Fiona Goble's Knit Your Own Dolls is full of unique, colourful characters you can bring to life and personalise, and the book's cover star Mermaid Marion is one of our favourites. This beloved mythical icon is sure to be a fun, relaxing knitting project and, once you're done, a fabulous addition to your collection.
YOU WILL NEED
Yarn and materials
Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (55% wool, 33% acrylic, 12% cashmere), 137yd (125m) per 1.oz (50g) ball of sport weight (light DK) yarn
½ ball of Clotted Cream 65 (A)—head and body, arms
¼ ball of Sienna 67 (B)—hair
½ ball of Duck Egg 26 (C)—tail and bra top
Very small amount of Black 300—eyes
Very small amount of coral, red, or pink embroidery floss (thread) or yarn—mouth
7-in (18-cm) length of ¼-in (7-mm) ribbon in gold
1oz (30g) polyester toy filling
Needles and equipment
US3 (3.25mm) knitting needles
D3 (3.25mm) crochet hook (or one of similar size)
J10 (6mm) crochet hook (or one of similar size)
Yarn sewing needle
Large-eyed embroidery needle
Pins
Coloring pencil in deep pink or red
Gauge (tension)
Approximately 25 stitches and 34 rows to 4in (10cm) over st st
Abbreviations
m1 below = Find the top loop of the stitch below the next stitch on the left-hand needle. Insert the tip of the right-hand needle into that top loop from front to back. If this is difficult try picking up the stitch from the back, hold it with the left thumb and forefinger, then remove the needle and reinsert it into the loop from front to back. Knit into the stitch then knit into the stitch on the needle
MAIN DOLL
Work arms in A as in basic pattern on
page 9.
Body and head
(MAKE 2)
Cast on 18 sts in A.
Work 16 rows in st st beg with a k row.
Row 17: [Ssk] 4 times, k2, [k2tog] 4 times. (10 sts)
Row 18: P2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl. (8 sts)
Work 2 rows in st st beg with a k row.
Row 21: K1, [m1 below] twice, k2, [m1 below] twice, k1. (12 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: K1, [m1 below] twice, k6, [m1 below] twice, k1. (16 sts)
Row 24: Purl.
Row 25: K1, [m1 below], k12, [m1 below], k1. (18 sts)
Work 13 rows in st st beg with a p row.
Row 39: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (16 sts)
Row 40: Purl.
Rep rows 39–40 once more. (14 sts)
Row 43: K2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2.
(12 sts)
Bind (cast) off pwise.
Hair
(MAKE 1)
Cast on 18 sts in B.
Work 4 rows in st st beg with a k row.
Row 5: Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. (16 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. (12 sts)
Row 11: Inc, k to last 2 sts, inc, k1. (14 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: Inc, k4, k2tog, turn and work on 7 sts just worked, leaving rem sts on needle.
Next row: P2tog, p to end. (6 sts)
Next row: Inc, k3, k2tog.
Next row: P2tog, p to end. (5 sts)
Next row: K3, k2tog. (4 sts)
Next row: P2tog, p to end. (3 sts)
Next row: K1, k2tog. (2 sts)
Next row: P2tog. (1 st)
Fasten off .
Rejoin yarn to rem 7 sts on RS of work.
Next row: Ssk, k3, inc, k1.
Next row: P to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl. (6 sts)
Next row: Ssk, k2, inc, k1.
Next row: P to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl. (5 sts)
Next row: Ssk, k to end. (4 sts)
Next row: P to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl. (3 sts)
Next row: Ssk, k1. (2 sts)
Next row: P2tog. (1 st)
Fasten off
Braid (plait)
(MAKE 1)
Using J10 (6mm) crochet hook and four 1-yd (91-cm) lengths of B together, work a 6-in (15-cm) crochet chain (see page 125). Fasten off leaving long ends.
Tail
The tail is worked from the waist down.
(MAKE 2)
Cast on 18 sts in C.
Knit 2 rows.
Row 3: [K3, m1] twice, k6, [m1, k3] twice. (22 sts)
Row 4: [P2, k3] to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 5: [K2, p3] to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 6: [P2, yb, sl1, k2, psso] to last 2 sts, p2. (18 sts)
Row 7: [K2, p1, yo, p1] to last 2 sts, k2. (22 sts)
Rep rows 4–7 (last 4 rows) 3 times.
Row 20: P2, [k3, p2tog] 3 times, k3, p2. (19 sts)
Row 21: K2, [p3, k1] 3 times, p3, k2.
Row 22: P2, [yb, sl1, k2, psso, p1] 4 times, p1. (15 sts)
Row 23: K2, [p1, yo, p1, k1] 4 times,
k1. (19 sts)
Row 24: P2, [k3, p1] 4 times, p1.
Rep rows 21–24 once more.
Rep rows 21–23 once more.
Row 32: P2tog, [k3, p1] 3 times, k3, p2tog. (17 sts)
Row 33: K1, [p3, k1] to end.
Row 34: P1, [yb, sl1, k2, psso, p1] to end. (13 sts)
Row 35: [K1, p1, yo, p1] to last st, k1. (17 sts)
Row 36: P1, [k3, p1] to end.
Row 37: K1, [p3, k1] to end.
Row 38: P1, yb, sl1, k2tog, psso, [p1, yb, sl1, k2, psso] twice, p1, yb, sl1, k2tog, psso, p1. (11 sts)
Row 39: K1, p1, k1, [p1, yo, p1, k1] twice, p1, k1. (13 sts)
Row 40: P1, k1, p1, [k3, p1] twice, k1, p1.
Row 41: P2tog, [k1, p3] twice, k1, p2tog tbl. (11 sts)
Row 42: K1, m1, k4, inc, k4, m1, k1. (14 sts)
Divide for tail
Row 43: P7, turn and work on these 7 sts only, leaving rem sts on needle.
Next row: K to last st, m1, k1. (8 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows once more. (9 sts)
Next row: K1, ssk, k5, m1, k1.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1. (7 sts)
Next row: P2tog, p3, p2tog tbl. (5 sts)
Next row: Ssk, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Next row: P3tog. (1 st)
Break yarn and join to rem 7 sts on WS of work.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K1, m1, k to end. (8 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows once more. (9 sts)
Next row: K1, m1, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K1, m1, k5, k2tog, k1.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1. (7 sts)
Next row: P2tog, p3, p2tog tbl. (5 sts)
Next row: Ssk, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Next row: P3tog. (1 st)
Fasten off .
To make up doll
Make up upper part of doll as explained on page 9. Sew side seams of tail, stuff and stitch to main body. For eyes, work French knots using black yarn. Embroider mouth in straight stitch using embroidery floss (thread) or a separated strand of yarn. Work nose by working a couple of chain stitches in A, in a short vertical line. To make the nose slightly more prominent, work another couple of chain stitches over the ones you have just sewn. For the ears, work a few chain stitches in A, in a short vertical line at the side of the head, in line with the eyes. Then work another row of chain stitches on top to make the ears a bit more prominent. For belly button, work a stitch from the back to the front of the doll and pull slightly before securing. Add a bit of color to the cheeks using the coloring pencil. Seam the hair piece to form a cap shape. Pin then oversew the hair piece to head, using matching yarn. Sew one end of the crochet chain in place on top of the head. Weave in all loose ends. Tie the ribbon around the end of the braid, trim, and separate strands of yarn at end of braid (plait).
Bra Top
(MAKE 1)
Cast on 32 sts in C.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K4, *[m1, k1] 4 times, [skpo] twice, [k2tog] twice, rep from * to end once more, k to end.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K4, *k4, [skpo] twice, [k2tog] twice, rep from * once more, k to end. (24 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Bind (cast) off .
Straps
(MAKE 2)
Using D3 (3.25mm) crochet hook and C, work two crochet chains each measuring just under
1 ½ in (3.5cm) long.
To make up bra top
Sew back seam of top. Sew straps in place on back and front of top. Weave in all loose ends.
This extract is from Knit Your Own Dolls by Fiona Goble.