Crochet Nesting Dolls Matryoshka Pattern (4 Sizes)

I fell in love with these crochet nesting dolls the moment I spotted them in Crochet At Home: 25 Clever Projects for Colorful Living — and I’m so happy to share this crochet matryoshka pattern with you here, with permission from Interweave Press.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make Russian nesting dolls with just a hook and some worsted weight yarn, this is the pattern to bookmark. You’ll crochet four sizes of nesting dolls — large, medium, small, and baby — each one worked in a simple spiral of single crochet, with embroidered floral details and sweet stitched faces that give every doll its own personality. Stacked together, these crochet Russian nesting dolls add some color to your decor, make a thoughtful gift, or just a fun stash-busting project for using up worsted weight scraps in ten different colors.

Ready to get started? Jump straight to supply list or the size you want to start with:

• Materials List
• Pattern Notes
• Large Crochet Matryoshka Doll
• Medium Crochet Matryoshka Doll
• Small Crochet Matryoshka Doll
• Baby Crochet Matryoshka Doll

Crochet Nesting Dolls Matryoshka Pattern

Before you jump into the patterns, make sure you have everything you need to get started making your own set of crochet Russian nesting dolls.

What you’ll need

• Worsted weight (#4 Medium). Shown here: Lion Brand Yarn Vanna’s Choice (170 yd [156 m]/3.5 oz [100 g]), in #109 Colonial Blue (A), #110 Navy (B), #123 Beige (C), #126 Chocolate (D), #134 Terracotta (E), #144 Magenta (F), #147 Purple (G), #171 Fern (H), #158 Mustard (I), #180 Cranberry (J), 1 skein each.
• US E-4 / 3.5 mm crochet hook
• Notions: Stitch marker; tapestry needle; black round acrylic beads (for eyes), one hole, sizes 2mm (small) and 4mm (large), 2 beads each size; 3mm (medium), 4 beads; pink felt, 9″ × 12″ (23 × 30.5 cm), 1 sheet; small amount of fiberfill; sewing thread, in colors black (for eyes), red (for mouths), and pink (for cheeks); sewing needle.

Want to find inspiration from other readers? Check out all their crochet matryoshka dolls on Ravelry.

Pattern Notes

Gauge

10 sc and 10 rows = 2″ (5 cm) in sc stitch. Take time to check your gauge.

If you need a reference for the stitch abbreviations, see Reference Crochet Abbreviations here.

Stitch Guide:

Sc2tog (single crochet two together)

Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Notes:

✤✤ Each pattern is worked in a spiral. Place stitch marker on the last stitch of each round to mark the end of the round. Move marker up each round.

✤✤When starting each pattern, use your preferred method for making the ring, leaving a 6″ (15 cm) tail: (a) adjustable ring (single or double), or (b) chain 2, then start Rnd 1 in 2nd chain from hook.

Large Crochet Matryoshka Doll

Finished doll measurements: bottom = 1¾” (4.5 cm) tall; top = 3¾” (9.5 cm) tall.

Gauge = 10 sc and 10 rows = 2″ (5 cm) in sc stitch.

Bottom

With color B, make a ring. (For a tutorial on making a magic ring, click here.)

Rnd 1: Sc 6 times into ring—6 sc, pm in last stitch of rnd, do not turn.

Cont to move marker up each rnd.

Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each of 6 sc—12 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 3: *2 Sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around—18 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 4: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around—24 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 5: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts; rep from * around—30 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 6: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts; repeat around—36 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 7: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 8: * 2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts; rep from * around—42 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 9: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 10: * 2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 6 sts; rep from * around—48 sc, do not turn.

Rnds 11–13: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 14: *Sc2tog, sc in next each of next 6 sts; rep from * around—42 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 15: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around—42 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 16: Sc in each st around, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 6″ (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.

Top

With color J, make a ring.

Rnds 1–4: Rep Rnds 1–4 of bottom—24 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 5: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnds 6 and 7: Rep Rnds 5 and 6 of bottom—36 sc, do not turn.

Rnds 8–15: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 16: Rep Rnd 8 of bottom—42 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 17: Rep Rnd 10 of bottom—48 sc, do not turn.

Rnds 18–20: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 22: Sc in each st around, do not turn, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 6″ (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.

Face

With color C, make a ring.

Rnds 1–5: Rep Rnds 1–5 of bottom, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 16″ (40.5 cm) tail. Yarn tail will be used to sew face piece to top.

Hair

Ch 11.

Row 1: 2 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each of the next 2 ch, [sc2tog] twice, hdc in each of the next 2 ch, 2 sc in last chain—10 sts, ch 1, turn.

Row 2: 2 Sc in first st, sc in next st, hdc in each of the next 2 sts, sc2tog, hdc in each of the next 2 sts, sc in next st, 2 sc in last

st—11 sts, turn. Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 16″ (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew hair to face.

Finishing

Arrange hair piece placing foundation edge on face edge, and sew in place with yarn tail.

With black thread and 2 large black beads, sew to face for eyes. Sew a smile with red thread. Cut two ½” (1.3 cm) circles (see diagram) of pink felt for cheeks. Sew to face with pink thread.

Arrange embellished face with hair edge along Rnd 5 of top and sew in place. Embroider flowers below face and along edge following diagram for Large Doll; use daisy stitch for flowers, French knot for centers, and straight stitch for stems.

Medium Crochet Matryoshka Doll

Finished doll measurements: bottom = 1½” (3.8 cm) tall; top = 2¼” (5.5 cm) tall.

Gauge = 10 sc and 10 rows = 2″ (5 cm) in sc stitch.

Bottom

With color I, make a ring.

Rnd 1: Sc 6 times into ring—6 sc, pm in last stitch of rnd, do not turn. Cont to move marker up each rnd.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each of 6 sc—12 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 3: *2 Sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around—18 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 4: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around—24 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 5: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 6: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts; rep from * around—30 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 7: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 8: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts; repeat around—36 sc, do not turn.

Rnds 9–11: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 12: *Sc2tog, sc in each of next 4 sts; rep from * around—30 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 13: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 14: Sc in each st around, sl st in next stitch, fasten off, leaving 6″ (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.

Top

With color H, make a ring.

Rnds 1–3: Rep Rnds 1–3 of bottom.

Rnd 4: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 5: Rep Rnd 4 of bottom.

Rnd 6: Rep Rnd 6 of bottom.

Rnds 7–12: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 13: Rep Rnd 8 of bottom.

Rnds 14 and 15: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 16: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 17: Sc in each st around, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 6″ (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.

Face

With color C, make a ring.

Rnds 1–4: Rep Rnds 1–4 of bottom, sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving a 16″ (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew face piece to top.

Hair

With color D, ch 9.

Row 1: 2 Sc 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in each of next 2 ch, sc2tog, hdc in each of next 2 ch, 2 sc in last ch—9 sts, ch 1, turn.

Row 2: 2 Sc in first st, sc in next st, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sl st in next st, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st—11 sts,
turn. Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 16″ (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew hair to face piece.

Finishing

Arrange hair piece placing foundation edge on face edge, and sew in place with yarn tail.

With black thread and 2 medium black beads, sew to face for eyes. Sew a smile with red thread. Cut two 3/8″ (1 cm) circles (see diagram) of pink felt for cheeks. Sew to face with pink thread.

With color A, sew straight stitches to embroider around face edge, and make a little bow in the center under the face.

Arrange embellished face with hair edge along Rnd 4 of top and sew in place. Embroider flowers below face and along edge following diagram for Medium Doll using daisy stitch for flowers and French knot for centers.

Small Crochet Matryoshka Doll

Finished doll measurements: bottom = 1¼” (3.2 cm) tall; top = 1¾” (4.5 cm) tall.

Gauge = 10 sc and 10 rows = 2″ (5 cm) in sc stitch.

Bottom

With color G, make a ring.

Rnd 1: Sc 6 times into ring—6 sc, pm in last stitch of rnd, do not turn. Cont to move marker up each rnd.

Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each of 6 sc—12 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 3: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 4: *2 Sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around—18 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 5: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 6: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around—24 sc, do not turn.

Rnds 7 and 8: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 9: *Sc2tog, sc in each of next 2 sc; rep from * around—18 sts, do not turn.

Rnd 10: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn. Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 6″ (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.

Top

With color E, make a ring.

Rnds 1–4: Rep Rnds 1–4 of bottom.

Rnds 5–9: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 10: *2 Sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts; rep from * around—24 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 11: Working in back loops only, sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 12: Sc in each st around, do not turn. Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 6″ (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.

Face

With color C, make a ring.

Rnds 1 and 2: Rep Rnds 1 and 2 of bottom.

Rnd 3: *2 Sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around—18 sts, do not turn. Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 16″ (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew face to top.

Hair

With color D, ch 9.

Row 1: 2 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each of next 2 ch, sc2tog, hdc in each of next 2 ch, 2 sc in last ch—9 sts, turn. Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 16″ (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew hair to face.

Finishing

Arrange hair piece placing foundation edge on face edge, and sew in place with yarn tail.

With black thread and 2 medium black beads, sew to face for eyes. Sew a smile with red thread. Cut two ¼” (6 mm) circles (see diagram) of pink felt for cheeks. Sew to face with pink thread. Arrange embellished face with hair edge along Rnd 3 of top and sew in place. Split yarn to embroider flowers below face and along edge by following diagram for Small Doll using daisy stitch for flowers and French knot for centers.

Baby Crochet Matryoshka Doll

Finished doll measures approx. 13⁄8″ (3.5 cm) tall.

Gauge = 10 sc and 10 rows = 2″ (5 cm) in sc stitch.

Body

With color A, make a ring.

Rnd 1: Sc 5 times into ring—5 sc, pm in last stitch of rnd, do not turn. Cont to move marker up each rnd.

Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each of 5 sc—10 sc, do not turn.

Rnds 3 and 4: Sc in each st around, do not turn.

Rnd 5: *2 Sc in next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * around—15 sc, do not turn.

Rnds 6 and 7: Sc in each st around, fasten off yarn, do not turn. Change to color F.

Rnd 8: Sc in each st around, do not turn. Stuff with fiberfill as you work.

Rnd 9: *Sc2tog, sc in next st; rep from * around—10 sc, do not turn.

Rnd 10: *Sc2tog; rep from * around—5 sc. Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 6″ (15 cm) tail. Weave in yarn tail.

Face

With color C, make a ring.

Rnd 1: Sc 6 times into ring—6 sc.

Sl st in next st, fasten off, leaving 16″ (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew face to top.

Hair

With color D, ch 4, fasten off, leaving 16″ (40.5 cm) tail, which will be used to sew hair to face.

Finishing

Arrange hair piece placing along top edge of face and sew in place with yarn tail.

With black thread and 2 small black beads, sew to face for eyes. Sew a smile with red thread. Cut two 1/8″ (3 mm) circles (see diagram) of pink felt for cheeks. Sew to face with pink thread. Arrange embellished face with hair edge along Rnd 10 of top and sew in place. Split yarn to embroider flowers below face, from bottom edge up along side by following diagram for Small Doll using daisy stitch for flowers, French knot for centers, and straight stitch for stems.

Stitchy Nesting Dolls were designed by Amy Gaines and appear in Bara, B. (2013). Crochet at Home: 25 Clever Projects for Colorful Living. Interweave Press. Pattern reprinted with permission from Interweave Press. Photography by Joe Hancock. It can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Interweave.