Mermaid

Mermaid Doll by Whitney Webster

What is Being Made

The Mermaid is a knitted doll toy designed by Whitney Webster. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a three-dimensional mermaid figure complete with a body, tail, hair, and facial features. The finished doll is a charming handmade toy suitable for display or play.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project uses knitting as the primary construction method. The doll is worked primarily in the round, which is a common technique for creating seamless, three-dimensional knitted toys and amigurumi-style pieces. Working in the round allows the crafter to build the mermaid's body, tail, and other components without requiring seaming, resulting in a smooth, finished appearance.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Mermaid pattern employs a variety of essential knitting stitches and increases and decreases to shape the doll:

• M1L (Make 1 Left): An increase worked by bringing the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches from front to back, then knitting through the back of the loop. This creates a left-leaning increase.
• M1R (Make 1 Right): An increase worked by bringing the tip of the left-hand needle under the strand between stitches from back to front, then knitting the loop. This creates a right-leaning increase.
• KFB (Knit Front and Back): An increase of 1 stitch by knitting into both the front and back of the same stitch.
• KFBF (Knit Front, Back, and Front): An increase of 2 stitches by knitting into the front, back, and front again of the same stitch.
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together): A decrease that reduces 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together.
• K3tog (Knit 3 Together): A decrease that reduces 2 stitches by knitting 3 stitches together.
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): A decrease worked by slipping the next two stitches to the right needle and then knitting them together.

These shaping techniques allow the crafter to increase and decrease stitches strategically throughout the pattern to form the rounded body, tapered tail, and other dimensional features of the mermaid doll.

Materials and Tools

The Mermaid pattern requires worsted weight yarn in multiple colors to create the different sections of the doll. The yarn quantities specified are: 63 yards for the body color, 36 yards for the tail color, 5 yards for the top color, and 47 yards for the hair color. The sample was knit using Patons Classic Wool. Additional materials include small scraps of black and pink yarn for facial features, white stiff felt for details, and polyester stuffing to fill the completed doll.

The project requires a set of 5 4mm (US 6) double pointed needles, which are essential for knitting in the round and maintaining even tension throughout the doll's construction.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are comfortable working with increases, decreases, and circular knitting techniques. The combination of shaping techniques and working in the round requires some experience but is achievable for dedicated crafters ready to advance beyond beginner projects.