Free Amigurumi Doll Pattern: Crochet Your Own Heirloom Clementine Doll

A warm welcome to the atelier, my dear creator.

There are certain projects that feel different from the moment you first imagine them. They are not merely toys, but keepers of secrets, partners in adventure, and silent friends waiting to be cherished for generations. Our Clementine doll is one such creation—a true handmade heirloom, born from the heart and crafted by your hands.

Today, I invite you to join me in this act of creation. We will do more than follow a pattern; we will breathe life into yarn, stitch by stitch, and craft a storybook companion with a soul all her own.

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

The soul of this project is rooted in the magic of **storybook charm and whimsical innocence.** Clementine is not just a doll; she is the protagonist of a thousand unwritten tales. She is the quiet friend nestled amongst pillows, the brave adventurer in a sun-dappled garden, the tiny confidante who listens to every dream.

By framing her as a **"Handmade Heirloom Doll,"** we elevate our craft. We are not simply making a toy that will be loved for a season, but an heirloom that will carry memories forward. The care you put into her expressive eyes, her cascade of curls, and her darling outfit will echo for years to come. This pattern is an invitation to slow down and create something truly meaningful—a timeless gift of love.

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

With every project, we grow as artisans. Clementine offers a beautiful opportunity to refine your skills:

• Advanced Amigurumi Shaping: Mastering the increases and decreases that form her gentle, curved silhouette is the foundation of creating lifelike amigurumi.
• Artful Hair Creation: You will learn the latch-hook method for creating a full, luxurious head of yarn curls, a technique that transforms a simple doll into a stunning character.
• The Waistcoat Stitch: We will use this special stitch to create the dense, knit-like fabric of her overalls, adding a professional and textural quality to her clothing.
• Detailed Embellishment: From her tiny citrus hat charm to her embroidered nose, you will practice the fine art of detail work that gives a creation its unique personality.

🧶 The Alchemist's Trove: Materials & Tools

• Yarn: Worsted weight (Aran/10-ply) cotton or cotton blend yarn in the following colors: Soft Peach, Rich Chocolate Brown, Creamy Off-White, Slate Blue-Grey, Cherry Red, Lemon Yellow, and Leaf Green.
• Hook: 2.75mm (C) crochet hook, or size needed to create a tight gauge with no stuffing showing through.
• Eyes: 12mm black safety eyes.
• Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill.
• Other Tools: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, two small (approx. 1cm) red buttons.

💡 The Language of the Craft: Stitches & Abbreviations

This pattern is written in standard US crochet terms.

• mr: magic ring
• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• inc: increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• dec: decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• hdc: half double crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• [...] xX: repeat instructions in brackets X times
• (...): total number of stitches in a round
• ws: waistcoat stitch (sc worked in the center 'V' of the stitch below)

💡 The Artisan's Advisor: Pro Tips & FAQs

How do I get the hair so perfectly curly and full?▼

The secret is patience and preparation! We will cut many strands of yarn to the same length (I recommend wrapping yarn around a book to get uniform pieces). The fullness comes from attaching a folded strand into nearly every stitch in the "hair cap" area of the head. For the curls, you can gently separate the plies of the yarn after it's attached to create a softer, wavier look, or even wrap the strands around a knitting needle and gently steam them (with adult supervision) to set a tighter curl.

What is the best way to attach the safety eyes securely?▼

Always attach the safety eyes *before* you finish stuffing and closing the head. I recommend placing them between Rounds 17 and 18, about 10-12 stitches apart. Once you are absolutely certain of their placement, push the washer onto the back post until you hear it "click" into place. For an heirloom-quality creation intended for a child, some creators like to melt the post slightly with a lighter to permanently flatten it against the washer, ensuring it can never come loose. Please do this with extreme caution and in a well-ventilated area.

Any tips for the waistcoat stitch? It looks tricky.▼

The waistcoat stitch creates a beautiful, sturdy fabric, but it does require a slightly different tension. The key is to keep your stitches relaxed. If your tension is too tight, it will be very difficult to insert your hook into the 'V' of the stitch below. Try going up half a hook size if you're struggling. It's also much easier to work this stitch when crocheting in the round, which is exactly how we will use it for the overalls and shoes.

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

📖 Woven into Being: The Complete Clementine Pattern

Head

Using Soft Peach yarn. Work in continuous rounds.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)
Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12)
Rnd 3: [sc 1, inc] x6 (18)
Rnd 4: [sc 2, inc] x6 (24)
Rnd 5: [sc 3, inc] x6 (30)
Rnd 6: [sc 4, inc] x6 (36)
Rnd 7: [sc 5, inc] x6 (42)
Rnd 8: [sc 6, inc] x6 (48)
Rnd 9: [sc 7, inc] x6 (54)
Rnd 10: [sc 8, inc] x6 (60)
Rnd 11-20: sc in each st around (60) - 10 rounds

Place safety eyes between Rnd 17 and 18, about 12 stitches apart.

Rnd 21: [sc 8, dec] x6 (54)
Rnd 22: [sc 7, dec] x6 (48)
Rnd 23: [sc 6, dec] x6 (42)
Rnd 24: [sc 5, dec] x6 (36)
Rnd 25: [sc 4, dec] x6 (30)

Begin stuffing the head firmly. Continue stuffing as you close the opening.

Rnd 26: [sc 3, dec] x6 (24)
Rnd 27: [sc 2, dec] x6 (18)
Rnd 28: [sc 1, dec] x6 (12)
Rnd 29: dec x6 (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the final 6 stitches and pull tight to close. Hide the end inside the head.

Body

Using Creamy Off-White yarn.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)
Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12)
Rnd 3: [sc 1, inc] x6 (18)
Rnd 4: [sc 2, inc] x6 (24)
Rnd 5: [sc 3, inc] x6 (30)
Rnd 6: [sc 4, inc] x6 (36)
Rnd 7: [sc 5, inc] x6 (42)
Rnd 8-12: sc in each st around (42) - 5 rounds
Rnd 13: [sc 5, dec] x6 (36)
Rnd 14-15: sc in each st around (36) - 2 rounds
Rnd 16: [sc 4, dec] x6 (30)
Rnd 17-20: sc in each st around (30) - 4 rounds
Rnd 21: [sc 3, dec] x6 (24)
Rnd 22-23: sc in each st around (24) - 2 rounds

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

Arms (Make 2)

Start with Soft Peach yarn.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)
Rnd 2: inc in each st around (12)
Rnd 3-5: sc in each st around (12) - 3 rounds

Change to Creamy Off-White yarn.

Rnd 6-18: sc in each st around (12) - 13 rounds

Stuff the hand part firmly, then stuff the rest of the arm lightly. Pinch the top opening flat and sc 6 across to close. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Cherry Red yarn for the shoe. Use waistcoat stitch (ws) for the shoe part.

Rnd 1: ch 7. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: inc, sc 4, 4 sc in last ch. Continue on other side of chain: sc 4, inc (16)
Rnd 2: ws-inc, ws-inc, ws 4, [ws-inc] x4, ws 4, ws-inc, ws-inc (24)
Rnd 3-5: ws in each st around (24) - 3 rounds
Rnd 6: ws 6, [ws-dec] x6, ws 6 (18)
Rnd 7: Create shoe strap: ch 10, skip 8 sts, sl st into the 9th st. Fasten off Cherry Red yarn.

Join Soft Peach yarn in the first skipped stitch at the back of the shoe.

Rnd 8: Working in the back loops of Rnd 6: sc in each of the 18 sts around (18)
Rnd 9-20: sc in each st around (18) - 12 rounds

Stuff the foot and leg firmly. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Overalls

Using Slate Blue-Grey yarn and waistcoat stitch (ws) throughout. Make two leg parts first.

Leg 1:
Rnd 1: ch 20, sl st to first ch to form a loop. ws in each ch around (20)
Rnd 2-4: ws in each st around (20) - 3 rounds. Fasten off.
Leg 2:
Repeat Rnd 1-4 but DO NOT fasten off.

Joining legs to form body:
Rnd 5: From Leg 2, ch 3. Join with a ws to any stitch on Leg 1. ws 19 around Leg 1. ws 3 in the connecting chain. ws 20 around Leg 2. ws 3 in the other side of the connecting chain. (46)
Rnd 6-12: ws in each st around (46) - 7 rounds
Rnd 13: [ws 21, ws-dec] x2 (44)
Rnd 14: [ws 9, ws-dec] x4 (40)

Bib (worked in rows):
From your last stitch, count 7 stitches to the right for the center front. Rejoin yarn there.
Row 1: ws 14. ch 1, turn. (14)
Row 2-5: sc 14. ch 1, turn. (14) - 4 rows
Fasten off after Row 5.

Straps:
Rejoin yarn at one top corner of the bib.
Row 1: Ch 30. Fasten off.
Repeat for the other corner. Weave in ends. The straps will cross in the back and be sewn to the waistband of the overalls.

Beanie

Using Cherry Red yarn.

Rnd 1: 6 hdc in mr (6)
Rnd 2: hdc-inc in each st around (12)
Rnd 3: [hdc 1, hdc-inc] x6 (18)
Rnd 4: [hdc 2, hdc-inc] x6 (24)
Rnd 5: [hdc 3, hdc-inc] x6 (30)
Rnd 6: [hdc 4, hdc-inc] x6 (36)
Rnd 7-10: hdc in each st around (36) - 4 rounds
Rnd 11: In front loops only: [ch 3, skip 1 st, sl st in next] around to create a scalloped edge. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Hat Charm: With Yellow yarn, make a small sphere (6 sc in mr, inc to 12, sc around, dec to 6, close). With Green yarn, ch 4, and sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next, hdc in last. Sew leaf to sphere. Sew charm to beanie.

🧵 The Final Flourish: Assembly & Embellishment

This is where the true alchemy happens, my dear creator, where we assemble the pieces and awaken the soul of our creation.

1. Body & Head: Using the long tail from the body, sew the body securely to the bottom of the head. Ensure it is centered and straight. Add more stuffing to the neck area just before closing the seam to create a firm, stable connection.
2. Legs & Arms: Sew the legs to the base of the body, positioned so the doll can sit nicely. Sew the arms to the sides of the body, just below the neck seam.
3. The Hair: This is the crowning glory. Cut many 10-inch strands of Chocolate Brown yarn. Using your crochet hook, latch-hook each strand onto the head, starting from the crown and working outwards in a spiral. Cover the top and back half of the head. Trim and style the curls as you wish.
4. Nose: With a strand of Soft Peach yarn, make a single horizontal stitch across 2-3 stitches of the face, centered below the eyes, around Rnd 19. Wrap the yarn around this stitch 3-4 times to create a small, subtle nose.
5. Clothing: Dress your doll in her overalls. Cross the straps in the back and sew them to the waistband. Sew the two red buttons onto the top corners of the bib where the straps would notionally attach. Place her beanie on her head (you can add a few stitches to secure it if you wish).

A meditation from the atelier: As you take these final steps, remember that every stitch is a whisper of your intention. The slight imperfections are not flaws, but the signature of your hand—the very thing that makes this creation a unique and treasured being.

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

And there she is. Our beautiful Clementine, ready for a lifetime of stories. Look at what you have created—not just with yarn and hook, but with your time, your focus, and your heart. You have crafted more than a doll; you have created a vessel for imagination, a future heirloom that will hold the warmth of your love in its very fibers.

May she bring immense joy, whether she stays in your home or travels to another. Thank you for joining me in the atelier. It has been a true privilege to create alongside you.