Owlishly Magdalena Pattern
But Magdalena has a secret! I've been wondering if the same head-jointing technique used in cloth doll making would work for a crochet doll, and the answer is YES!
As you can see from the pictures above, Magdalena can move her head around, and this joint is super-easy. No need for buttons, acrylic eyes, or teddy bear joints, just a very firmly crocheted and stuffed head and a slight modification to the body in the neck area, and you have it made :-)
Start by making your doll with a separate head. Leave the bottom of the head open, about the size of a dime, instead of closing it. Crochet the head very tightly, and stuff very firmly. This is key to making this technique work.
Make the body starting at the neck, and work two or three narrow rounds that will fit tightly into the head opening when the neck is stuffed. I start from the neck so that I can stuff it very firmly. The rest of the body you can follow whatever instructions you have.
Thread a very long dollmaking needle with a double strand of your body yarn. Starting at the top of the head, insert the needle straight through and come out at the hole in the bottom of the head. Insert the needle through the neck, and back into the hole at the bottom of the head and exit out the top of the head.
Pull the yarn ends at the top of the head evenly and gently and draw the neck stub into the head opening. Pull tightly and seat the head firmly on the neck, then tie the yarn ends in a double knot. Bury the ends in the head.
A more detailed picture tutorial is here:
Simple move-able neck jointing for your Amigurumi
Magdalena says 'Hi!'
For more patterns by Owlishly, visit her Etsy store here:
Owlishly
A link to her store is also on the left sidbar of this blog under 'Links I Love.'
Enjoy the crochet!