Three Matryoshka Friends
The idea of recycling came to me some time after I started crocheting cozies for these tiny little glass yoghurt jars. Little by little, I transformed these jars which I earlier bought from Carrefour into lovely Matryoshka dolls, and not only that, they can also be used to store small things like buttons and needles. Better yet, they can be filled with lavender (or your favourite scent!), kept in a room and they will diffuse the nice smell through the crocheted Matryoshka head.
In this project I am happy to be mixing crochet, felting, and sewing by hand.
The three matryoshka friends are easy to make if you follow the guide, but if you are feeling lazy and would like to order a ready made set, please visit my shop at jaidasjoyfulcrafts.littlemajlis.com
(custom orders apply)
Difficulty level: Beginner
You will need:
-100% wool yarn suitable for crocheting amigurumi, I bought mine from Daiso, Japan - check out the photo below.
-Yarn thickness is suitable to work on with a 4.0mm (US G/6, UK 8) crochet hook
-Small glass jars (height 3 inches x diameter 2 inches)
-Tapestry needle
-Scissors
-Felt scraps, various colours to make the face, hair, cheeks, and tummy base.
-Fabric scraps
-Small black beads for the eyes
-Sewing needle
-Threads of colours matching with felt and yarn
- Bondaweb
-Pins
-Fiber filling (for batting)
Finished size:
Doll (jar+head) approx 5.5inches
Jar cozy separate approx 3 inches high and 2 inches wide
Abbreviations (US):
st(s) stitch(es) ch chain ss slip stitch
sc single crochet
hdc half double crochet dc double crochet Magic ring
Special stitches:
Two Double Crochet Decrease, double crochet two together (dc2tog): To decrease in 2 double crochet stitches, work the first double crochet until only 2 loops are on the hook. Yarn over, place hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull yarn through all 3 loops for a completed decrease.
Three Double Crochet Decrease, double crochet three together (dc3tog): To decrease in 3 double crochet stitches, work the first double crochet until only 2 loops are on the hook. Yarn over, place hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, place hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull yarn through all 4 loops for a completed decrease.
Glass jar cozy:
In this pattern, you can control the width and height of your cozy by controlling the number of rounds to crochet, so it basically fits any jar size. I will explain more thoroughly in pattern.
Round1: magic ring, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 9 dc. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st, *2 dc in the next st, repeat from * around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3. Fasten off yarn.
Round 3: Join in new colour. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same st, 1 dc in next st, *2 dc in same st, 1 dc in next st, repeat from * around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
(to increase the width\diameter of your cozy, repeat this round till you get the desired size)
Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), *1 dc in the next st, repeat from * around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Repeat round number 4 for rounds 5,6,7, and 8. If you want to control the height of your cozy, you can alter the number of repetitions for this round till you get the desired height.
Round 9: Round decrease: Ch3, dc in the next st, *dc2tog in the next st, repeat from * around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Round 10 (edge): Ch 3, make hdc in 2nd ch, ss in the next st. Ch 3, make hdc in 2nd ch, ss in the next st, around. Join round by making a ss in ch 1 of the first ch3.
Now using a tapestry needle, pass a long thread of yarn through the opening of your cozy edge. then tie it to make the dolls bow.
Matryoshka head (cap):
Round 1: Magic ring, Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 7 dc. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in the same st, *2 dc in every st around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Round 3: same as round 2.
Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in every st around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Repeat Round 4 for rounds 5 and 6
Round 7: ch 3, 1 dc in the next st, then dc2tog in the next 2 sts. repeat with a dc2tog around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Round 8: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), *2dc in the next st, 1 dc in the next st, repeat from * around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Round9: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in the next st, 1 dc in every st around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
Round 10: Ch 3, make dc2tog in the next 2 sts, then make dc3tog in thenext 3 sts. Repeat with a dc3tog around. Join round by making a ss to top of ch 3.
It is now time for batting the head with finer filling. Make sure to stuff it well as this will be the cover of your jar.
Round 11: Ch 1, sc in next st, then sc every st, close round by making a ss to ch 1.
Now for the face and tummy, you need scraps of fabric and felt.
Face:
On a piece of cardboard paper, draw a circle to fit the upper rounded part of the matryoshka head. Then pin it to felt and using scissors, cut around.
In the same way, cut the matryoshka's hair. For cheeks, I cut small circles of pink felt using a paper punch, then glued them on the face.
Using thread on a matching colour, sew by hand the hair to the face.
Sew 2 black beads (eyes).
Then using a red thread, sew the mouth.
Attache the face to the head using your stitch of choice, for example using a blank stitch.
Tummy:
On another price of cardboard paper, draw and cut the tummy to fit to your cozy. Pin it to felt and cut using scissors. Then using instructions on your bondaweb, attach the felt to the piece of fabric.
Sew by hand the tummy to the cozy using your stitch of choice, for example a blanket stitch.
Happy crafting! :)
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