How to Crochet a Nigerian Amigurumi Doll

Stitches used: SC, Hdc, Dc, Ch. You should also be comfortable with colour changes.

This Pattern is written in US crochet terms. Please stuff the legs, body and head firmly as you go along.

The legs, body and head are Crocheted together, changing colours as you go along.

The arms are crocheted separately then attached to the torso.

For this year’s theme, ‘Time for Change’, I’ve chosen to focus on a topic that hits close to home: name-based discrimination. 

In the UK, research by NatCen shows that due to difficult to pronounce or non-westernised names “people from ethnic minorities were less likely to be successful with their applications, discounting differences such as age and education”. British citizens from ethnic minority backgrounds must send on average 74% more job applications to get a positive response from employers compared to their white counterparts. 

According to the Centre for Social Investigation, compared to White British applicants, people of: 

• Pakistani heritage had to make 70% more applications 

• Nigerian and South Asian heritage 80% more applications 

• Middle Eastern and North African heritage 90% more applications 

To even the playing field, people from ethnic minorities are changing or westernising their names to get a job. Upon entering the workplace, we see that most colleagues when coming across a non-western name opt to shorten it rather than learning to properly pronounce it.  

My challenge for you all today is this: think of a colleague or friend with a non-western name and ask yourself, do you know their full name or the meaning behind it? And if you call them by a pseudonym, is this something they chose or one thrust upon them by a society unwilling to fully embrace their full name? 

Make 2, starting with black yarn.

Crocheted in a continuous round with 2.5mm hook.

Round 0: CH 7, from the second chain from the hook (7sts)

Round 1: SC 5, SC 3 in the last chain. On the other side of the chain SC 4, Inc (14sts)

Round 2: Inc, SC 4, Inc x 3, SC 4, Inc x 2 (20sts)

Round 3: Inc x 2, SC 4, Inc x 6, SC 4, Inc x 4 (32sts)

Round 4: SC 32 around (32sts)

Round 5: SC 4, Dec x 12, SC 4 (20sts)

Round 6: SC 5, Dec x 5, SC 5 (15sts)

Change to chocolate yarn.

Round 7: BLO. SC 5, Dec x 3, SC 4 (12sts)

Round 8: SC 12 around (12sts)

Change to emerald yarn.

Round 9: BLO. (SC 3, Inc) x 3 (15sts)

Round 10-23: SC 15 around (14 rounds) (15sts)

Round 24: (SC 4, Inc) x 3 (18sts)

Round 25-32: SC 18 around (8 rounds). Mark St 17 of round 32 (18sts)

Note: if necessary, crochet 3 extra St so that the end of the row is in the middles of the side of the leg (see picture).

Stuff firmly and f/o.

Repeat Round 0 - 32 for the 2nd Leg, do not fasten off, SC 8 then with the 2nd leg still attached to the hook CH 2, mark this as the start of the next round then join leg 2 to leg 1 at St 17 with a SC. Without cutting the yarn, continue to crochet the body.

Continue crocheting in emerald yarn.

Crocheted in a continuous round with 2.5 mm hook.

Round 33: SC 17 around the 1st leg, SC 2 on one side of the chain, SC 18 around the 2nd leg and SC 2 on the other side of the chain (40sts)

Round 34-39: SC 40 around (6 rounds) (40sts)

Round 40: SC 18, Dec x 2, SC 18 (38sts)

Round 41: SC 38 around (38sts)

Round 42: SC 8, Dec, SC 17, Dec, SC 9 (36sts)

Change to chocolate yarn.

Round 43: BLO SC 36 around (36sts)

Round 44: (SC 4, Dec) x 6 (30sts)

Round 45-57: SC 30 around (13 rounds) (30sts)

Round 58: Dec x 15 (15sts)

Round 59: SC 15 around (15sts)

Round 60: (SC 3, Dec) x 3 (12sts)

Round 61-63: SC 12 around (3 rounds) (12sts)

Without cutting the yarn, continue to crochet the head. Ensure the neck is stuffed firmly.

Continue crocheting in chocolate yarn.

Crocheted in a continuous round with 2.5 mm hook.

Round 64: Inc x 12 (24sts)

Round 65: (SC 3, Inc) x 6 (30sts)

Round 66: (SC 4, Inc) x 6 (36sts)

Round 67: (SC 5, Inc) x 6 (42sts)

Round 68-78: SC 42 around. (11 rounds) (42sts). Install eyes between Round 75 and 76 (8 St apart).

Round 79: (SC 5, Dec) x 6 (36sts)

Round 80: (SC 4, Dec) x 6 (30sts)

Round 81: (SC 3, Dec) x 6 (24sts)

Round 82: (SC 2, Dec) x 6 (18sts)

Round 83: (SC, Dec) x 6 (12sts)

Round 84: Dec x 6 (6sts)

f/o leaving a long tail. Using the front loops of Round 84, close the hole on the top of the head shut and weave in yarn end.

Make 2, using chocolate yarn.

Crocheted in a continuous round with 2.5 mm hook.

Round 0: CH 4, from the second chain from the hook (4sts)

Round 1: SC 2, SC 3 in the last chain. On the other side of the chain SC, Inc (8sts)

Round 2: (SC 3, Inc) x 2 (10sts)

Round 3-5: SC 10 around. (3 rounds) (10sts)

Round 6: (Dec, SC 3) x 2 (8sts)

Round 7: SC 8 around (8sts)

Round 8: (SC 3, Inc) x 2 (10sts)

Round 9-26: SC 10 around. (18 rounds) (10sts). Note: if necessary, crochet 2 extra St so that the end of the row is on the side of the arm The next round will be crochet in rows.

Round 27: CH 1, Turn SC 5 (5sts)

Stuff lightly, f/o leaving a long tail.

Attaching the arms to the body: Sew the arms to the body with the top of the arm between Round 57 and 58 and the bottom between Rounds 55 and 56.

Nose: Use chocolate yarn

Between round 72-73 of the head, make a couple of horizontal stitches 2 stitches wide. Now on those stitches wrap the yarn around until all the stitches are covered.

Eyes: Use black and white embroidery thread

Using the picture as a guide use the white embroidery thread to make the whites of the eyes. With the black embroidery thread sew in the eyebrows.

Make 2, using chocolate yarn.

Crocheted in a continuous round with 2.5 mm hook.

Round 1: MR SC, Dc 2, SC. (4sts)

The stitches should form a semi-circle in the magic ring. f/o leaving a long tail for sewing.

Attaching the ears to the head: Sew the ears to the head with the top of the ears at Round 76 and the base of the ears between Rounds 72 and 73.

Using black yarn.

Crocheted in rows with 2.5 mm hook.

Ch 1 at the end of each row of, these are turning chains and not counted in the total number of stitches.

Row 1: CH 26 (26sts)

Row 2: SC 25. f/o yarn (25sts)

Row 3: from the 3rd St of row 2, SC 21 leaving the last 2 St in the row empty (21sts)

Row 4: Dec, SC 17, Dec (19sts)

Row 5: Dec, SC 15, Dec. f/o yarn leaving a long tail for sewing (17sts)

For the Moustache: On the base chain of row 1, mark the 10th Stitch from each end. From the first stitch marker, CH10 and attach chain to the point of the second stitch marker.

Using brown yarn.

Using the picture as a guide, use the brown yarn to stitch in the lips between rounds 69 and 70, two stitches wide.

Attaching the beard to the head: Pin the beard in place as shown in pictures and sew onto the face.

Using emerald yarn.

Crocheted in continuous rounds with 2.5 mm hook.

Round 1: MR SC 8 (8sts)

Round 2: Inc x 8 (16sts)

Round 3: (SC, Inc) x 8 (24sts)

Round 4: (SC 3, Inc) x 6 (30sts)

Round 5: (SC 4, Inc) x 6 (36sts)

Round 6: (SC 5, Inc) x 6 (42sts)

Round 7: BLO, SC 42 around (42sts)

Change to black yarn.

Round 8: SC 42 around (42sts)

Change to emerald yarn.

Round 9-10: SC 42 around. (2 rounds) (42sts)

Change to black yarn.

Round 11: SC 42 around (42sts)

Change to emerald yarn.

Round 12: SC 42 around (42sts)

f/o and weave in ends.

The Kaftan is constructed in four parts: the front panel, back panel, arms, neck detail and sleeves.

Crocheted in Rows with a 3 mm hook. Ch 1 at the end of each row, these are turning chains and not counted in the total number of stitches.

Using emerald yarn.

The Front panel:

Row 1: CH 23 (23sts)

Row 2: from the second chain from the hook, SC 22 (22sts)

Row 3 -13: SC 22 across. (11 rows) (22sts)

Row 14: SC 5, Dec, SC 8, Dec, SC 5 (20sts)

Row 15-19: SC 20 across. (5 rows) (20sts)

For this row, we switch between emerald and black yarn.

Row 20: SC 8 in emerald, SC 4 in black, SC 8 in emerald. Mark St 13. (See purple stitch marker) (20sts)

Continuing in emerald yarn.

Without cutting your yarn, we will now crochet the RHS of the front panel RHS of front panel:

Row 21: SC 8. The remaining 4 St in black and 8 St in Emerald in row 20 should remain empty (8sts)

Row 22-23: SC 8 across. (2 rows) (8sts)

Row 24: SC 2, Dec x 2, SC 2 (6sts)

Row 25-26: SC 6 across. (2 rows) (6sts)

Row 27: SC 3. The remaining 3 St in row 26 should remain empty (3sts)

Row 28-30: SC 3 across. (3 rows) (3sts) Mark the last stitch of row 30 (pink stitch marker) f/o and weave in ends

LHS of the front panel:

Starting from St 13 on row 20, repeat Row 21-26, mark the first stitch of row 26. f/o and weave in ends. From the first stitch of row 26, repeat Row 27 – 30. Mark the last stitch of RHS row 30 (green stitch marker)

Row 31: SC 3, CH 14, SC 3 this row will join the RHS and LHS sections of the front panel and form the starting point of the back panel (20sts)

The Back panel:

Row 32: SC 3, SC 14 over the chain, SC 3 (20sts)

Row 33-45: SC 20 across. (13 rows). Mark the first and last stitches on row 38. (Blue stitch markers) (20sts)

Row 46: SC 5, Inc, SC 8, Inc, SC 5 (22sts)

Row 47-57: SC 22 across. (11 rows) (22sts)

Now without cutting the yarn, we will crochet a border around the front and back panels. Removing the stitch markers as you go along.

SC 18 between points A and B.

SC 19 between points B and D. Mark the 1st stitch of this section.

SC 18 between points D and E, at corner E, CH 2, mark the 1st stitch of this section

SC 22 between points E and F, at corner F, CH 2,

SC 18 between points F and G. Mark the 18th stitch of this section.

SC 19 between points G and I. Mark the 18th stitch of this section.

SC 18 between points I and J, at corner J, CH 2 Slst to the first Stitch of Row 59, mark the 1st

f/o and weave in ends. Mark the first and last stitch of Row 59.

You should now have only 6 points marked with the stitch markers. 

The blue and green stitch marker points will form the space for the sleeves (139sts)

Neck detail, using black yarn.

Crocheted in continuous rounds with 3 mm hook.

Turn your work so its positioned as shown.

There should be 14 stitches between points 1 and 2. Mark the 8th stitch from point 1 (see orange stitch marker).

Round 1:

Hdc 7 between the orange stitch marker and point 2

Hdc 5 between point 2 and 3

Hdc 3 between point 3 and 4

Hdc 6 between point 4 and 5

SC 3 between point 5 and 6

Hdc 6 between point 6 and 7

Hdc 3 between point 7 and 8

Hdc 5 between point 8 and 1

Hdc 7 between point 1 and the orange stitch marker (45sts)

Round 2 (optional): repeat round 1. f/o and weave in ends (45sts)

Assembling the Kaftan: Fold your work so it is positioned as shown, lining up the blue and green stitch markers on the front and back panels.

With emerald yarn, stitch the sides together from the blue and green stitch marker to 11 stitches down (marked by the orange stitch marker). You have now stitched the sides, leaving open the armholes. Repeat on other side.

Sleeves, using emerald yarn.

Crocheted in continuous rounds with 3 mm hook.

From the stitch above the green stitch marker. 

Round 1: SC 18 (18sts)

Round 2-16: SC 18 around. (15 rows) (18sts)

Round 17: Slst 18 around (18sts)

f/o and weave in yarn ends.

Repeat on other side for second arm.