My dearest maker, welcome back to the worktable. Today we embrace a delightful contradiction: taking the world’s most feared assassin and rendering him in the gentle, forgiving medium of cotton yarn. It is a testament to our craft that even the sharpest edges of cinema can be softened into something lovable.
About This Creation
There is a quiet irony in stitching a character known for chaos into a doll that invites comfort. We are not just making a toy; we are capturing a mood. This project balances the iconic, sleek tactical look of our “Baba Yaga” with the Embrace of Softness—rounded shapes and chubby proportions that turn his brooding energy into soulful cuteness. It is the perfect desk companion for anyone who feels they are “thinking I’m back” at work, yet needs a soft friend to squeeze during stressful meetings.
Project Snapshot
📊 Difficulty: Intermediate (Requires color changes and detailed assembly)
⏰ Est. Time: 10–12 Hours
📏 Size: Approx. 18cm (7 inches) tall
“People keep asking if I’m cute, and I haven’t really had an answer. But now, yeah, I’m thinking I’m cute.” — Patricia’s adaptation
Materials & Tools Needed
🧶 Yarn: DK or Sport Weight Cotton. ➡️ Black (Suit, shoes, hair) ➡️ White (Shirt) ➡️ Skin Tone (Face, hands) ➡️ Beige/Brown (Puppy) ➡️ Yellow & Silver Grey (Pencil)
🪡 Hook: 2.50mm or 2.75mm (keep tension tight)
✨ Other Materials: ➡️ 9mm Safety Eyes (Black) ➡️ Black embroidery thread (Beard/facial details) ➡️ Polyester fiberfill ➡️ Tapestry needle ➡️ Stitch markers
Abbreviations & Stitches Used
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
inc: increase (2 sc in one st)
dec: decrease (invisible decrease preferred)
BLO: back loop only
FLO: front loop only
The Complete “Baba Yaga” Gentleman Pattern
Component 1: The Head (The Echo of Youth)
We begin with the seat of his emotions. The head must be oversized to achieve the ‘Baby Schema’ effect.
🧶 R1: Start with Skin Tone. Create a magic ring, 6 sc inside. (6)
🧶 R2: inc in every st around. (12)
🧶 R3: (1 sc, inc) x 6. (18)
🧶 R4: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
🧶 R5: (3 sc, inc) x 6. (30)
🧶 R6: (4 sc, inc) x 6. (36)
🧶 R7: (5 sc, inc) x 6. (42)
🧶 R8: (6 sc, inc) x 6. (48)
🧶 R9: (7 sc, inc) x 6. (54)
🧶 R10–22: sc in every st around. (54) Insert safety eyes between R16 and R17, approx 9 stitches apart. Embroider a small nose in the center one row below eyes.
🧶 R23: (7 sc, dec) x 6. (48)
🧶 R24: (6 sc, dec) x 6. (42)
🧶 R25: (5 sc, dec) x 6. (36)
🧶 R26: (4 sc, dec) x 6. (30)
🧶 R27: (3 sc, dec) x 6. (24)
🧶 R28: (2 sc, dec) x 6. (18) Stuff the head firmly, shaping it to be round and chubby.
🧶 R29: (1 sc, dec) x 6. (12)
🧶 R30: dec x 6. (6) Fasten off, weave in end.
Component 2: The Legs & Body
We build him from the ground up, transitioning from polished shoes to his tactical trousers.
Left Leg:
🧶 R1: With Black yarn, magic ring 6 sc. (6)
🧶 R2: inc in every st. (12)
🧶 R3: (1 sc, inc) x 6. (18)
🧶 R4: BLO sc around. (18) Creates the sole of the shoe.
🧶 R5–6: sc around. (18)
🧶 R7: (sc 5, dec x 4, sc 5). (14) Shapes the front of the shoe.
🧶 R8–12: sc around. (14) Fasten off Left Leg.
Right Leg:
🧶 Repeat R1–12 same as Left Leg. Do not fasten off.
Joining (The Body):
🧶 R13: ch 3, join to Left Leg with a sc. sc remaining 13 on Left Leg, sc 3 along one side of ch, sc 14 on Right Leg, sc 3 along other side of ch. (34)
🧶 R14–18: sc around. (34) The Trousers.
🧶 R19: Change to White (Shirt). BLO sc around. (34) The BLO creates a distinct rim for the belt line.
🧶 R20: (dec, sc 15) x 2. (32)
🧶 R21–25: sc around. (32)
🧶 R26: (dec, sc 14) x 2. (30)
🧶 R27: (3 sc, dec) x 6. (24)
🧶 R28: sc around. (24)
🧶 R29: (2 sc, dec) x 6. (18)
🧶 R30: sc around. (18) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing head.
Component 3: The Arms (Make 2)
🧶 R1: With Skin Tone, magic ring 6 sc. (6)
🧶 R2: (1 sc, inc) x 3. (9)
🧶 R3: sc around. (9)
🧶 R4: Change to White. BLO sc around. (9)
🧶 R5: Change to Black (Suit Jacket Sleeve). sc around. (9)
🧶 R6–11: sc around. (9)
🧶 R12: Fold flat and sc across opening to close. (4)
Component 4: The Suit Jacket (Removable)
To add depth and that premium feel, the jacket is a separate layer.
🧶 R1: With Black, ch 25.
🧶 R2: Starting 2nd ch from hook, sc across. (24)
🧶 R3: inc, sc 22, inc. (26)
🧶 R4: sc around. (26)
🧶 R5: sc 4, ch 6 (skip 4 sts), sc 10, ch 6 (skip 4 sts), sc 4. (30) Creates armholes.
🧶 R6–12: sc in every st (treating chains as stitches). (30)
🧶 R13: sc around to create a clean border. Fasten off.
Component 5: The Hair (The Keanu Flow)
Individual strands give him that brooding movement.
🧶 R1: With Black, magic ring 6 sc.
🧶 R2: inc x 6. (12)
🧶 R3: (1 sc, inc) x 6. (18)
🧶 Strands: ch 14, start 2nd ch from hook, sc 13 back down, sl st into next st on base circle. Repeat around until you have 18 strands.
Artisan’s Note: Pin the hair cap to the head. The strands should fall around the face. Sew in place.
Component 6: The Tie
🧶 R1: With Black, ch 8.
🧶 R2: sl st back down the chain. Sew onto the white chest area.
Component 7: Accessory 1 – The Beagle Puppy
The heart of the story.
🧶 R1: With Beige/White mix, magic ring 6 sc.
🧶 R2: inc x 6. (12)
🧶 R3–6: sc around. (12)
🧶 R7: dec x 6. (6) Stuff lightly and close.
🧶 Ears: ch 4, sc back down. Sew to head. Embroider tiny eyes.
Component 8: Accessory 2 – The Pencil
A pencil… a sheer pencil.
🧶 R1: With Yellow, magic ring 4 sc.
🧶 R2–6: sc around. (4)
🧶 R7: Change to Grey. sc around. (4)
🧶 R8: Change to Pink (Eraser). sc around. (4)
🧶 Fasten off. Use a black marker to color the very tip of the yellow end for the lead.
Assembly & Final Touches
➡️ The Face: Before attaching hair, use black embroidery thread to stitch a “stubble” beard. Small vertical stitches along the jawline and chin work best. Keep it light; he is rugged, not messy.
➡️ The Connection: Sew the head to the body firmly. Ensure the neck is stiff enough to support the large head (add extra stuffing in the neck).
➡️ The Suit: Slide the jacket onto the arms first, then pull up over the shoulders. It should fit snugly.
➡️ The Hands: Sew the pencil to one hand and the puppy to the other (or place puppy at his feet).
Tips & FAQs
Q: Can I brush the yarn for the beard?
A: You can, but embroidered stubble looks cleaner and maintains the “Aesthetic Compass” of high-quality definition better than fuzzy brushed yarn.
Q: How do I make him stand?
A: Ensure the feet are stuffed very firmly and flat. You can insert a small circle of plastic or cardboard into the bottom of the foot (inside) before stuffing.
A Final Word
You have done it. You have summoned the Baba Yaga, not to haunt the dark, but to bring charm to your shelf. May his stoic little face remind you that even in the midst of chaos, one can remain composed, well-dressed, and appreciative of a good dog.
