Design Your Own 

Person Doll

Created as a base to design your own doll, with a bit of adaptation, this pattern will help you crochet someone you admire, like your favorite child, cartoon character, pop singer, or city councilmember (all examples I have tried).

Height: 17" standing | Skill level: Intermediate-Advanced | Terms: US

Supplies Needed

  • crochet hook (I use a 3.0mm )

  • stitch markers

  • yarn needle

  • scissors

  • fiber fill

  • yarn (acrylic, worsted weight)

Abbreviations
Tips & General Instructions
Download PDF

Examples of dolls I have made:

  • seven dolls in front of an image of the Saint Paul City Council
  • Sitting version to look like the tiger king

Complete Pattern

in Following Order:

  1. Arms and Legs

  2. Head (may also be completed last)

  3. Tail

  4. Body

  5. Wings and Spikes

  6. Final Assembly

Arms and Legs

Claw / Nail (make 12)

  1. 6 sc in a magic circle (6)

  2. *inc* around (12)

  3. *sc* around (12)

  4. skip 3, slst to 4th st, pull tight, sc 8 (9)

  5. *sc* around (9) Repeat for 3 total rounds 

    tuck in ends

  6. dec, sc, ch 1, turn (2)

  7. sctog closed 4 (4)

Legs (make 2)

  1. make 6 sc in a magic circle (6)

  2. *inc* around (12)

  3. *sc, inc* six times (18)

  4. *sc, inc, sc * around (24)

  5. *sc 3, inc* around (30)

    Attach wide side of claw: in following round, attach wide part of nail to bottom of foot- hold the nail so it curves/ point up if  laid on a flat surface. alt: sew on at end

  6. sc 2, *inc, sctog join (nail to foot) 4* three times, *inc, sc 4* two times, inc, sc 2 (36) 

  7. BLO sc 4, sc 18, BLO sc 14 (36)

  8. *sc* around (36) Repeat for 4 total  rounds

  9. *sc 5, dec* three times, sc 15 (33) 

    Attach point of claw: in following round, fold nail up and secure narrow part of nail, alt: sc around and sew

  10. sc 6, *sctog join (nail to foot), sc 4* three times, sc 12 (33)

  11. *sc 4, dec* three times, sc 15 (30)

  12. *sc* around (30) Repeat for 12 total rounds

  13. *sc 3, dec* around (24)

  14. *sc* around (24)

  15. *sc, dec, sc* around (18)

  16. *sc* around (18) Stuff.

  17.  *sc, dec* around, ch 1, turn (12)

  18. crochet to corner (~3), ch 1, turn

  19.  *sctog closed* (6)

Arms / Front Legs (make 2)

  1. make 6 sc in a magic circle (6)

  2. *inc* around (12)

  3. *sc, inc* six times (18)

  4. *sc, inc, sc * around (24)

    Attach wide side of claw:in following round, attach wide part of nail to bottom of foot- hold the nail so it curves/ point up if  laid on a flat surface. alt: sew on at end

  5. *sctog join (nail to foot) 4, sc in same st creating an increase* three times, *sc 3, inc* to end (30)

  6. sc 15, BLO sc 15 (30)

  7. *sc* around (30) Repeat for 2 total rounds

  8. *sc 3, dec* around (24)

  9. *sc* around (24) Repeat for 2 total rounds

    Attach point of claw: in following round, fold nail up and secure narrow part of nail, alt: sc around and sew

  10. *sc 2, sctog join (nail to foot)* three times, sc 15 (24)

  11. *sc* around (24) Repeat for 12 total rounds

  12. *sc 5, dec, sc 5* around (22)

  13. *sc* around (22)

  14. *sc 9, dec* around (20)

  15. *sc* around (20)

  16. *sc 4, dec, sc 4* around (18)

  17. *sc* around (18)

    tuck in ends, stuff.

  18. *sc 7, dec* around (16)

  19. *sc* around (16)

  20. *sc 3, dec, sc 3* around (14)

  21. *sc* around (14)

  22. *sc 5, dec* around (12)

  23. continue to corner of arm, (~4)

  24. ch 1, sctogclosed 6 (6)

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Head

Eyes (make 2)

Created in rounds following the initial foundation row.

Foundation Row: ch 5, starting in the 2nd ch from hook: sc 4 across, ch 1, turn (4)

  1. *BLO inc, BLO sc 2, BLO inc*, turn work, continue around, working into front loops left over in previous step: repeat all instructions (12) 

    switch to blue / iris color, continue to work in rounds, optional: add accent: make st 10 in next round silver

  2. *sc, inc*  around, slst to start of row (18)

    switch to white yarn

  3. *BLO sc, BLO inc, BLO sc* around (24)

  4. *inc, sc 3* around (30)

  5. *sc* around (30) 

    switch to green yarn

  6. *sc* around (30)

  7. sc 3, BLO sc 24, sc 3 (30)

    BLO stitches in the next round are in the loops left over in the previous round, you will create a second row next to your existing work

  8. sc 3, switch to front loops, FLO 24  (27)

  9. ch 1, turn, sc 24 (24) Repeat for 2 total rounds

    fold eyelid over eye and continue back to original stitches from round 8- 3 st to the right of sm.

  10. sc 6, tie off

    on second eye: don’t tie  off, continue around back stitches behind eyelid, connecting the longer inner edge of both eyes. Alternatively, sew eyes together for 10 stitches at the inside of the eye. tie off, set aside.

  11. sctog join (eye to eye) 10, sc 14 (24)

    tie off, set aside to use in snout and head instructions

Snout and Finish Head

Created in rounds with green yarn, following the initial foundation row.

Foundation Row: ch 10, starting in the 2nd ch from hook: sc 9 across, ch 1, turn (9)

  1. *BLO inc 2, BLO sc 6, BLO inc*  turn work, continue around the chain, working stitches into front loops left over in previous step: repeat instructions (24)

  2. *sc 3, inc* 6 times (30)

  3. *sc 2, inc, sc 2*, around (36)

  4. *sc 5, inc* around (42)

  5. *sc* around (42) Repeat for 10 total rounds 

  6. *3 sc, inc, 3 sc* around (48)

  7. *sc* around (48)

    connect eyes: Connect the bottom of eyes to snout. Review placement following the next round and, if needed, adjust counts so the eyes sit in the center of the snout.  alternatively, *sc* around for next round, sew eyes to snout, continue. 

  8. sc 33, sctog join (eyes to snout) 12, sc 3 (64)

  9. sc 33, continue onto outer part of eyelid, sc 28, continue on to snout,  sc 3 (64)

  10. *sc* around (64)

  11. *sc 14, dec* around (60)

  12. *sc* around (60) Repeat for 3 total rounds

  13. *sc 4, dec, sc 4* around (54)

  14. *sc 7, dec* around (48)

  15. *sc 3, dec, sc 3* around (42)

  16. *sc 5, dec* around (36)

  17. *sc 2, dec, sc 2* around (30)

  18. *sc 3, dec* around (24) 

    stuff head

  19. *sc, dec, sc* around (18)

  20. *sc, dec* around (12)

  21. *dec* around(6)

    tie off and sew closed

Nostril (make 2)

  1. make 6 sc in a magic circle (6)

  2. *sc, inc* around (9)

  3. *sc* around (9)

  4. *sc, inc, sc* around (12)

  5. *BLO sc* around (12)

  6. *sc, inc* around (18)

    tuck ends inside

  7. *dec* around (9)

    fold first part into itself around BLO round

  8. dec 4, sc (5)

    tie off, sew closed and sew to face.

Ears (make 2)

With green, working in rows 

  1. ch 10, sc 9, ch 1, turn (9)

  2. sc 9, ch 1, turn (9)

  3. slst 2, sc 7, ch 1, turn (9)

  4. sc 6 (6)

  5. slst 2, sc 4, ch 1, turn (7)

  6. sc 4, continue around outside of work, sc 15 (19)

tie off, sew to sides of head

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Tail

  1. 6 sc in a magic circle (6)

  2. *sc, inc* around (9)

  3. *sc* around (9) Repeat for 2 total rounds

  4. *sc, inc, sc* around (12)

  5. *sc* around (12) Repeat for 2 total rounds

  6. *3 sc, inc* around (15)

  7. *sc* around (15) Repeat for 2 total rounds

  8. sc, 3 inc, 11 sc (18)

  9. 6 inc, sc 12 (24)

  10. *sc* around (24) Repeat for 2 total rounds

  11. *sc, inc* six times, 12 sc (30)

  12. *sc* around (30) Repeat for 2 total rounds

  13. *2 sc, inc, 2 sc* around (36)

  14. *sc* around (36) Repeat for 2 total rounds

    tie off, set aside for use while creating body

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Body

  1. make 6 sc in a magic circle (6)

  2. *inc* around (12)

  3. *sc, inc* six times (18)

  4. *sc, inc, sc* six times (24)

  5. *sc 3, inc* six times (30)

  6. *sc 2, inc, sc 2* six times (36)

    Attach Legs: in next round attach legs and bottom part of tail, so tail will curve up and legs are on opposite side, alternatively, sew on at end

  7. *sc 5, inc* six times (42) 

    1. Attach Legs: sctog join legs to body in first two repetitions, make one repetition like normal, sctog join bottom of tail to body in next two repetitions, make final repetition as normal 

  8. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* five times, sc 3 (48)

  9. *sc 7, inc* six times (54)

  10. *sc* around (54) Repeat for 10 total rounds

    1. Attach Top of Tail (optional): in final of the 10 rounds,  stuff tail and attach top to body- line up so centered on body and sctog join 10 to pin top in place. ex: sc 30, sctog join (tail to body) 10, sc 14 (54), alternatively sew on at end.

  11. *sc 7, dec* six times (48)

  12. *sc* around (48)

  13. *sc 3, dec, sc 3* six times (42)

  14. *sc* around (42)

  15. *sc 5, dec* six times (36)

  16. *sc* around (36) Repeat for 3 total rounds

  17. *sc 2, dec, sc 2* six times (30)

    Attach Arms: in next round, use instructions below round to attach arms. adjust counts so arms are centered and aligned with legs, with 3 sc between them in front of body. Alternatively, sew on at end

  18. *sc* around (30) 

    1. Attach arms: sctog join (arm to body) 6, sc 3, sctog join (arm to body) 6, sc 15 (30)

  19. *sc 3, dec* six times (24)

  20. * sc* around (24)

    stuff firmly

  21. sc, dec, *sc 2, dec* five times, sc  (18)

  22. *sc* around (18)

    tie off, sew limbs if needed, if crocheted in, sew down open sides of tail. 

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Back Spikes and Wings

Small Back Spikes (make 3)

  1. 6 sc in a magic circle (6)

  2. *inc* around (12)

  3. *sc* around (12)

  4. *sc, inc* around (18)

  5. *sc* around (18)

  6. ch 1, fold, sctog closed 9. 

    Tie off

Large Back Spike (make 3)

  1. 6 sc in a magic circle (6)

  2. *inc, sc* around (9)

  3. *sc, inc, sc* around (12)

  4. *sc* around (12)

  5. *sc 3, inc* around (18)

  6. *sc* around (18)

  7. *sc 2, inc, sc 2* around (24)

  8. *sc* around (24)

  9. ch 1, fold in half and turn work to sc through both sides of work, sctog closed 12 

    tie off.

Initial Assembly- Spikes

with green yarn, working in rows, after all 6 spikes have been created, with body color yarn, pull up a loop on the final round of a small back spike, to begin work across top, this step will secure all spikes into a long strip which can be sewn onto the completed dragon.

  1. sc 8, sctog join (sm spike to lg spike) (9)

  2. sc 10, sctog join (lg spike to sm spike)  (11)

  3. sc 7, sctog join (sm spike to large) (8)

  4. repeat rows 2 and 3,

  5. on final lg spike: 11 sc

    tie off, leaving a long tail for sewing in final assembly 

Wings (make 2)

Inner Wing 

Working rows with inner wing color (typically same color as spikes)

  1. ch 10, turn, working into 2nd chain from hook 9 sc, ch 1, turn (9)

  2. slst 3, hdc 3, dc 3, ch 2, turn (9)

  3. dc 3, hdc 2, sc, ch 1, turn (6)

  4. slst 3, dc 3, ch 1, turn (6)

  5. sc 3, continue along side, sc 6 (9)

    do not tie off, restart Row 1 by ch 10. Complete Rows 1 - 5 two more times for 3 connected sections.

Outer Wing

switch to green, turn work, continue on the same piece.

  1. ch 1, 8 sc, inc, ch 1, turn (10)

  2. 10 sc, sc 1 on top of current section, ch 1, turn (11)

    fold work so the current piece lines up with top of next part of wing, next round joining parts

  3. sctog join (wings parts together) 9,  ch 1 (9)

    flip work and unfold, surface crochet through other side of previous stitches 

  4. sc 9, sc 1 on top of added wing segment, ch 1

    repeat rows 18 and 19

    continue along other side of current wing segment, working into the pink side.

  5. sc 8, inc, ch 1, turn (10)

  6. sc 12, continue onto next green bump / segment, sc 2, continue onto last bump / segment, sc 2, ch 1, turn (16)

  7. sc 16 (16) 

    tie off, leaving a long tail for sewing in final assembly

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Final Assembly

Sew on any body or face parts, sew head to body. To avoid floppy neck stretch neck while sewing to head and add stuffing right before fully closing. Sew spikes to head, body and tail. Sew on wings.

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