Mei Mei Kokeshi Doll

Crochet amigurumi pattern

By Susan Morishita

"Mei Mei" is a little Chinese doll. She likes to wear her hair long in the front and tied up in a bun
in the back. Sometimes she ties them up in two buns. It's up to you! Kokeshi dolls are
traditionally made out of wood with simple lines which makes them ideal for making into
amigurumi dolls.

Skill Level: Easy

Size: Mei Mei Kokeshi doll is approximately 4 1/2 inches tall
and 2 1/2 inches wide.

Materials List:
 Worsted weight yarn of your choice, small amounts needed. I
use black, off-white and 3 other colors for the dress and
embellishments.
 Polyester fiberfill stuffing
 Pair of black plastic safety craft eyes - size 9 diameter
 Beads for ornament
 Yarn needle
 Stitch marker (I just use a small piece of contrasting yarn or
embroidery floss to mark the end of each round.)
 Crochet hook size “G”

Notes and Tips:

Work in continuous rounds. Do not join unless otherwise
instructed.

You’ll need to know these stitches:

ch chain
sc single crochet
st stitch
sl st slip stitch
sc2tog decrease, single crochet 2 together
*Magic ring
chain stitch embroidery
lazy daisy stitch embroidery

If you don’t know how to make an adjustable magic ring, you can
google “crochet magic ring” on the internet and find many
sources that can help you. Also, instead of using the magic ring
method, you can replace the instruction “Make magic ring, ch 1”
with “ch2”, then follow round 1 instructions, but sc into 2 nd
chain from hook.

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Head (Using an off white color yarn):
Make magic ring*, ch 1
Round 1: sc 6 into a magic ring, pull tight.
Round 2: sc 2 into each sc around (12 sc)
Round 3: (sc 1 into next sc, then sc 2 into next),
around (18 sc)
Round 4: (sc 1 into next 2 sc, then sc 2 into next)
around (24 sc)
Rounds 5 to 9: sc around (24 sc)

If you are using plastic safety eyes, place them

now*. I like to place them between rounds 7
and 8 and with 4 stitches separating the eyes.
(Note: I prefer to use the head wrong side out because
I think it gives the face a smoother texture.)

Round 10: (sc 1 into next 2 sc, sc2tog) around (18)

Round 11 (sc 1 into next sc, sc2tog) around (12 sc)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn

Stuff head lightly with polyfiber for now. We will stuff it more when attaching the hairpiece.

Hairpiece (Using black yarn)

Make magic ring, ch 1
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 st)
Round 2: sc 2 into each sc around (12 sc)
Round 3: (sc 1 into next sc, then sc 2 into next), around (18 sc)
Round 4: (sc 1 into next 2 sc, then sc 2 into next) around (24 sc)
Rounds 5 to 7: sc around (24 sc)
Round 6: sc 1 into next sc,
first long strand of hair in front:
ch 10, turn, sc in 2nd chain from hook, (sc 1 in next chain) 8 times, sc 1 in first sc of round 6
(note: don't make the stitches too tight or the strand of hair will curl too much.)
sc 1 in next 7 st (going across the front of hairpiece)

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second long strand of hair in front:
ch 9, turn, sc in 2nd chain from hook, (sc 1 in next
chain) 7 times, sc 1 in the same sc you started the chain

(Why only 9? I find that making 10 chains makes the

2nd hair strand hang to low)

sc 1 in next 16 st (going around the back of hairpiece)

ch 1, turn

From now on, working in rows

Row 7: sc 1 in next 15 st, ch 1, turn (15)
Row 8: (sc 1 in next 2 st, sc2tog) 3 times, sc 1 in next 3
st, ch 1, turn (12)
Row 9: sc 1 in next 2 st, sc2tog, (sc 1 in next st, sc2tog)
twice, sc 1 in next 2 st (9)

Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn about 2 feet long.

Leave a long tail to sew the hairpiece on the head.

Hair bun (Using black yarn)

Make magic ring*, ch 1
Round 1: sc 6 into a magic ring, pull tight.
Round 2: sc 2 into each sc around (12 sc)
Round 3: (sc 1 into next sc, then sc 2 into next), around
(18 sc)
Round 4: (sc 1 into next 2 sc, then sc 2 into next)
around (24 sc)
Round 5 and 6: sc around (24)
(change to red yarn):
Round 7: (sc 1 into next 2 sc, sc2tog) around (18)

Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn, about 2 feet.

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Body

Make magic ring*, ch 1

Round 1: sc 6 into a magic ring, pull tight.
Round 2: sc 2 into each sc around (12 sc)
Round 3: (sc 1 into next sc, then sc 2 into next), around
(18 sc)
Round 4: (sc 1 into next 2 sc, then sc 2 into next) around
(24 sc)
Round 5: sc around into back loops only (24)
Round 6: sc around (24)
Round 7: (sc 1 into next 2 sc, sc2tog) around (18)
Round 8: sc around (18)
Round 9 (sc 1 into next sc, sc2tog) around (12 sc)
Round 10: sc around (12)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn

Stuff body with polyfiber.

Flatten out bottom of body so that your doll will stand straight. Using a yarn needle, sew the
long end of yarn through the center of the bottom. Pull the yarn back up to the top. Pull the
yarn end until the bottom of the body flattens out and stands straight. Secure yarn on top of
body.

Assembly

1. Attach the hairpiece to the head.

Center the hairpiece over the eyes. Now that you have the hairpiece on, firmly stuff the head
with polyfiber stuffing. Hide the yarn end of the head inside the head.

Using a yarn needle and the yarn end of the hairpiece, sew the hairpiece onto the head so it
won't move or come off. Carefully stitch down the long hair strands to the side of the face.
Pull the yarn end into the head.

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2. Attach the hair bun to the hairpiece.
Lightly stuff the hair bun with polyfiber stuffing. Position the bun where you like it on the top
of the head and use the yarn end and yarn needle to sew it on. After sewing on the bun, you
should still have a long yarn end. Wrap it around the base of the bun 3 times evenly so that
it looks like a hair ribbon. Pull the yarn end into the head and secure.

3. Sew head to body

Position the head on the body the way you like it. Using the
yarn end from the body, sew on the stuffed body to the head.

4. Embroider kimono

Use a chain stitch to embroider the outline of the dress. Start at the center of the neck and
work around the neckline. Then continue diagonally across and all the way around the base
of the body.

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5. Embroider flowers

Use a lazy daisy stitch to embroider flowers around the dress. Tie a knot (see below) in a
piece of contrasting yarn and sew it into the center of the flower. Secure at the bottom of the
base and use yarn needle to hide yarn ends inside body.

How to make a yarn knot:

Using a 12 inch piece of yarn, make a loop Pick up the ends of the strand Done!
and twist one end of the yarn into the middle and pull them until the middle
of the loop 5 times. forms a small ball.

6. Add bead hair ornament:

You can use any kind of beads that you like, but the hole must be large enough for the yarn to
pass through.

Make the hair ornament as shown and attach under the hair bun.

Tie a yarn knot (above). You may need a piece of String 2 beads as shown
You will need some thread to help pull the and attach it under one of
wooden beads with holes yarn through the bead. I the hair buns.
big enough for the yarn to use a piece of jewelry
fit through. monofilament.

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ENJOY!

Here are some variations of this doll. You can make them with 2 hair buns and
put them at the top or sides of the head. The red doll in the photo has slightly
smaller hair buns, but the bigger buns look great too!

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