The naughty nun

The Naughty Nun Crochet Doll by Lena Delva Designs

Project Overview

The Naughty Nun is a beginner-level crochet doll pattern designed by Lena Delva Designs. This downloadable PDF provides instructions for creating an amigurumi-style character doll with articulated limbs and detailed features, perfect for crafters new to doll construction.

What is Being Made

This pattern creates a complete crochet doll character featuring a sculpted head, body, articulated arms and legs, and detailed facial features. The finished doll is designed to be poseable and displayable, with construction techniques suitable for beginners seeking to learn fundamental amigurumi and doll-making skills.

Crochet Techniques Used

• Magic Ring: Used to create seamless circular foundations for the head and body components
• Increases (inc): Strategic stitch increases create the expanding spherical shapes needed for the head and body sections
• Decreases: Stitches worked together to shape and close sections as needed for proper doll proportions
• Continuous rounds: The pattern uses consecutive rounds of stitching to build three-dimensional forms
• Stuffing integration: Fiberfill stuffing is incorporated during construction to create firm, shapeable doll components

Stitches Employed

• Magic Ring: Foundation technique for seamless circular starts
• Chain (ch): Basic foundation and joining stitch
• Single Crochet (sc): Primary stitch used throughout for dense, sturdy fabric
• Half Double Crochet (hdc): Medium-height stitch for varied texture and structure
• Double Crochet (dc): Taller stitch for specific shaping requirements
• Treble Crochet (tr): Extended stitch for particular design elements
• Sliding Stitch: Joining technique for seamless transitions between sections

Materials and Tools

Crochet Hook: 2 mm hook provides the tight gauge necessary for amigurumi doll construction.

Yarn: Phildar Cotton yarn in multiple colors creates the doll's various components:

• 3 skeins skin color (Phildar Cotton Poudre)
• 3 skeins black
• 2 skeins white
• 1 skein red
• Small amount of pink yarn for details

Embellishments and Hardware: Two 10 mm black glass beads serve as eyes, providing realistic facial features. One 1 cm button adds dimensional detail.

Structural Materials: Iron wire totaling 130 cm (45 cm lengths for legs, body, and head; 40 cm for arms) creates an internal armature allowing the doll to hold poses. Scotch tape secures wire connections.

Assembly Supplies: Textile glue bonds components together. Fiberfill stuffing creates firm, shapeable forms. A marker adds fine details. A 30 cm piece of white lace contributes to the costume design. Thirty 25 cm satay skewers and 15 x 15 cm cardboard construct a display chair base.

Construction Method

The doll is constructed using the amigurumi technique, building three-dimensional forms through spiral rounds of crochet. The head begins with a Magic Ring foundation, then expands through strategic increases in single crochet stitches across multiple rounds, creating a sphere. The pattern demonstrates fundamental amigurumi shaping principles: starting small, increasing to maximum diameter, maintaining stitches at full size, then decreasing to close the form. This same methodology applies to body and limb construction. Internal wire armature allows poseable limbs and a stable structure. Components are stuffed with fiberfill before being joined with textile glue, and details like glass bead eyes and embroidered features complete the character.

Skill Level

Rated as beginner-friendly, this pattern teaches foundational crochet and doll-making skills. Crafters will practice basic stitches, circular construction, increases and decreases, stuffing techniques, and component assembly—making it an excellent introduction to amigurumi doll creation