The Gamekeeper

The Gamekeeper Doll by Phoenixknits

What is Being Made

The Gamekeeper is a knitted doll pattern designed by Phoenixknits, creating a finished figure approximately 12 inches high. This downloadable PDF pattern is suitable for crafters with intermediate knitting skills and produces a charming small doll that can be displayed or gifted.

Knitting Techniques Used

The pattern employs fundamental shaping methods to construct the doll's form. Decreasing stitches is used to reduce stitch counts and create tapered sections of the doll's body. Increasing stitches is accomplished using the inc1 method, which involves knitting into both the front and back of the next stitch to add stitches to your working rows. The pattern also utilizes the turn technique, where you knit a specified number of stitches before turning your work and knitting back over only those completed stitches as if beginning a new row, effectively ignoring unworked stitches on the needle.

Stitches and Construction

While specific stitch names are not detailed in the provided content, the pattern uses standard knitting stitches worked on 3mm (size 11 UK) needles. The combination of increases, decreases, and turning techniques creates the three-dimensional shaping necessary for the doll's head, body, and limbs.

Materials Required

• Yarn: DK or worsted weight yarn in black, dark brown, light brown, flesh, and white
• Specialty Yarns: Small amounts of black mohair yarn, plus gold, yellow, silver, or grey crochet yarn for accents and details
• Needles: 3mm (UK size 11) knitting needles
• Embellishments: Two small white beads for eyes
• Optional Accessories: Twig or bamboo skewer for support, cocktail stick, tiny length of fuse wire, or florist wire for creating a knife accessory

Design Notes

This intermediate-level pattern from independent designer Phoenixknits emphasizes precise stitch counting, particularly when using the inc1 increase method, as alternative increasing techniques will affect the final stitch count and garment fit. The pattern allows for creative color choices in the base yarn selection, enabling crafters to customize the doll's appearance.