We have now handed over 50 NHS knitted dolls to the NHS trust for them to use in conjunction with childrens' fundraising and their mental health teams.
The dolls have been knitted by members of the YCA from a scheme created by Thorne Branch
member Karen Dennis.
We will continue to accept dolls throughout the year and the pattern is set out below.
We thank all those who have taken part and helped bring comfort to so many people in our region.
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NHS Female Doll Knitting Pattern
By Karen Dennis, Thorne Branch
Materials:
Size 4mm (8 or 9) knitting needles
Small DK ball each of blue, any flesh tone, white, brown, black.
Stuffing
Colours can be adapted to show different nursing roles.
Knit main body as one piece and stocking stitch throughout.
Begin with legs:
Cast on 14 stitches using black, Work 6 rows
Change to flesh, work 19 rows
Change to white, work 4 rows
Transfer to a stitch holder and repeat to make second leg.
Knit across second leg and join first leg by transferring stitches from stitch holder (28 stitches)
Next row: Purl 13, inc into next stitch, purl to end (29 stitches)
Work 6 more rows stocking stitch
Change to blue, continue in stocking stitch 18 rows
To shape neckline:
Next row: Knit 14 blue, knit 1 flesh, knit 14 blue
Next row: Purl 13 blue, purl 3 flesh, purl 13 blue taking yarn across back
of work
Next row: Knit 12 blue, knit 5 flesh, knit 12 blue taking yarn across back of
work
Next row: change to flesh, purl across all
Work 21 rows stocking stitch, cast off.
Knit 2 arms
Cast on 10 stitches flesh, work 18 rows stocking stitch
Change to blue, work 8 rows stocking stitch, cast off.
To make up body:
Bring outer edges together and join down the back to top of legs.
Beginning at foot, gather up cast on stitches and draw up before sewing
up back of each leg to meet back seam.
Do the same for arms.
Turn out to right side.
Stuff evenly all the way up to open edge (head). Repeat for arms.
Gather up cast off stitches and draw up to close hole.
To make neck, secure one end of flesh yarn at back of head and make a running stitch around on 2nd full flesh row. Draw up and secure at back seam.
Join arms to the sides. Hands can be shaped as with neck if desired.
Ears: using flesh, join yarn to side of head, just below flesh/blue
changeover. Make 4 blanket stitches towards change line. Work four
more blanket stitches, 1 into each previous stitch working back down the
row. Finish off with two more blanket stitches to head to give shape.
Embroider eyes and in any suitable shade using satin stitch.
For hair, choose any suitable shade/texture and wrap around something
about 30 times to give an even hank. Tie around the middle and secure
to top of head, letting loops fall around the sides. You can then secure
into different styles if desired or add a fringe using single large stitches.
Skirt:
Cast on 60 sts in blue
Work 22 rows stocking stitch
Next row: knit 2 tog, knit 1 to end (40 sts)
Next row: purl
Next row: knit 2, knit 2 tog to end
Next row: purl
Work 3 rows stocking stitch
Cast off.
To make up, fold and seam along the side edge.
To attach to doll, pull up over the legs, stitch around waist slightly higher
than white/blue line.
Collar: (make 2 pieces, first as follows and second reversing knit and purl
to reverse the shaping)
Cast on 8
Row 1: slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over, knit 6 (7sts)
Row 2: purl 5, purl 2 tog (6sts)
Row 3: slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over, knit 4 (5sts)
Cast off
Attach to front of v shaping using cast on edge and pointed part
downwards.
Mask:
using white, cast on 12 stitches, work 6 rows stocking stitch.
Cast off leaving long end to use to secure around ears.
For a finishing touch use backstitch to create a white stripe on sleeves
and collar and use blue to outline neckline and sleeves if desired.
When completed please send to YCA Central Office,
Agriculture House, 207 Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1UD
01904 451581
ycacentraloffice@gmail.com
Thank you to Karen Dennis for this pattern and to you for taking part.