Crochet a doll base in this free pattern
This pattern is for the basic crochet doll body from our Kozu Palm Pals series. You can use it with our hair and clothes pattern for our Kozu Palm Pals dress up dolls with removable clothes or you can use it to design your own unique small doll.
My favourite part of crocheting dolls is the part when you have crocheted the doll base and the doll is just sitting there, waiting to be brought to life! The possibilities are endless – from the features you choose to embroider, to the hairstyles that you give your doll, to it’s clothing choices. And watching the transformation from a doll body to a complete character is just so much fun!
About this Crochet Doll Body Pattern
This doll base free crochet pattern is great to use with our Kozu Palm Pals crochet dress up dolls or on its on as a base for your own design. The hair styles of all the dolls in our Kozu Palm Pals series will fit this doll base – so the possibilities are endless!
The doll body works out to be approximately 4.5 inches with DK yarn and a 2.5mm hook. However, you can use any yarn with the relevant crochet hook that you like – the finished size of your doll will just vary.
We have an option to add underwear to your doll. We give optional instructions to do so as we go along.
The legs, body, and head are all worked up in one piece, with just the arms to be sew on. If you would like it to be a completely no sew amigurumi, you can use our tutorial on how to crochet on the arms onto your doll. But to be honest, because the arms are so small, I prefer to sew them on for this doll (I just think it looks neater!) – but you do you!
This doll base pattern is very easy. The only tricky part is the arms, as crocheting a small tube can be a challenge. However, we have some helpful tips that will make it much easier!
This pattern is extremely versatile. I love using it as the base to make personalised mini-me crochet dolls. And the best part? It works up really fast (in under 2 hours!).
If you’re anything like us, you will be crocheting this doll base over and over again!
Want to save this pattern for later? Pin it to your Pinterest Board!
Small Crochet Doll Body Free Pattern
This pattern is for your personal use only and cannot be sold, copied, or reproduced in any way 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.
Tools & Materials You Will Need
- Yarn: You need a small amount in skin colour. I use DK yarn but worsted weight/aran yarn will work just as well.
- 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 eyelashes, eyebrows, and lips.
Crochet Stitches and Abbreviations
This pattern is written in US terms.
Sl st: slip stitch
SC: single crochet
INVDEC: invisible decrease
INC: two SC in the same stitch
How to Crochet a Doll Body
Using skin colour
Legs (make 2)
Stuff legs lightly as you go.
Round 1: SC 6 into a magic circle (6)
Round 2-6 (5 rounds): SC around (6).
Fasten off. Make sure that you’ve pulled the magic circle tight so that stuffing doesn’t escape from it.
Repeat rounds 1-6 for the second leg but don’t fasten off.
Body
Stuff as you go.
Note: If you would like to add an underwear to your doll, switch to the underwear colour now.
Round 7: Chain 2 and SC in the next unworked stitch of the first leg. Place a stitch marker in this stitch to mark the start of your round. SC in the remaining 5 stitches of the first leg until you reach the chain, SC in each of the 2 chains, SC in the 6 stitches of the next leg, and SC on the other side of each of the two chains until you reach your stitch marker. (16)
Round 8-12*: 12 (5 rounds): SC in each stitch around (16)
Note: If you’re adding underwear to your doll body, switch to skin colour after Round 9 and complete Round 10 in BLO.
Round 13: (2 SC, INV DEC) four times (12)
Round 14: (2 SC, INV DEC) three times (9)
Round 15: (SC, INV DEC) three times (6)
Head
Round 16: INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 17: (SC, INC) six times (18)
Round 18: (2 SC, INC) six times (24)
Round 19-23 (5 rounds): SC in each stitch around (24)
If you’re using safety eyes, place them between Rounds 20 and 21, four stitches apart. Once you are satisfied with the placement of the eyes, remove the eyes and embroider eyelashes if you would like eyelashes on your doll (I usually add eyelashes for girl doll and leave them off when making boys but it’s really up to you!). Reinsert the eyes and put the washer firmly on the back.
Ensure that you have stuffed the body well, especially the neck. I use the back of a metal crochet hook to get the stuffing in but you can use a pencil tip, a chopstick, or the point of a scissor to do so– anything small enough to really push the stuffing in to ensure that the neck is firm! Continue stuffing the head.
Round 24: (2 SC, INV DEC) six times (18)
Round 25: (SC, INV DEC) six times (12)
Ensure that you have stuffed the head well.
Round 26: INV DEC six times (6)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to embroider the nose and ears. Insert needle in front loop of each stitch and pull tight to close. Embroider the facial features. I make the nose one row below the eyes and the mouth about a row and a half below the nose. My ears are about three stitches from the eyes and are made by passing the yarn over two stitches vertically.
Ears (make 2) – optional
Using skin colour yarn.
Round 1: Make a magic circle and SC, inside the circle.
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. If you’re adding hair, sew the ears onto your doll after you have sewn on the hair cap. The ears should be sewn in line with the hair cap, approximately two stitches from the eyes.
Arms (make 2)
Tip: The arms are made of small tubes, which can sometimes be tricky to make – especially for beginners. Planet June has a great tutorial on making these thin tubes here. If you are still having trouble with the arms, one hack is to go down a hook size and increase the size of the arms to 5 or 6 stitches around.
Round 1: SC 4 into a magic circle (4)
Round 2-6 (5 rounds): SC around (4).
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Sew the arms at Round 14.
Embroider on eyebrows and a mouth if you like.
Crochet Doll Body – Next Steps
Your crochet doll base is now ready. Now that you have finished crocheting your doll base, it’s time for our favourite part — choosing a hairstyle and clothing to make your doll come alive! You can do this on your own or why not try our hair and clothes patterns from our Kozu Palm Pals crochet dress up dolls!
