Dearest maker, there is a particular quietude that settles over the atelier when we work with the colors of the earth. Burnt orange, unbleached cotton, and forest green—these shades ground us.
Today, we are sculpting “The Carrot Patch Cousins,” Pip and Poppy. They are not merely dolls; they are little harbingers of the harvest, designed with sturdy boots for garden walking and soft, rounded faces that ask for a hug.
ABOUT THIS CREATION & THE “AGRICORE” CHARM
We are seeing a return to the rustic. In a world of high-gloss plastics, the textured, matte finish of cotton yarn offers a necessary respite. This project embraces the “Agricore” aesthetic—celebrating the simple, muddy-kneed joy of growing your own food.
Pip wears his carrot disguise with pride, a nod to the playful imagination of childhood, while Poppy dons her vintage-style overalls. The commercial appeal here is timelessness; these are toys that look as if they could have been found in a trunk from the 1950s, yet they are made fresh by your hands today.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
📊 Difficulty: Intermediate (Requires color changes and joining legs)
⏰ Est. Time: 6–8 Hours per doll
📏 Size: Approx. 18cm (7 inches) tall
“We do not rush the harvest, and we do not rush the stitch. Let your tension be even, like rows of crops in a field.” — Patricia
MATERIALS & TOOLS NEEDED
🧶 Yarn: DK or Sport Weight Cotton. (I prefer a matte cotton for that vintage look). Colors: Rust Orange, Cream/Off-White, Walnut Brown, Forest Green, Beige (Skin Tone).
🪡 Hook: 2.25mm or 2.50mm (Keep stitches tight to prevent stuffing showing).
✨ Other Materials: 8mm Safety Eyes, Polyester Fiberfill, Tapestry Needle, 4 Small Wooden Buttons (10mm), Blush or Pink Pastel for cheeks.
ABBREVIATIONS & STITCHES USED
MR: Magic Ring
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: increase (2 sc in one st)
dec: invisible decrease
sl st: slip stitch
BLO: back loop only
FLO: front loop only
THE COMPLETE CARROT PATCH COUSINS PATTERN
The Head (Make 2 – Same for Pip & Poppy)
We begin with the seat of the soul. The shaping here is crucial to achieve that “baby schema” look—wide and round.
➡️ Round 1: Start with Skin Tone yarn. 6 sc in MR. (6)
➡️ Round 2: Inc in every st. (12)
➡️ Round 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6. (18)
➡️ Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
➡️ Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6. (30)
➡️ Round 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6. (36)
➡️ Round 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6. (42)
➡️ Round 8: (6 sc, inc) x 6. (48)
➡️ Rounds 9–18: Sc in each st around. (48) [10 rounds of stillness]
➡️ Artisan’s Note: Insert safety eyes between Round 13 and 14, roughly 9 stitches apart. Their wide set is the secret to their innocence. Embroider a small nose one row below the eyes using skin color yarn, wrapping it 3 times.
➡️ Round 19: (6 sc, dec) x 6. (42)
➡️ Round 20: (5 sc, dec) x 6. (36)
➡️ Round 21: (4 sc, dec) x 6. (30)
➡️ Round 22: (3 sc, dec) x 6. (24)
➡️ Round 23: (2 sc, dec) x 6. (18)
➡️ Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly, shaping it into a perfect sphere.
The Hair Cap (Make 2)
➡️ Round 1: With Brown yarn. 6 sc in MR. (6)
➡️ Round 2: Inc in every st. (12)
➡️ Round 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6. (18)
➡️ Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
➡️ Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6. (30)
➡️ Round 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6. (36)
➡️ Round 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6. (42)
➡️ Rounds 8–11: Sc in each st around. (42)
➡️ Round 12 (Bangs/Fringe): Sc in next 10, hdc in next 2, dc in next 4, hdc in next 2, sc in remaining sts.
➡️ Fasten off. Place onto the head (the dc section is the forehead bangs) and sew in place.
The Legs (Make 2 per doll)
For Pip (The Boy): Start with Green (Boots).
For Poppy (The Girl): Start with Skin Tone or Brown (Shoes).
➡️ Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
➡️ Round 2: Inc in every st. (12)
➡️ Round 3: (3 sc, inc) x 3. (15)
➡️ Rounds 4–5: Sc in each st around. (15)
➡️ Round 6 (Heel/Ankle): (Dec) x 3, sc in next 9. (12)
➡️ Rounds 7–9: Sc in each st around. (12)
➡️ Color Change: Switch to Rust Orange (Pants color).
➡️ Rounds 10–14: Sc in each st around. (12)
➡️ Fasten off the first leg. Do NOT fasten off the second leg.
The Body (Joining & Torso)
➡️ Round 15: From the second leg, ch 3. Join to the first leg with a sc. Sc around the 12 sts of the first leg, sc across the 3 ch, sc around the 12 sts of the second leg, sc across the other side of the 3 ch. (30)
➡️ Rounds 16–19: Sc in each st around. (30) [Creating the hips]
➡️ Round 20: (3 sc, dec) x 6. (24)
➡️ Artisan’s Note: Stuff the legs firmly now.
➡️ Round 21: Sc in each st around. (24)
➡️ Color Change: For Pip: Switch to White. We will alternate White and Brown every 2 rounds for stripes. For Poppy: Switch to Cream/Off-White (Solid).
➡️ Round 22 (BLO): Sc in each st around using the new color. (24) [The front loops left behind will be used to attach the bib of the overalls later].
➡️ Rounds 23–27: Sc in each st around. (24) [Remember to stripe for Pip!]
➡️ Round 28: (2 sc, dec) x 6. (18)
➡️ Round 29: Sc in each st around. (18)
➡️ Fasten off, leaving a tail. Stuff the body.
The Arms (Make 2)
➡️ Round 1: Start with Skin Tone. 6 sc in MR. (6)
➡️ Rounds 2–3: Sc in each st around. (6)
➡️ Change to Shirt Color (White/Cream).
➡️ Rounds 4–10: Sc in each st around. (6)
➡️ Flatten the top and crochet through both sides to close. Leave a tail for sewing.
The Overalls Bib & Straps
➡️ Join Rust Orange yarn to the unworked Front Loops of Round 22 on the body (center front).
➡️ Row 1: Ch 1, sc in 8 sts across the chest. Turn.
➡️ Rows 2–3: Ch 1, sc across. (8)
➡️ Fasten off.
➡️ Straps: Ch 18 (measure against your doll to ensure it crosses the shoulder). Attach to the back of the pants (Round 22) and sew the front to the top corners of the Bib. Sew a small wooden button on each front corner.
The Hats
Pip’s Carrot Hat:
➡️ Round 1: With Orange. 4 sc in MR. (4)
➡️ Round 2: (1 sc, inc) x 2. (6)
➡️ Round 3: Sc around. (6)
➡️ Round 4: (1 sc, inc) x 3. (9)
➡️ Round 5: Sc around. (9)
➡️ Round 6: (2 sc, inc) x 3. (12)
➡️ Round 7: Sc around. (12)
➡️ Continue increasing by 3 stitches every other round until you reach 42 stitches. Fasten off. Add green yarn loops to the very top for the carrot greens.
Poppy’s Gnome Hat:
➡️ Round 1: With Orange. 6 sc in MR. (6)
➡️ Round 2: (1 sc, inc) x 3. (9)
➡️ Follow the same cone expansion as the carrot hat but work in “Lemon Peel Stitch” (alternate sc and dc) for texture if you wish, or keep it simple sc. Sew a bell to the tip.
ASSEMBLY & FINAL TOUCHES
- Head to Body: Pin the head to the neck opening. Ensure the face is centered over the bib of the overalls. Sew firmly using the “whip stitch” through the loops.
- Arms: Attach arms at Round 28 of the body, slightly forward-facing.
- Hats: You may stuff the hats lightly and sew them on, or leave them removable.
- Embroidery: For Poppy, use orange thread to embroider tiny “V” shapes on her white shirt to mimic little carrots.
- Cheeks: Apply a dusting of blush under the eyes for that cold-weather flush.
TIPS & FAQS
Q: Can I use acrylic yarn instead of cotton? A: You certainly may, though acrylic tends to fuzz over time. Cotton provides that sharp, defined stitch definition that makes amigurumi look professional and high-end.
Q: My head is wobbling. How do I fix it? A: This is a common sorrow! Ensure you stuff the neck very firmly—pack it tighter than you think necessary. You can also insert a “neck support” (a rolled tube of felt or crochet) inside the neck before sewing.
A FINAL WORD
There is immense satisfaction in watching a ball of yarn become a character with a soul. As you stitch the final strap on Poppy’s overalls or the green top on Pip’s hat, remember that you are not just crafting a toy; you are crafting a memory.
Until our hooks meet again, Patricia
