Shieldmaiden Crochet Doll

Crochet dolls are quick projects which are a lot of fun. But with all those princesses out there and what not, how about a tough girl doll? And since I am such a history buff and love fantasy, I thought, why not make a shieldmaiden? So with Lagertha and company as inspiration (History’s Vikings), I whipped one up. Here below is the first part of the shieldmaiden crochet doll pattern.

Note: This pattern assumes you have done some amigurumi before and doesn’t really hold your hand. But it is not too difficult and best of all, there is little attaching to do!

What you need

one skein of Patons Canadiana in oatmeal and one skein in color of choice for hair
3.5 mm crochet hook
curved end tapestry needle
one pair of 9 mm safety eyes
a bit of embroidery floss for eyelashes and mouth
embroidery needle
polyfil stuffing

Gauge

Not important!

Stitches Used (US terms)

magic circle
sc – single crochet
sc inc – single crochet increase (2 sc in one stitch)
sc dec – single crochet decrease (2 sc together)

The Pattern

Head, torso, and one leg

In a magic circle, work 6 sc.

Magic circle beginning — This is how I start a magic circle. I wrap the yarn around my fingers three times. Then I would take my hook and grab the middle strand and bring it underneath the one closest to my fingertips. Then I would grab the last one and bring it through the loop i just formed, Chain 1 and then work the single crochets into the loops. Once you have the required amount, pull the yarn end a little to see which loop moves. Now, pull out the loop that moved and the other loop will tighten. Now you can pull the yarn end until the hole closes. It takes practice, but that is how I do the magic circle.

Rnd 1 6 sc inc (12 sc).

Rnd 2 12 sc (12 sc)

Rnd 3 *1 sc, 1 sc inc* 6 times (18 sc)

Rnd 4 *2 sc, 1 sc inc* 6 times (24 sc)

Rnd 5 *3 sc, 1 sc inc* 6 times (30 sc)

Rnd 6 *4 sc, 1 sc inc* 6 times (36 sc)

Rnds 7-12 36 sc around (36 sc)

round 7 — This is what the head should look like by Round 7.

Kitten interrupting. — “Let me help you!”

Rnd 13 *4 sc, 1 sc dec* 6 times (30 sc)

Now would be a good time to place the eyes. I placed them on Round 10 and 6 stitches apart. You can also embroider the eyelashes. I used embroidery floss and an embroidery needle. Thread the floss onto the needle, tie a knot at the end (double knot should do) and from the inside of the head in the same space you place the eyes push the needle through. Push the needle back in about one stitch straight to the side of the eye. Repeat, except come out one stitch above the one you previously made. Tie the embroidery floss off inside the head. Once you are happy with the placement of the eyes, fasten them with the safety backs.

To make the nose, I used the beginning tail of the head, brought it down through the head and out through the front, about 2 rows beneath the eyes and then stitched it back in about 2 stitches away. I then repeated this maybe two or three more times. Once you’re satisfied with the nose, tie a knot on the inside so it doesn’t unravel.

For the hair, I used my second color of yarn and wrapped it around a DVD case or a notebook several times and cut it at the top edges to make strands. Then I weaved each strand through one stitch in the top of the head. Since it is a shieldmaiden, I mostly left the sides hairless for a fierce-looking haircut. Once my head looked full enough, I used some book binding glue that I had and spread it on the inside of the head to make sure the strands of hair wouldn’t easily fall or be tugged out. This step is optional, really, if you have your own way of adding hair, be my guest!

Rnds 14-16 30 sc around (30 sc)

Start stuffing the head a little. You don’t want to put too much as it will be hard to crochet around a fully stuffed head.

Rnd 17 *3 sc, 1 sc dec* 6 times (24 sc)

Rnd 18 *3 sc, 1 sc dec* 6 times (18 sc)

Now you can embroider the lips. I did a simple line at Round 15 about 2 stitches wide. If you want her to really look dangerous, maybe some zig zags would work? Don’t forget to tie off the floss inside the head.

Rnd 19 *3 sc, 1 sc dec* 6 times (12 sc)

Stuff the head firmly now. I like to add stuffing through the middle and let it grow to the sides.

Rnd 20-22 (neck) 12 sc around (12 sc)

Rnd 23 (torso) *1 sc, 1 sc inc* 6 times (18 sc)

Rnd 24 *2 sc, 1 sc inc* 6 times (24 sc)

Rnd 25 *3 sc, 1 sc inc* 6 times (30 sc)

beginning of torso — Beginning of torso.

Rnds 26-35 30 sc around (30 sc)

Rnd 36 *1 sc, 1 sc dec* 6 times (24 sc)

Rnd 37 24 sc around (24 sc)

Now stop and stuff the torso, neck and if the head needs some more add it now because you won’t get another chance. Stuff firmly.

Rnd 38 (leg) place a stitch marker on your latest stitch and sc 12. Now sl st to the stitch marker.

Making the first leg — Slip stitch into where you placed stitch marker.

Making the leg — Keep crocheting around to make the leg!

Rnd 39 sc around, making sure to sc in the sl st. (12 sc)

Rnds 40-48 12 sc around (12 sc)

Now would be a great time to stuff the leg firmly.

Rnd 49 *1 sc, 1 sc dec* 6 times (6 sc)

Rnd 50 sc dec around to close the hole. Fasten off.

Second leg

Using the skin colored yarn, make a slip knot on your hook and connect with a sc to the inside of the torso meets leg area.

Rnds 1-11 12 sc around (12 sc)

Stuff the leg firmly.

Rnd 12 *1 sc, 1 sc dec* 6 times (6 sc)

Rnd 13 sc dec around to close the hole. Fasten off.

Arms – make 2

In a magic circle, work 4 sc.

Note: It might be easier to sc in the back loop only because the arms are so small. It is up to you. It doesn’t really make a visual difference.

Rnd 1 *1 sc, 1 sc inc* 2 times (6 sc)

Rnd 2 *2 sc, 1 sc inc* 2 times (8 sc)

Rnds 3-9 8 sc around (8 sc)

Fasten off. Stuff the arms lightly, focusing on the closed ends (the hands). Pressing the end together, attach the arms to the shoulder with a whip stitch. I did this at approximately round 24 or 25 of the torso. Figure out what looks good to you and attach.

That’s it! You should now have a naked shield maiden crochet doll.

Base shieldmaiden — “Me, modest? I’m a shieldmaiden yo!”

Stay tuned for the next post, where I will show you how to dress her up and give her some badass weapons. I’d love to see your doll, so be sure to @loopvloop me on Instagram or Twitter. Let’s build a kickass army of shieldmaidens!