Double Trouble

Double Trouble Crochet Dolls by Lena Delva Designs

Project Overview

Double Trouble is a beginner-friendly crochet pattern designed to create two identical dolls, affectionately named Moos en Matilde. This downloadable PDF pattern from independent designer Lena Delva Designs guides crafters through constructing a pair of charming dolls that differ only in their t-shirt colors. The project combines basic crochet techniques with simple assembly and embellishment to produce finished dolls with personality and charm.

What You Will Make

This pattern produces two complete crochet dolls, each featuring a crocheted body, head, and clothing. The dolls are designed to be identical in construction, with the primary variation being the color of the t-shirt worn by each doll. The finished pieces are stuffed and assembled with glass eyes, buttons, and wire armatures to create poseable, three-dimensional figures suitable for display or play.

Crochet Techniques Used

• Magic Ring: Used to begin the doll heads with a closed center, creating a seamless starting point for circular crochet work
• Increasing: Multiple rounds of strategic increases shape the doll heads from a small center to larger dimensions, using techniques such as working two stitches into each stitch or every second/third/subsequent stitch
• Decreasing: Later rounds employ decreases to shape and close the head sections, working stitches together to reduce stitch counts
• Continuous Rounds: Flat rounds worked without joining demonstrate how to build three-dimensional forms through consistent stitch placement

Stitches Included

• Chain (ch): Foundation stitch used throughout the pattern
• Single Crochet (sc): Primary stitch for building the doll structure, providing a tight, dense fabric
• Half Double Crochet (hdc): Used for varied texture and drape in different sections
• Double Crochet (dc): Employed for areas requiring lighter, more open fabric
• Sliding Stitch: Used for joining and finishing edges seamlessly

Materials and Tools

Crochet Hook: 2 mm crochet hook for working with the cotton yarn at the specified gauge

Yarn: Phildar cotton yarn in the following quantities and colors:

• 3 skeins in skin color (for both dolls' heads and bodies)
• 1 skein in white
• 1 skein in pink
• 1 skein in blue
• Small amount of yellow yarn
• Small amount of black yarn

Notions and Embellishments: The pattern requires textile glue for securing pieces, polyester fiberfill stuffing for filling the dolls, a marker for details, and 2 black glass eyes measuring 10 mm. Eight buttons measuring 1 cm are used for decoration.

Armature: The dolls feature poseable limbs created using four pieces of iron wire measuring 40 cm each and two pieces measuring 30 cm, allowing for flexible positioning of arms and legs.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it accessible to crocheters new to amigurumi (stuffed toy) construction. The techniques used are fundamental crochet skills, and the pattern provides clear stitch-by-stitch guidance for building the doll heads and bodies. Beginners will gain practical experience with increasing and decreasing techniques while creating a satisfying finished project.

Pattern Structure

The pattern begins with detailed instructions for crocheting the doll head in skin-colored yarn using the Magic Ring method. The head is built through a series of increasing rounds that expand from 6 stitches to a maximum of 60 stitches, then shaped through decreasing rounds to close the form. This methodical approach demonstrates fundamental amigurumi shaping principles that crafters can apply to future projects.