First-Grader Nastyusha

Free First-Grader Nastyusha crochet tutorial by Svetlana Glotova @glotova_79.

With this pattern, you can crochet a schoolgirl doll in a school uniform with an apron and bows. Any cotton blend yarn works well for this amigurumi project: Alize Cotton Gold, YarnArt Jeans, Gazzal Baby Cotton, and others.

Materials and Tools

• Alize Cotton Gold yarn: 382-beige (for body), 493-brown (for clothes), 493-brown, white (for socks), and a color for hair
• Gazzal Baby Cotton yarn: white (for the apron)
• Thread for embroidering eyelashes
• 2 mm crochet hook
• 6 mm safety eyes
• Toy stuffing
• Stitch markers
• Cardboard or plastic
• Needle for sewing parts
• Scissors

Abbreviations

• MR - magic ring
• ch - chain stitch
• tch - turning chain
• sl st - slip stitch
• sc - single crochet
• dc - double crochet
• dec - decrease
• inc - increase
• (...) x n - repeat n times

Amigurumi Schoolgirl Crochet Pattern

Arms (2 pieces)

Use beige (skin-tone) yarn.

Row 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Row 2: 6 inc (12)
Rows 3-4: 12 sc (12)
Row 5: (1 sc, dec) x 4 (8)
Row 6: 8 sc
Change color to white:
Row 7: 8 sc
Lightly stuff with fiberfill. Do not stuff further, or the arm will stick out.
Change color to brown:
Row 8: in BLO, 8 sc
Rows 9-15: 8 sc
Row 16: fold the arm in half, crochet 4 sc through both layers

Fasten off and cut yarn. Return to row 8. With white yarn, crochet in FLO as follows: 1 sc, 1 ch, repeat to the end of the row. Fasten off, cut yarn, and hide ends.

Shoes (2 pieces)

Use brown yarn:

Row 1: 5 ch, from the 2nd ch from hook: 3 sc, 3 sc in one stitch, 2 sc along the other side of the chain, 1 inc (10)
Row 2: 1 inc, 2 sc, 3 inc, 2 sc, 2 inc (16)
Row 3: 1 inc, 3 sc, (1 sc, 1 inc) x 3, 6 sc (20)
Row 4: in BLO, 20 sc
Row 5: 20 sc
Row 6: 8 sc, 3 dec, 6 sc (17)
Change color to white
Row 7: in BLO with white yarn (sock color): 6 sc, 3 dec, 5 sc (14)

At this stage, insert insoles. (Cut the insoles from plastic. It is easy to do. First make a cardboard template. Place it on the sole, trace it, cut it out, then adjust to size by trying it on repeatedly.) Continue crocheting with the insoles inside. After 8-10 rows, inserting them becomes difficult. Also stuff the legs. As you crochet, stuff very firmly little by little.

Row 8: 5 sc, 2 dec, 5 sc (12)
Rows 9-11: 12 sc

Return to row 4: with brown yarn in FLO, crochet 20 sc. Fasten off, cut yarn, hide ends. Return to row 7: with brown yarn in FLO, crochet 17 sl st. Fasten off, cut yarn, hide ends.

Legs (2 pieces)

Change yarn to beige (body color):

Row 12: in BLO, 12 sc
Rows 13-15: 12 sc
4 offset sc toward the center, 1 sl st

Fasten off and cut yarn (we will join this leg to the second one here). Crochet the 2nd leg the same way, but do not cut yarn. To shift toward the middle of the leg, crochet 11 sc. Return to row 12. With white yarn in FLO, crochet as follows: 1 sc, 1 ch. Repeat to the end of the row. Fasten off, cut yarn, hide ends.

Body

Continue with beige yarn. Join the legs into the body, starting from the second leg:

1 ch, 12 sc on the first leg, then 1 sc in the ch, 12 sc on the second leg, 1 sc. (26 sc). Place a marker here - this is now the start of body crocheting.

Row 1: 10 sc, 1 inc, 3 sc, 1 inc, 11 sc (28)
Rows 2-6: 28 sc

Crochet 15 sc - these are offset stitches. Now the beginning of the row will be at the back, because we will be changing color. Change yarn to brown:

Row 7: 28 sc
Row 8: in BLO, 28 sc
Row 9: 28 sc
Row 10: 6 sc, 1 dec, 12 sc, 1 dec, 6 sc (26)
Row 11: 26 sc
Row 12: 6 sc, 1 dec, 11 sc, 1 dec, 5 sc (24)
Row 13: 24 sc
Row 14: (4 sc, dec) x 4 (20)
Row 15: 20 sc
Row 16: (3 sc, dec) x 4 (16)

Now attach the arms as you crochet (insert the hook first through an arm stitch, then through a body stitch).

Row 17: 4 sc, 4 sc (with arm), 4 sc, 4 sc (with arm) (16)
Row 18: make 2 decreases, one in front and one at the back, as follows: 1 sc, 1 dec, 6 sc, 1 dec, 5 sc (14)
Change yarn color to white:
Row 19: 14 sc
Change yarn color to beige:
Row 20: in BLO, 14 sc
Row 21: make 2 decreases, one in front and one at the back, resulting in 12 sc

Fasten off and cut yarn, leaving a tail for sewing on the head.

Dress

Return to body row 8. With brown yarn in FLO, crochet:

Row 1: 28 sc
Row 2: (1 inc, 2 sc) x 9, 1 inc (38)
Rows 3-8: 38 sc

You can finish the last (8th) row with crab stitch, or crochet it as follows: 1 sc, 1 ch (repeat to the end of the row).

Collar

Return to body row 20. With white yarn in FLO, crochet as follows: 1 sc, 1 ch. Repeat this to the end of the row.

Apron

Use white yarn. First crochet the waistband. Chain 35. Starting in the 6th chain from the hook, crochet 29 sc.

Fasten off and cut yarn, leaving a tail for sewing on a button.

Apron Bib

Mark the center 11 stitches:

Row 1: crochet 11 sc, 1 tch, turn
Row 2: 1 sc, (3 ch, skip 1 stitch from previous row, 1 sc) x repeat 4 times, 1 sc, 1 tch, turn (arches are formed)

Next, crochet to form the second row of arches. Always crochet the single crochet into the middle chain of the arch.

Row 3: 1 sc, 3 ch, skip 1 stitch from previous row, 1 sc, (3 ch, skip 3 stitches from previous row, 1 sc) x repeat 3 times, 1 sc, 1 tch
Row 4: 1 sc, 3 ch, skip 1 stitch from previous row, 1 sc, (3 ch, skip 3 stitches from previous row, 1 sc) x repeat 3 times, 1 ch, skip 1 sc from previous row, 1 sc, 1 tch
Rows 5-6: same as row 4

Fasten off and cut yarn. Now edge the sides and bottom of the bib. To do this, attach yarn at the side of the apron (right side facing). Crochet sc along the right side first, then along the bottom, then along the left side of the bib. As you crochet sc, work in the yarn tail from the previous row. This way the tails are hidden.

Upper Part of the Apron

Crochet the top part of the apron. Mark the center 9 stitches.

Row 1: 9 sc, turn
Row 2: 8 sc, turn
Row 3: 7 sc, turn
Row 4: 6 sc, turn

Do not make a turning chain at the end of the row; instead start the next row from the second chain from the hook. This makes the crocheting decrease.

Straps

For the straps, chain 12. Starting from the 2nd chain from the hook, crochet 11 sc, then continue along the side of the upper apron part (that is why this row starts from the side edge of the upper apron section). Fasten off and cut yarn. Now edge the straps. Attach yarn at the beginning of a strap. Edge with scallops. You should get 3 scallops.

Crochet scallops as follows: (1 sc, skip 1 stitch of previous row, 5 sc in one stitch, skip 1 stitch) repeat. Sew the straps to the waistband at the back. Sew on a button. The apron is ready.

The number of rows for the bib and the number of strap stitches may differ for you. Try it on the doll while crocheting.

Head, Sculpting, and Face Details

I offer two head options: a smaller one and a slightly larger one.

Option 1. Smaller head

Crochet in a spiral with beige yarn.

Row 1: 6 sc in MR
Row 2: 6 inc (12)
Row 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Row 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Row 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Row 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
Row 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
Rows 8-12: 42 sc
Row 13: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
Row 14: 3 sc, dec, (4 sc, dec) x 5, 1 sc (30)
Row 15: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
Row 16: 1 sc, (2 sc, dec) x 5, 1 sc (18)
Row 17: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)

Fasten off and cut yarn, leaving a tail for sewing the head to the body. After row 15, insert 6 mm safety eyes between rows 9 and 10 with 5-6 sc between them. Choose the eye spacing you like best. Stuff the head very firmly with fiberfill.

Option 2. Larger head

Up to row 7, crochet the same as in head option 1. Crochet in a spiral with beige yarn.

Rows 8-15: 42 sc
Row 16: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
Row 17: 3 sc, dec, (4 sc, dec) x 5, 1 sc (30)
Row 18: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
Row 19: 1 sc, (2 sc, dec) x 5, 1 sc (18)
Row 20: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)

Fasten off and cut yarn, leaving a tail for sewing the head to the body. After row 18, insert 6 mm safety eyes between rows 12 and 13 with 6-7 sc between them.

Choose the eye spacing you like best. Stuff the head very firmly with fiberfill. Make the sculpting.

How to Make Eye Sculpting?

Take the beige yarn used for the head. Insert the needle into the unclosed opening and bring it out at the lower left corner of the eye. Then insert the needle from the opposite side of the eye and bring it back to the opening. You now have two tails; leave them for now. Repeat the same with the second eye.

Now tie the thread ends (separately for each eye) with one knot and start tightening. When you like the indentations, tie several more knots. Then join the threads from both eyes and tie a knot. This secures the sculpting so it will not loosen over time.

Embroider eyelashes and nose.

Before embroidering eyelashes, make the white of the eye. With white thread, make one stitch from the center of the upper part of the eye to the center of the lower part of the eye, and pull slightly tight.

Embroider eyelashes with black thread. You can make two stitches or three stitches.

Embroider the nose in body color with small stitches. Mark the nose position with a pin first.

Crochet the wig cap with the yarn you chose for the hair.

Hair for the Doll

Option 1 (for the smaller head)

Row 1: 6 sc in MR
Row 2: 6 inc (12)
Row 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Row 4: 1 sc, inc, (2 sc, inc) x 5, 1 sc (24)
Row 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Row 6: 2 sc, inc, (4 sc, inc) x 5, 2 sc (36)
Row 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
Rows 8-11: 42 sc
Row 12: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)

Fasten off and cut yarn, leaving a tail for sewing the wig cap to the head.

Option 2 (for the larger head)

Row 1: 6 sc in MR
Row 2: 6 inc (12)
Row 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Row 4: 1 sc, inc, (2 sc, inc) x 5, 1 sc (24)
Row 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Row 6: 2 sc, inc, (4 sc, inc) x 5, 2 sc (36)
Row 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
Rows 8-13: 42 sc
Row 14: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)

Fasten off and cut yarn, leaving a tail for sewing the wig cap to the head. Sew the wig cap to the head. Pin it in place and sew with brown yarn (the same color as the wig cap).

Now crochet ponytails. Each ponytail consists of five curls. Mark ponytail positions with pins, approximately between rows 4 and 5 at the center of the head. Attach yarn (wig cap color) to the marked spot (insert the hook between rows). Chain 30, then from the 2nd chain from the hook crochet 2 sc in each chain. Crochet the last single crochet into the first chain (the start of the curl).

Now insert the hook into the neighboring stitch and crochet the next curl the same way as the first one. In this way, crochet 5 curls. Twist each crocheted strip from end to start to form a curl.

Embroider bangs. Using the same yarn and a needle, make long stitches from the center of the bangs toward the wig cap edge, going slightly beyond it. Embroider one side of the bangs first (left), then the other side (right). Join the head to the body. Insert cotton swabs between the head and neck, first wrapping yarn around three swabs. At the ends, the swabs must be trimmed to the required length.

Sew on the head.

Bows

Use white yarn. It is better to use a thinner thread than the one used for the doll. For example, Gazzal Baby Cotton. Make a magic ring:

1: 1 sc, 4 ch, 4 tr, 4 ch, sc (this forms the first half of the bow)
2: 1 sc, 4 ch, 4 tr, 4 ch, sc, sl st

Fasten off, leaving tails to wrap around the center of the bow and then sew it to a hair elastic.

Crochet 4 hanging strands in white as follows: 22 ch, from the 2nd chain from the hook crochet 2 dc in each chain.

Sew 2 strands onto each bow. Then sew on a hair elastic or a hair clip base. You can also leave only the threads and tie them around the ponytails later. That's it! The bows are ready! Attach them to the ponytails!