Princess Leia Blankie - Free Crochet Pattern and Tutorial (1)

I don't think little girls should grow up wanting to be princesses.  I'd much rather my daughter play with her doctor set or Duplo.  But somehow, "Pink!" and "Princess!" were two of the first words she enunciated with enthusiastic precision.  Damn Disney and their probably harmful yet gorgeously entertaining cartoons...

So for all you Mums of Princess-wannabes, here's a free pattern to feed your daughters' addictions. At least this way they'll appreciate crafting a bit - hopefully.

May these princess obsessions be short and relatively harmless on our girls' development...

Princess Leia Blankie Pattern: (Please read addendum)

It is relatively easy to adapt this pattern to make the princess you’re after.  For the Star Wars fans out there, I’ve included the pattern for a Princess Leia Blankie in full.  Leia can be adapted to become Cinderella and Snow White pretty easily.  Tips on how in subsequent blog post (here).

Materials: 

You can use any type of yarn you like - it isn't too important so long as the different colours you use are of approximately the same weight. I used a light weight yarn and a 3mm hook for a mini princess that measures about 20cm tall.  I find it easier to think about weight and size according to hook size. If you'd like to make a bigger princess, choose a yarn with a bigger suggested hook size.  E.g. using yarn that requires a 5mm hook will make a bigger, more huggable princess suitable as a security blankie for a baby.

Here's what I worked with:

• approx. 30g of white yarn (gauge 22sts x 28rows);
• small amounts of beige, dark brown, grey and black yarn for eyes (if using); 
• crochet hook 3mm;
• tapestry needle;
• polyester filling; and
• scrap-booking brads (if making for older toddlers).

Abbreviations: 

ch                    chain stitch

sl st                  slip stitch

sc                     single crochet

sc inc               single crochet increase, work 2 single crochets into the same stitch

sc dec              single crochet decrease, crochet 2 stitches together

dc                    double crochet (yarn over hook once before inserting hook, then pull yarn through 2 loops at a time, twice)

dc inc              double crochet increase, work 2 double crochet stitches into the same stitch

dc dec             double crochet decrease, double crochet 2 stitches together

tc                     treble crochet (yarn over hook twice before inserting hook, then pull yarn through 2 loops at a time, 3 times) 

tc inc               treble crochet increase, work 2 treble crochet stitches into the same stitch

st                     stitche(s)

( )                     numbers in brackets denote total stitches for that row

*                         when a stitch pattern is repeated several times, it is enclosed by asterisks.
               E.g. *2sc, sc dec* x2 - means single crochet twice, decrease, single crochet
               twice, decrease.

***** Not that this pattern is worked in joined rounds, so each row begins with a 1ch/a line of ch sts, then ends with a sl st into the appropriate starting st. ***** This is written into R1 of every section to remind you to do so.  Please continue for the rest of the pattern.

Dress [in white]: 

The dress is basically one big doily, the centre of which will be pinched up, and the head sewn on. 

R1: magic ring, 1ch, 8sc into loop, tighten ring, join round with sl st. (8)

R2: 3ch, 6tc inc, tc, sl st into 3^rd ch of line of ch sts from start (14, counting line of 3ch at start as 1st)

R3: 6ch, *2tc inc, 3ch* x6, tc inc, 1tc into the base of the line of 6ch at the start of this row (see pic), sl st into 3^rd ch of that same line of ch sts (see pic). (49)

insert hook into the base of the line of chain stitches

sl st into 3rd chain - turns the starting chain into a treble crochet stitch

R4: 3ch, tc into the hole created by the 3chs from previous row (see pic), 3ch, *2tc into hole, tc into next st, skip 2 sts from previous row, tc into next st, 2tc into hole, 3ch* x6, 2tc into hole, tc into next st, tc into base of the line of 3ch at the start of this row, sl st into 3^rd ch of that same line of ch sts (57)

insert hook into the 'hole' created by the set of 3ch stitches from previous row.

R5: 3ch, tc into next st, *2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, tc into next 2 sts, skip 2 sts from previous row, tc into next 2 sts* x6, 2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, tc into next 2 sts, sl st into 3^rd ch of line of ch sts from start. (77)

R6: sl st, 3ch, 2tc, *2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 3tc, skip 2 sts from previous row, 3tc* x6, 2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 3tc, sl st into 3^rd ch of line of ch sts at start. (91)

R7: sl st, 3ch,  3tc, *2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 4tc, skip 2 sts from previous row, 4tc* x6, 2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 4tc, sl st into 3^rd ch of line of ch sts at start. (105)

R8: sl st, 3ch, 4tc, *2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 5tc, skip 2 sts from previous row, 5tc* x6, 2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 5tc, sl st into 3^rd ch of line of ch sts at start. (119)

R9: sl st, 3ch, 5tc, *2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 6tc, skip 2 sts from previous row, 6tc* x6, 2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 6tc, sl st into 3^rd ch of line of ch sts at start. (133)

R10: sl st, 3ch, 6tc, *2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 7tc, skip 2 sts from previous row, 7tc* x6, 2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 7tc, sl st into 3^rd ch of line of ch sts at start. (147)

R11: sl st, 3ch, 7tc, *2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 8tc, skip 2 sts from previous row, 8tc* x6, 2tc into hole, 3ch, 2tc into hole, 8tc, sl st into 3^rd ch of line of ch sts at start. (161)

R12: [edge] 1ch, *21sc, sc dec* x6, 22sc. (155) End row and weave in yarn tails at start and finish.

Head [in beige]:

R1: magic ring, 1ch, 6sc into loop, tighten ring, join round with sl st. (6)

R2: 6sc inc (12)

R3: *sc, sc inc* x6 (18)

R4: *2sc, sc inc* x6 (24)

R5: *3sc, sc inc* x6 (30)

R6: *4sc, sc inc* x6 (36)

R7 – R10: 36sc (36)

R11: *4sc, sc dec* x6 (30)

R12: *3sc, sc dec* x6 (24)

R13: *2sc, sc dec* x6 (18)

R14: *sc, sc dec* x6 (12) [now fill the head with polyester filling]

R15: 6sc dec (6). End row and leave a yarn tail at least 10cm long.

Hair [in dark brown]:

The hair piece fits on top of head like a cap.  It is first worked in joined rounds to make a circle, then the fringe is worked before the back of the head is continued.

R1: magic ring, 1ch, 6sc into loop, tighten ring, join round with sl st. (6)

R2: 6sc inc (12)

R3: *sc, sc inc* x6 (18)

R4: *2sc, sc inc* x6 (24)

R5: *3sc, sc inc* x6 (30)

R6: *4sc, sc inc* x6 (36)

R7: *5sc, sc inc* x6 (42)

R8: [work fringe], 3ch, skip 1 st from previous row, 6dc, 3ch, skip 1 st from previous row, sl st, 3ch, skip 1st from previous row, 6dc, 3ch, skip 1 st from previous row, sl st. (16, counting the lines of ch sts as 1) [end of fringe]

R9: [work back of head] 2ch, 23dc, turn. (24, counting 2ch as 1st)

R10: [working on reverse side of hair piece], 2ch, 21dc, turn. (22)

R11: [now on front side], 2ch, 19dc, turn. (20)

R12: [now on reverse side again], 2ch, 17dc. (18) End row and leave a yarn tail at least 20cm long.

Princess Leia’s Buns ;) [in dark brown] make 2:

R1: 6ch, join ends with sl st to make a loop, 1ch (6)

R2: [from now on, work on single loops on outside edge only] *sc inc, sc* x3 (9)

R3: *sc, sc inc* x4, sc (13)

R4: 13sc. (13) End row and leave a yarn tail of at least 8cm.

Arms [in beige and whie] – make 2:

R1: magic ring, 1ch, 5sc into loop, tighten ring, join round with sl st. (5)

R2: 5sc inc (10)

R3 – R5: 10sc (10)

R6: [change to white] 10sc (10)

R7 – R10: 10sc (10)

R11: sc dec, 8sc (9)

R12 – R18: 9sc (9). End row and leave yarn tail at least 8cm long.

Belt [in grey]:

Work a long line of ch sts until the belt measures approx. 35cm, weave in yarn tails.

Making up:

1. Fit hair piece onto head, the back hair should reach down to about the 4^th row from bottom of head, and the fringe should reach down to about row 7 of head. (see pic) Sew hair on head using yarn tail.

   

   You can place the hair however you like.  I found it cutest with fringe on row 7.

2. Sew buns onto sides of head and hair.  It should sit above the place where the fringe and back hair meet. (see pic)

   

   Bun placement - use it to cover up the gap between fringe and back hair!

3. Sew head onto dress using yarn tail.  Align the last row of the head with the first row of the dress. 
4. Sew arms onto dress where it meets the head using yarn tail.
5. Thread belt through the holes at back of dress around R5, then tie it to the front of dress with a bow.

   

   Thread the belt through the 'holes' round the back for security, then tie it without looping at the front, that way looks prettier! 

6. WARNING!!!! If you’re giving the blankie to a child under 3 years old, DO NOT use beads/brads/buttons for eyes – they are choking hazards!  Sew Princess’s features on with thread and yarn, or draw them on with fabric pens.  I’m giving Leia to a 4 year old so I’ve used black scrap-booking brads, with pupils painted on with white nail varnish and smaller pink brads as rosy cheeks. I glued them on with E6000 glue (the best glue in the world btw). I’ve also sewn little flicks just above the eyes for eye lashes.
   

And voila you’re done!!!  The pattern is easily adaptable, simply by changing the colour of the dress and hairstyle you can make different princess.  Check back for pattern for Cinderella and Snow White in subsequent post here.