How to Make a Doll with Plastic Springs for It's Skirt

Plastic Springs are the little coiled toy found in most birthday party treat bags, prize machines and as the 1-2 point prize at most arcades. I've never known what to do with them until I put them together with crochet. This fanciful doll has plastic spring base or skirt. She would look at home in any doll collection, sitting a top a dress or it may be nice to have one by ea place sitting at a birthday party or other party, you can even use as a pincushion or place to hold special jewelry items.

Materials:

Size 10 crochet thread in Red, size 7 crochet hook or hook to obtain gauge, needle to take thread, stuffing, 1" set doll head and hands, craft glue, small amount of cardboard and 2 square shape springs.

Gauge: 9 hdc sts = 1", 7 rows hdc = 1"

Finished Size: 7" tall

Abbreviations Used In This Pattern:

Ch = Chain

St = Stitch

Sl St = Slip Stitch

Hdc = Half Double Crochet

Rnd = Round

Beg = Beginning

Ea = Each

Dec = Decrease

Rep = Repeat

Tog = Together

Doll Body:

With Red and 7 hook ch-8, sl st to form a ring.

RND 1: Ch-1, work 12 hdc in ring, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (12 sts)

RND 2: Hdc ea st around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn.

RND 3: 2 hdc ea st around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (24 sts)

RND 4: (2 hdc next st, hdc next 2 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (32 sts)

RND 5-7: Rep rnd 2.

RND 8: (Hdc dec next 2 sts, hdc next 6 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (28 sts)

RND 9: (Hdc dec next 2 sts, hdc next 5 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (24 sts)

RND 10: (Hdc dec next 2 sts, hdc next 2 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (18 sts)

RND 11-14: Rep rnd 2.

RND 15: 2 hdc ea st around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (36 sts)

RND 16-17: Rep rnd 2.

RND 18: (2 hdc next st, hdc next st) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (54 sts)

RND 19-20: Rep rnd 2.

RND 21: (2 hdc next st, hdc next 5 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (63 sts)

RND 22-24: Rep rnd 2. End rnd 24 fasten off.

Bottom To Doll:

With Red and 7 hook ch-3, sl st to form a ring.

RND 1: Ch-1, work 12 hdc in ring, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (12 sts)

RND 2-3: (2 hdc next st, hdc next st) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (18 sts)(27 sts)

RND 4: (2 hdc next st, hdc next 2 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (36 sts)

RND 5: (2 hdc next st, hdc next 3 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (45 sts)

RND 6: (2 hdc next st, hdc next 4 sts) around, sl st top beg, hdc ch-1, turn. (54 sts)

RND 7: (2 hdc next st, hdc next 5 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, fasten off. (63 sts)

Cut a piece of cardboard the same size as the bottom. Stuff doll and sew on bottom inserting cardboard as you sew. Glue head to top of doll.

Sleeve:

With Red and 7 hook, ch-3, sl st to form a ring.

RND 1: Ch-1, work 12 hdc in ring, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (12 sts)

RND 2: 2 hdc ea st around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (24 sts)

RND 3-6: Hdc ea st around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn.

RND 7: (Hdc dec next 2 sts) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (12 sts) Stuff top to this point.

RND 8: (Hdc dec next 2 sts, hdc next st) around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. (8 sts)

RND 9-14: Hdc ea st around, sl st top beg hdc, ch-1, turn. End rnd 14 fasten off.

-Make 2. Insert doll's hand in ea sleeve gluing to hold. Either sew or glue sleeves to ea side of doll at shoulders.

Spring Bottom:

Place both ends of one spring tog to form a circle. With a small amount of thread tie ends tog so it holds its shape. You will need to do this a second time. Rep on other spring.

Glue one spring on top the other. Glue doll to top of stacked springs.

Plastic Springs can be found in most party stores in the kid's isle. They come in many colors and shapes and are usually several to a bag. If on line shopping is your thing, google plastic springs and several good sources will come up.