By amanda
I love knitting dolls! They are so much fun to make and are wonderful gifts for a child. If you’re looking for some amazing free doll knitting patterns, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve got boy knitted dolls, girl knitted dolls, baby dolls – we’ve got you covered.
You might be wondering, how do you knit a doll anyway? Dolls can be knit in the round or on straight needles and seamed. There usually is some sewing involved, whether you knit them in the round or flat, but using the mattress stitch is easy and fun.
So, whether you are newer to the knitting world or you’ve been knitting for a long time, we’ve got a doll for you! What are you waiting for? Scroll down for the best free knitting patterns for dolls to make today.
In this article...
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The Best Free Doll Knitting Patterns to Make Today
Knubbelchen
This free knitting pattern for dolls also doubles as a lovey with its soft, flexible body. This pattern has been around a long time and thousands of these adorable dolls have been knitted and given to charity, which is amazing. Look for the English version, as this was originally in a different language.
Designer: Pezi 888 on Ravelry
Yarn: Fingering Weight Yarn (Category #1)
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Nurse Mates
This easy knitting pattern was created in 2020 for all the wonderful healthcare workers that worked so hard to keep us healthy. These cute nurse mate dolls are a super simple knit that can be worked in the round on double pointed needles or knit flat and seamed. It’s a super clever doll in scrubs pattern in that it’s worked in one piece with some clever sewing techniques defining the features.
Designer: Esther Braithwaite
Yarn: Designed for any gauge
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Knit Dancing Dolls
This dancing doll was also created during our time at home, and the designer graciously shared her design for free – and it includes video tutorials to walk you through the construction of this beautiful doll pattern.
Designer: Terry White
Yarn: Worsted Weight Yarn (#4)
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Greta Thunberg
This doll was created as part of an “inspiring women” series on Love Crafts. I love the little jacket and braids of this cute doll, and it would be easy to customize.
Designer: Amanda Berry
Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK
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Tiny Baby Nest
These are too stinkin’ adorable!! I love that the little baby doll also has a nice sleep sack. These would be so much fun to make for a little one to play with – and they are an easy knitting pattern.
Designer: Marianna Mel
Yarn: DK Weight (#3)
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Tina & Nina Mermaid
These fun, small mermaid dolls are the perfect thing to make for a little one in your life who loves all things mermaids and the ocean! The mermaid “tail” comes off to reveal legs, so it’s like two in one! This is truly a unique pattern anyone would love.
Designer: Nancy Anderson for Yarnspirations
Yarn: Red Heart Amigurumi (Fingering #1)
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Fair Isle Friends
This designer has done such an amazing job creating several different dolls in this style – I have to include several in this fun pattern collection! These little guys feature fair isle designs on their sweaters, and she also has a plain sweater version. Again, you can stitch these in the round or flat and seamed, and the sewing techniques define the arms and legs.
Designer: Esther Braithwaite
Yarn: Designed for any guage
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Garden Fairies
These fun little garden fairies are a very easy knit and are so much fun to make! This uses basic knitting techniques to create these small dolls.
Designer: Tracy Henwood
Yarn: Heirloom Dazzle 8-ply (DK Weight #3)
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Gnome Baby with Vest
This easy pattern is knit on straight needles and is a wonderful use of leftover odds and ends of yarn. It calls for worsted weight yarn but can be made in any weight yarn using the appropriate size knitting needles.
Designer: Tonya Gunn
Yarn: Worsted Weight but can be adjusted for any weight yarn
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Harry Potter
I adored reading the Harry Potter books and now introducing them to my own kids, and I really love this knit version of Harry! He is knit flat and seamed and is an easy knitting pattern.
Designer: Daisy and Storm
Yarn: DK Weight (#3)
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Cora
Cora is an adorable chubby little baby doll that comes with instructions for “short pants” and tube socks. She is knit from the top down with double pointed needles.
Designer: Drops Design
Yarn: Many options listed for sport weight (#2)
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A Smol Superhero
This adorable little doll is only 4 and a half inches tall! The designer gives options to customize to make any superhero you like for your little one.
Designer: Myka Watson
Yarn: Schachenmayr Catania Solids (Sport Weight #2)
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Rainbow Babies
These little dolls are perfect for charity and fundraisers. They are quick and easy to knit, with the legs, body and head worked in one piece and the arms attached separately. The clothes are knit as part of the doll.
Designer: Jean Greenhowe
Yarn: Patons Astra (DK Weight #3)
Find the free baby doll knitting pattern here! (Scroll down to find the pattern download)
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Sally the Eco Fairy
This adorable fairy doll is just perfect for cuddling! The original doll was made with totally eco-friendly yarn, hence the name Eco Fairy.
Designer: Jennie Eveleigh Lamond
Yarn: DK (Weight #3)
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Blank Slate Doll
This doll is made to be customized! Create a doll that looks like someone special in your life with the blank slate doll.
Designer: The Yarnigans
Yarn: Aran (Weight #4)
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Russian Dolls
I love these little Russian dolls that look like the stacking doll toys! They are super easy to knit and feature head coverings and embroidered flowers.
Designer: Frankie Brown
Yarn: Fingering (Weight #1)
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Basic Doll in 6 Sizes
I love that this doll comes in so many sizes, from a tiny 3” doll all the way to a 12” size. The sizes are for a doll, baby, toddler, child, mom and dad, so you can knit up a whole family! You can choose garter stitch or Stockinette stitch for the body.
Designer: Kimara Wee Folk Art
Yarn: Worsted Weight (#4)
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Lottie Doll Basic Body
This pattern is for the basic body of a doll so that you can customize it with clothing, hair and accessories of your choice. It’s a very tall doll, anywhere from 21-28” depending upon how long you make the legs.
Designer: Deena Thomson-Menard
Yarn: Worsted Weight (#4)
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Super Suzy
I simply love this little superhero doll! You can easily customize this adorable knitted doll in any color combination to truly make it your own. It stands at 9 ½ inches tall, which is a great size for a knitted doll.
Designer: Aine Marriott
Yarn: Sirdar Bonus DK (DK Weight #3)
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Frozen Elsa Flip Doll
This doll is so cool! She flips from her coronation dress to her winter dress. This is a super fun play doll for fans of the Frozen movies.
Designer: Raynor Gellatly
Yarn: DK Weight (#3)
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Frozen Anna Flip Doll
Since we have Elsa, we’ve got to have Anna! This free costumed doll pattern flips from her coronation dress to her winter dress as well and would be so much fun to play with Elsa.
Designer: Raynor Gellatly
Yarn: DK Weight (#3)
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Grace Notes Knit Doll
This small knit doll is knit in the round on double pointed needles. She stands at approximately 9 inches tall. This pattern is for the doll body only, you’ll have to find some doll clothes patterns to make for her.
Designer: Beth Ann Webber
Yarn: Bernat Super Value (Worsted Weight #4)
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Johanka
This fun knitted doll is designed for an advanced beginner and meant to use up scrap yarn. This doll stands at 11” and is knit in the round.
Designer: Suzanne Harwish
Yarn: Fingering Weight (#1)
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[Knitting Doll] Free Pattern by Jean Greenhowe - Dainty Dollies
Tips for Knitting Dolls
Many of these dolls can be worked with any weight yarn, the key is to choose the correct knitting needle size so your stuffing doesn’t show through.
If you have a yarn you’d like to use, check the ball band for the recommended size and go down at least one needle size, preferably two. This will ensure that your stitches are tight enough to keep the stuffing inside.
If you are working the doll flat, the best way to seam your doll is with the mattress stitch. This stitch, if done correctly, can be nearly invisible, especially on Stockinette stitch.
The easiest dolls are knit one leg at a time, then joined to knit the body and the head all as one piece. The arms are knie separately and joined to the body. These are great for beginners, especially if they are knit flat, as several of the dolls in our pattern collection are.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed this pattern collection of doll knitting patterns! I had a great time choosing my favorite dolls to share with you – and many of them are available as free Ravelry downloads!
I’ll see you next week for another great pattern collection, and be sure to check out all of my free knitting patterns, too!
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
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