl st to the first st. (10)
Fasten off and weave in the ends. Repeat Rounds 1-3 for the second sleeve.
Neckline embellishment
Using the shalwar colour or another accent colour
Attach yarn at the top right of the V-neck of the kurta. Using light pink yarn, sl st evenly around the V-neck, putting two sl st at the base of the V. Fasten off and weave in the ends. You can now put the kurta onto your doll.
Shalwar (pant)
Note: The shalwar is worked in joined rounds. The Ch 1 at the start of each round does not count as a stitch.
Using the shalwar colour
Round 1: Ch 18 and join with a sl st to the first Ch, being sure not to twist your Ch.
Round 2: Ch 1. 18 HDC (18)
Round 3: Ch 1. (INC, 8 SC) twice. Sl st to the first SC. (20)
Round 4: Ch 1. 20 SC. Sl st to the first SC (20)
Now we will be making the first pant leg.
Round 5: Ch 1. 10 SC in the first 10 SC of the round. Leave the remaining stitches unworked. Sl st to the first SC. (10)
Round 6-8 (3 rounds): Ch 1. 10 SC. Sl st to the first SC. (10)
Round 9: Ch 1. 10 HDC. Sl st to the first HDC.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Attach yarn to the first unworked stitch left from Round 4. Leave a long starting tail, as you will use that to sew closed the space between the legs.
Repeat Rounds 5 to 9 to make the second leg. Now sew closed the space between the legs.
You can now put the shalwar onto your doll.
Dupatta (scarf)
Note: The dupatta is worked rows. The Ch 1 at the start of each row does not count as a stitch.
Using the kurta colour
Row 1: Ch 61. Starting from the second Ch from the hook, 60 HDC. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Sl st in the next 21 stitches. 26 HDC. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 3-4 (2 rows): 26 HDC. Ch 1, turn.
Row 5: Sl st in the next 6 stitches. 14 HDC. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 6-8 (3 rows): 14 HDC. Ch 1, turn.
Row 9: 14 HDC.
Check the size of the dupatta by pinning it using the assembly instructions below. You may need to add one or two more rows for it to fit well on the head of your doll, as tension, how much you’ve stuffed your doll, and yarn size can vary the size. Once you’re happy with the size of the dupatta, fasten off and leave a long tail to sew the dupatta onto your doll.
Dupatta Assembly
Step 1: Pin the dupatta onto the front of the head halfway down the head. The short side of the dupatta should over be the right shoulder and the longer side over the left. Be sure to use pins so that the front stays in place it as you sew the dupatta onto the head of your doll.
Step 2: In the back, fold the bottom part down so that it covers the neck and pin it. Use the yarn tail to sew it in place.
Step 3: Fold the side flaps over like in the photograph and sew them in place.
Step 4: Turn the doll around and bring the long strand of the dupatta over the right shoulder of your doll.
Step 5: Bring it to the other side in the back of your doll so that it covers the bottom of the folded flaps and pin it. Sew it in place.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Your Malala doll is now complete. If you enjoyed this pattern, try some of our other free Kozu Palm Pals mini crochet doll patterns!
We would love to see your finished frog crochet rattles, so share them on our Facebook group Amigurumi with Chai Coffee Crochet or tag us on Instagram @chaicoffeecrochet We like to share a selection of makes from our patterns in our stories and highlights.
