Comfort Dolls

[Jackie M.]

Has anyone ever knitted a comfort doll? I would love to learn to knit these, but can't find a pattern I understand very well. Also I don't want a very large doll, but more of a small hand sized one. Are you supposed to knit it in one piece? How do you get the legs to look like they are together and the arms look like they are in a pocket? Are the arms knitted separate and stuffed separate? Not understanding something that seems so simple.

[hyperactive]

Hi!
Is this what you mean?
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/hyperactive/rasta-man

looking like this?


This is the picture of the little doll I made for my niece. I just copied a doll I had gotten when I was little. I did not have a pattern, but I intend to write one down. If this is the doll you mean, I might get it done quickly.

Basics for now:

you knit a straight piece, casting on in the color of the pants. I did 30 stitches in sock yarn quality.

I knit about 30 rows in stochinette, back and forth. Then changed to shirt color. My number of rows I would guess was 16 or so, I would need to check.
Then I switched to face color, yes, still 30 stitches wide.

then I switched to hat color, changing to reverse stochinette.

I reduced my number of stitches in the last few rows drastically, but you do not have to do that. bind off.

What you have is a cloth that looks like nothing.
Now you fold it with the sides together and sew up the sides from feet to hat.

Now you fold that tube so that seam is in the middle back and close the hat (just pulled together by yarn) and sew the feet straight together.

Before you close it all the way you stuff it, but not too much.

Now you take a pointy yarn needle and sew a seam up where the division of the legs is. Until where the legs end. (not all the way up the pants, of course).
Then you sew little seams where the arms ly

each time you make sure to squish enough stuffing into the parts.
Tie a piece of yarn around the neck (or weave it around hidden) to make the neck.

Embroider the face.

Give to a loving child for fun. And for banging around hard, since they can hold onto it easily and WILL bang it around.

[Jan in CA]

Posting a link when asking questions is helpful if you can. Do you mean these?
http://www.creativestitchonline.com/pattern.html

You could make them smaller by using lighter weight yarn and smaller needles. Once you've made one and know the technique it would be easy enough to just cast on less, too. If this is the pattern what is it you don't understand?

[Jackie M.]

Thanks Ladies,
These are exactly the dolls I'm talking about. But when trying to make the legs/arms, do I stitch from feet up for the legs and do I go all the way through the doll so the legs are seamed on boths sides or just in the front? Also when sewing a seam my stitches show to much. I thought I was doing it wrong. I need some how to pics step by step. Not for knitting the actual doll, but sewing the seams to make them look right. All the patterns say is sew up a center seam. Is the seam in the middle of the leg?

[Jackie M.]

P.S. Do they look better knit flat or in the round?

[Jan in CA]

Huh..they are knit flat. I wouldn't knit them flat if you paid me, but then I hate seaming. It's knit flat and all the shaping is done as you go then seamed up the back..essentially making a shaped tube. The legs and arms are defined after the seaming. You use a yarn needle and yarn and go through the whole doll at the legs and arms..probably a running stitch.

These would be incredibly easy to knit in the round I think. I'll give it a try in a little while and report my findings.

[Jackie M.]

Thanks Jan! So you wouldn't knit them flat yourself? LOL...okay, I'm off to try this.

[Jackie M.]

Jan...if you make a doll, post a pic of a running stitch going through the doll...PLease?????

[Jan in CA]

Jan...if you make a doll, post a pic of a running stitch going through the doll...PLease?????

Okay!

ETA: I'm stuffing now so I'll take a pic before, during and after the separation of the legs and arms.

ETAA: Didn't have time to finish tonight so I'll do it tomorrow. Body and head stuffed and ready to attempt feet.

[Woodi]

Cute doll! I'd love to make a few for my grandkids. What size needle would you use for the 'in the round' knitting, Jan? or would you use two circs to get that small a diameter?