To knit a Comfort Doll – Begin at the feet and knit a rectangle, changing yarn colours for each body segment.
The number of rows in each part of the doll can be increased or decreased depending on the individual design. Finished height of each doll is approx. 6 inches (although mine always end up about 8 inches tall)
You need:
*Small quantities of Sayelle, or similar-weight yarn
*1 pair of 2.25 mm needles or maybe larger depending on wool
*Tapestry needle
*Polyester fibrefill
- To make:*Work in stocking stitch throughout
*Cast on 32 Sts
*Work four rows for feet – change yarn
*Work 14 rows for pants – change yearn
*Work 12 rows for sweater – change yarn
*Work 8 rows for face – change yarn
*Work 11 rows for hat as follows:
*Row l – 4: Work evenly in stocking stitch
*Row 5: Decrease 5 Sts evenly in stocking stitch across row
*Rows 6, 8 and 10: Knit across row in stocking stitch
*Row 7: Decrease 5 Sts evenly across row
*Row 9: Decrease 5 Sts evenly across row (17 Sts)
*Row 11: (K.1, K2 together) 9 times
*Draw yarn through remaining Sts and pull up.
- To finish:*Sew sides together to form a centre back seam
*stuff body.
*Weave a strand of matching yarn across the first face row. Draw up to form neck and secure ends.
*Repeat for body, drawing in at the feet bottom –
*With matching yarn, form arms with small backstitches through all layers from waist to 2 rows beneath the neck.
*Define the legs in same way from bottom to a little below the waistline.
*Embroider facial features as desired
WHERE TO SEND YOUR FINISHED DOLLS
We are sending Comfort Dolls to two agencies at this time. Drops of Grace from Texas, USA needs dolls a few times a year for Malawi and Nicaragua, and Icross Canada sends dolls to Africa once a year. Addresses:
Drops of Grace
Diane Bouchard
Box 2168
Round Rock, TX
USA 78680
Icross Canada
Box 3
Saanichton BC
Canada, V8M 2C3
IF ANYONE finds out about other agencies in the USA, Europe, or even Australia or NZ that is doing similar for the kids in Africa or developing countries, leave us a comment with a name and link and we’ll check it out and add it to our data base
I’ve had many people ask how to send them, what will it cost etc… I am now vacuum packing my dolls then into second largest size padded envelope that Canada Post sells (usually about 15-20 dolls) Postage is now about $20 for this size to both Canada AND the USA.. it costs more to ship domestic than across the border for us. Don’t use a box as they use height/width/length as a defining factor for cost.. the flatter the better even if its longer.
