Free Watermelon Doll Crochet Pattern (Amigurumi) - Melina the Summer Doll

My Dearest Creator,

Welcome. Today, we are not simply crocheting a doll. We are capturing the essence of a perfect summer day—the warmth of the sun, the laughter on the breeze, and the sweet, dripping joy of watermelon. We are crafting Melina, a little soul born from sunshine and yarn.

Think of this project as a meditation. With every stitch, let us pour in happy memories and bright hopes. She is more than a toy; she is an heirloom, a keeper of sunshine for the days when we need it most. Let us begin.

🎨 The Artisan's Vision: Why This Project is Special

Melina is a celebration of craftsmanship and seasonal joy. Her design is centered around the iconic imagery of summer, translated into a tangible, huggable form. The challenge of her layered dress and sculpted curls is a delightful journey for any intermediate crocheter, resulting in a creation that looks wonderfully complex yet is built from simple, elegant techniques. She is designed to be cherished, a testament to the love woven into her very being.

✨ Skills You'll Master (And Why They Matter)

This journey will not only result in a beautiful doll but will also refine your skills as a fiber alchemist. You will practice:

• Precise Colorwork: Creating the crisp, clean lines of the watermelon dress will elevate your ability to manage multiple colors within a single piece.
• Amigurumi Sculpting: Shaping the head, body, and limbs to create a classic, well-proportioned doll form.
• Detailed Embellishment: Mastering the art of embroidered details for the face and dress, which breathes life and personality into your work.
• Component Assembly: The final magic lies in the assembly. You'll learn to attach the pieces securely and artfully, especially the signature hair curls, for a professional, heirloom-quality finish.

🧶 The Alchemist's Trove: Materials & Tools

To begin this creation, you will need to gather your reagents:

• Yarn: Worsted weight (Aran/10-ply) cotton or cotton-blend yarn in the following shades: Light Peach, Dark Chocolate Brown, Watermelon Pink, Leaf Green, White, and Golden Straw.
• Crochet Hook: 2.5mm or 3.0mm, or the size that works best with your chosen yarn to create tight stitches.
• Embroidery Floss: Black floss for the eyes and watermelon seeds.
• Stuffing: A generous amount of polyester fiberfill for a firm, huggable shape.
• Tools: A yarn needle, stitch markers, and scissors.
• Optional: A small amount of pink blush or chalk pastel for the cheeks.

💡 The Language of the Craft: Stitches & Abbreviations

This pattern is written in standard US crochet terminology.

• mr: magic ring
• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• inc: increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• dec: decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• BLO: back loop only
• FLO: front loop only
• (...): stitch count at the end of the round
• [...] xX: repeat the instructions in brackets X times

💡 The Artisan's Advisor: Pro Tips & FAQs

How do I get clean color changes for the dress?▼

For the cleanest transition, complete the final stitch of the old color up to the last yarn-over. Then, drop the old color and yarn over with the new color to pull through the final two loops on your hook. This sets you up perfectly to begin the new round with the new color, creating a nearly invisible seam.

What's the best way to stuff my doll for a firm shape?▼

The secret is to stuff as you go, especially in the neck area. Use small amounts of fiberfill at a time, pushing it firmly into all the curves. For the neck, ensure it is stuffed very firmly to prevent a wobbly head. A chopstick or the back of your crochet hook can be a wonderful tool for this.

Can I use safety eyes instead of embroidery?▼

Absolutely. If you choose safety eyes, I recommend 8mm or 10mm eyes. Place them between rounds 15 and 16 of the head, about 8-9 stitches apart. Remember to insert them *before* you finish stuffing and close the head!

My hair curls aren't bouncy. What did I do wrong?▼

The 'bounce' comes from tight tension. When creating the initial chain for the curl, try to keep it even but not too loose. Then, when you work your increases back down the chain, ensure your stitches are snug. This tension is what encourages the chain to twist into that lovely, springy shape.

The full, step-by-step pattern begins below.

📖 Woven into Being: The Complete Melina Doll Pattern

A meditation from the atelier: Crochet in continuous rounds unless specified otherwise. Use a stitch marker to trace the beginning of each round, like a bookmark in a cherished story.

Head

Using Light Peach yarn.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a mr (6)

Rnd 2: [inc] x6 (12)

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36)

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42)

Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] x6 (48)

Rnd 9: [7 sc, inc] x6 (54)

Rnds 10-20: sc around (54) - 11 rounds

Rnd 21: [7 sc, dec] x6 (48)

Rnd 22: [6 sc, dec] x6 (42)

Rnd 23: [5 sc, dec] x6 (36)

Rnd 24: [4 sc, dec] x6 (30)

Rnd 25: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24)

Begin stuffing the head firmly. Embroider the face now, or insert safety eyes between Rnds 15-16, about 8-9 stitches apart.

Rnd 26: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18)

Rnd 27: [sc, dec] x6 (12)

Finish stuffing. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Body

Using Light Peach yarn.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a mr (6)

Rnd 2: [inc] x6 (12)

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18)

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36)

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42)

Rnds 8-12: sc around (42) - 5 rounds

Rnd 13: [5 sc, dec] x6 (36)

Rnds 14-15: sc around (36) - 2 rounds

Rnd 16: [4 sc, dec] x6 (30)

Rnds 17-20: sc around (30) - 4 rounds

Rnd 21: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24)

Rnds 22-24: sc around (24) - 3 rounds

Rnd 25: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18)

Rnd 26: sc around (18)

Stuff the body firmly. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to the head.

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Golden Straw yarn for the shoe.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a mr (6)

Rnd 2: [inc] x6 (12)

Rnd 3: [3 sc, inc] x3 (15)

Rnd 4: sc around in BLO (15)

Rnd 5: sc around (15)

Change to Watermelon Pink for the shoe strap.

Rnd 6: sc around (15)

Change to Light Peach yarn.

Rnd 7: [3 sc, dec] x3 (12)

Rnd 8: [dec] x2, 8 sc (10)

Rnds 9-20: sc around (10) - 12 rounds

Stuff the foot and lower leg firmly. Stuff the rest of the leg lightly. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Arms (Make 2)

Using Light Peach yarn.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a mr (6)

Rnd 2: [sc, inc] x3 (9)

Rnds 3-5: sc around (9) - 3 rounds

Rnd 6: [sc, dec] x3 (6)

Rnds 7-17: sc around (6) - 11 rounds

Stuff the hand lightly. Do not stuff the rest of the arm. Fold the top opening flat and sc across to close. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Watermelon Dress

Start with Watermelon Pink yarn.

Row 1: Ch 37. Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across (36). Ch 1, turn.

Rnds 2-8: sc across (36). Ch 1, turn. At the end of Rnd 8, ch 1 and sl st to the first sc to join and work in rounds.

Rnd 9: In FLO, [5 sc, inc] x6 (42)

Rnds 10-12: sc around (42) - 3 rounds

Change to White yarn.

Rnd 13: In FLO, [hdc, hdc inc] x21 (63)

Rnd 14: hdc around (63)

Change to Leaf Green yarn.

Rnd 15: In FLO, [2 dc, dc inc] x21 (84)

Rnd 16: dc around (84)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Collar Ruffle: Rejoin Leaf Green yarn to the starting chain of the dress. Ch 2, [3 dc in next st, sl st in next] repeat across. Fasten off.

Hair Cap & Curls

Using Dark Chocolate Brown yarn.

Create the hair cap exactly as you did the head from Rnds 1-9 (ending with 54 stitches). Then:

Rnds 10-15: sc around (54) - 6 rounds

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Curls (Make 2):

Row 1: Ch 21. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, [inc] in each of the next 20 chs (40). The strand will naturally curl. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

🧵 The Final Flourish: Assembly & Embellishment

1. Head & Body: Using the long tail from the head, sew the head securely onto the body opening. Ensure the neck is very well stuffed to provide support.
2. Legs & Arms: Sew the legs to the base of the body, positioned symmetrically. Sew the arms to the sides of the body, just below the neck seam.
3. Face: If you haven't already, embroider the eyes. Using black floss, create two gentle, upward curves over Rnd 15, about 8 stitches apart. Use a touch of blush or pink pastel for the cheeks.
4. Hair: Place the hair cap on the head, pulling it down to your desired hairline. Sew it firmly in place around the entire circumference. Attach one curl to each side of the face, near the front of the hair cap, to frame the face.
5. Dress: Put the dress on the doll. Use black floss to embroider small 'V' shapes for seeds randomly on the pink section of the dress. You can also add a small button or snap to the back for closure if desired.
6. Accessories: Instructions for the headband, watermelon slice, and watermelon companion can be found in the premium PDF, or you can improvise a simple chain headband and a small green circle for the companion!

💌 From Patricia's Hook & Heart: A Final Word

And there she is. Our Melina. See how she holds the light? She is a testament to your skill, your patience, and the love you poured into her. You have taken simple strands of yarn and transformed them into a story, a memory, a friend.

May she bring a touch of eternal summer into your home and your heart. Treasure this creation, for you have woven a little piece of your own soul into its very fabric. Well done, my dear creator. Truly, well done.