“ William Shakespeare ”

By Carla Mitrani (@amourfou_crochet)

Materials
- 2.50 mm crochet hook
- 100 % cotton yarn for a 2.50 mm hook
- A pair of 8 mm safety eyes
- Tapestry needle and pins
- Poly<iber <ill

Abbreviations (US Terms)

st = stitch
ch = chain stitch
slst = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet

You will need:

One color for his skin, dark grey for his shoes,
light blue for his stockings, white for his shirt,
dark brown for his hair, emerald green for
his jacket and dark old rose for his cape.
Oh! And a bit of pink to embroider his cheeks
and yellow to embroider the buckle on his
shoes.
I use 100% cotton yarn (8/8 - DK Worsted).

Finished size:
From head to toe, your <inished Shakespeare
should measure more or less 22 cm.
Of course, should you choose a different hook
and yarn, <inal measures will vary…
 Ready? Let’s begin!

Shakespeare is crocheted from his little legs up to his head in

rounds, but Iirst let’s crochet his short pants…Aholichet

Short pants
Using dark blue…

Leg 1
1. Chain 16 chain stitches and slip stitch (slst)
into the <irst ch stitch to form a circle. Then
crochet 1 sc into each remaining ch stitches
(16).
2. Crochet 16 sc
3. Only through back loops, crochet 2 sc in 5. to 9. Crochet 64 sc
each stitch (32) 10. Crochet *2 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (48)
Close, break the yarn and weave in ends. 11. Crochet 1 sc, one decrease, *2 sc, one
decrease*, repeat * 11 times, 1 sc (36)
Leg 2 + shorts
1. Chain 16 chain stitches and slip stitch (slst) DON’T BREAK THE YARN. Set it aside. We will
into the <irst ch stitch to form a circle. Then start the body now and then finish the pants
crochet 1 sc into each remaining ch stitches directly on Shakespeare’s body…
(16).
2. Crochet 16 sc
3. Only through back loops, crochet 2 sc in Shakespeare’s body
each stitch (32)
Leg 1
DON’T BREAK THE YARN…. Start with dark grey…
1. Magic ring of 6 sc
4. With leg 2 still on your hook, join leg 1 with 2. Crochet 2 sc in each st (12)
1 sc (place a stitch marker, since this will be 3. and 4. Crochet 12 sc
the beginning of the following rounds). 5. Change to light blue (tights) and, only
Crochet 1 sc in each remaining stitch on leg 1, through back loops, crochet 12 sc
then crochet 1 sc in each stitch of leg 2. Total 6. to 10. Crochet 12 sc
stitches: 64 Fasten off yarn and weave in ends. Set aside.
Leg 2 + Body 12. Crochet *4 sc, 2 sc in the next st*, repeat *
Start with dark grey… (36)
1. Magic ring of 6 sc 13. to 17. Crochet 36 sc
2. Crochet 2 sc in each st (12) 18. Crochet *4 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (30)
3. and 4. Crochet 12 sc Stuff the legs firmly…
5. Change to light blue (tights) and, only 19. Change to white (shirt) and, only through
through back loops, crochet 12 sc back loops, crochet 30 sc
6. to 10. Crochet 12 sc 20. and 21. Crochet 30 sc
22. Crochet *3 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (24)
DON’T BREAK THE YARN… Now we will start 23. and 24. Crochet 24 sc
with the body… 25. Crochet *2 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (18)
Stuff firmly…
26. and 27. Crochet 18 sc
Body 28. Crochet *1 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (12)
11. (This is the tricky part…) Still with leg 2 on 29. to 33. Crochet 12 sc
your hook, crochet 2 sc and then chain 3 and 34. Change to the color of his skin and, only
join leg 1 with a sc. This will be the new through back loops, crochet 12 sc
beginning of the following rounds. Place a
stitch marker here. Crochet further 11 sc all DO NOT BREAK THE YARN! Secure the stitch on
along leg 1. Then crochet 3 sc on one of the your hook with a stitch marker… Now, put on
sides of the 3-ch-chain. Now, crochet 12 sc the short pants. Fit them properly. Let’s crochet
along leg 2 and, <inally, 3 sc on the other side the last two rounds of the pants while they are
of the 3-ch-chain. Total stitches: 30 on Shakespeare’s body…
12. Crochet *4 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (30)
13. Crochet 30 sc
Fasten off invisibly and weave in ends.

Now let’s crochet Shakespeare’s head…

Head
35. Crochet 2 sc in each st (24)
36. Crochet *3 sc, 2 sc in the next st*, repeat *
(30)
Stuff the neck area firmly…
37. Crochet 2 sc, 2 sc in the next st, *4 sc, 2 sc With a bit of yellow yarn, embroider a
in the next st*, repeat * 5 times, 2 sc (36) little buckle to Shakespeare’s shoes.
38. Crochet *5 sc, 2 sc in the next st*, repeat *
(42)
39. and 40. Crochet 42 sc Little ears
41. Crochet 29 sc, then, for the nose, a 5-dc Make two, using the color of his skin…
bobble stitch (see instructions) and then 12 sc 1. Magic ring of 6 sc.
(this is approximate. Be sure to align the nose Crochet 1 slst in the <irst stitch to close. Fasten
with the middle of his legs!!!!). off yarn, leaving a long tail to sew the ears to
his head.

BOBBLE STITCH
Sew the ears to the head now, between
In the next stitch, make 5 double crochet,
the rounds 40 and 41 of the head.
keeping the last loop of each stitch on the
hook (you’ll need 5 un<inished double
crochets). Then slip stitch into all the 6 loops
on the hook. Continue with the following sc Arms
stitches. Make two, starting with the color of his skin…
1. Make 2 chain stitches. Crochet 4 sc in the
second chain from hook.
42. to 50. Crochet 42 sc 2. Crochet 2 sc in each stitch (8)
Place the safety eyes one round above the nose 3. to 5. Crochet 8 sc
(the distance between the eyes is 8 stitches) and 6. Change to emerald green (jacket) and,
embroider the cheeks with a bit of pink yarn. only through back loops, crochet 8 sc
With a bit of dark brown yarn, embroider the 7. to 17. Crochet 8 sc
mustache, the small beard and the eyebrows… No need to stuff the arm…
51. Crochet *5 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (36) 18. Press the opening with your <ingers and
52. Crochet *4 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (30) crochet together, with sc, both opposing sides
Start stuffing the head… to close the opening of the tube.
53. Crochet *3 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (24) Fasten off yarn, leaving a long tail to sew the
54. Crochet *2 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (18) arms to body.
Stuff firmly.
55. Crochet *1 sc, one decrease*, repeat * (12)
56. Crochet 6 decreases (6) Sew the arms to the chest now, between
Fasten off yarn and weave in ends. the rounds 31 and 32 of the body.
Elizabethan Ruff Collar
Using white… IMPORTANT: The collar is
crocheted in rows, not in rounds.
1. Leaving a long initial tail (you will use it to
tie the collar), chain 10 ch stitches. Crochet 1
hdc in the third chain from hook and then
another hdc in the fourth chain, after that
crochet 1 sc in each of the following 3 chain
stitches and <inally 1 slst in the last three chain
stitches (total = 2 hdc + 3 sc + 3 slst). Chain 1
and turn.
From now on, all the following rows must
be crocheted in the back loops only!
2. Crochet 3 slst, 3 sc, 2 hdc. Chain 1 and turn. Hair
3. Chain 1 (this chain stitch is to reach the Using dark brown yarn…
height of a hdc), 2 hdc, 3 sc, 3 slst. Chain 1 and 1. Chain 21 ch stitches. Crochet 2 sc (increase)
turn. in the second ch from hook and then 1 sc in
4. to 31. Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternatively. each of the following 18 ch stitches. Crochet 4
Row 31 should be like row 3. sc (2 increases) in the last ch stitch, which will
Fasten off yarn, leaving a long tail to tie around allow you to turn and work on the other side
the neck. of the foundation chain. Crochet 1 sc in each of
the following 18 ch stitches and, finally, 2 sc
(increase) in the last ch stitch. Total stitches:
44
2. Crochet 1 increase, 20 sc, 2 increases, 20 sc,
1 increase (48)
2. to 13. Crochet 48 sc
Stuff very slightly the lower part of the hair
piece…
14. Crochet 1 sc. Press the opening with your
fingers and crochet together, with sc, both
opposing sides to close the opening of the hair
Tie the collar around the neck now. piece (24).
Using your tapestry needle, secure the back of Fasten off yarn, leaving a long tail to sew the
the collar to the head with some stitches. hair to body.
 Sew the hair to the head, between 3. Crochet 4 sc, 6 sc in the 6-ch chain, then 4
rounds 49 and 50 of the head. sc, 6 sc in the second 6-ch chain and <inally 4
sc (24). Chain 1 and turn.
4. and 5. Crochet 24 sc. Chain 1 and turn.
6. Crochet 2 sc in the next st (increase), 22 sc
and <inally another increase (26). Chain 1 and
turn.
7. Crochet 26 sc. Chain 1 and turn.
8. Crochet one increase, 24 sc and <inally
another increase (28).
9. to 13. Chain 1 and turn. Crochet 28 sc.

For a tidier Iinish, chain 1 to turn the

piece 90 degrees clockwise and crochet 13 sc
along the side of the piece, working in the
spaces between rows. When you reach the top
edge, crochet 20 sc in the remaining loops of
the foundation chain. Then chain 1 to turn the
piece 90 degrees clockwise again and crochet
13 sc along the other side of the piece, working
Jacket in the spaces between rows. Crochet 1 slst in the
Using emerald green… Iirst sc of row 13 to close.
IMPORTANT: This jacket is actually a vest, but
together with the arms it will look like a jacket.
It is not crocheted in rounds or spirals, but in
rows…
1. Chain 21 ch stitches. Starting from the
second ch from hook, crochet 1 sc in each ch
stitch (total stitches: 20 sc). Chain 1 and turn.
2. Crochet 4 sc. Then chain 6 ch stitches, skip
the following 4 stitches and insert the hook
once again to crochet 4 sc. Now chain another
6 ch stitches, skip again the following 4
stitches and insert the hook to crochet further Break the yarn and weave in ends. Now make
4 sc. Chain 1 and turn. your Shakespeare wear it!
Short cape Place the cape in the back of your doll.
Using dark old rose… IMPORTANT: The cape is Cross the strap over the chest, slighltly covering
crocheted in rows, not in rounds. one shoulder with the cape and passing the
1. Leaving a long initial tail (you will use it to strap below the other arm. Then knot together
tie the cape), chain 26. Crochet 1 hdc in the the end of the chain with the initial yarn tail.
third chain from hook and then crochet 1 hdc Trim the ends. You can also secure the cape
in each of the following 9 chains, after that with some stitches to the neck of your doll.
crochet 1 sc in each of the following 10 chain
stitches and finally 1 slst in the last four chain
stitches (total = 10 hdc + 10 sc + 4 slst). Chain Well done! Congratulations!
1 and turn. Enjoy your very own handmade Shakespeare!
From now on, all the following rows must
be crocheted in the back loops only!
2. Crochet 4 slst, 10 sc, 10 hdc. Chain 1 and
turn.
3. Chain 1 (this chain stitch is to reach the
height of a hdc), 10 hdc, 10 sc, 4 slst. Chain 1
and turn.
4. to 15. Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternatively.
Row 15 should be like row 3.
Now, chain 30 ch stitches to create a strap.
Fasten off yarn, leaving a long tail to tie
around the neck.
 © 2022. This is a design by Carla Mitrani for {Amour Fou}
All rights reserved. This pattern is for personal use ONLY. This
pattern or parts of it must not be reproduced or published (printed
or online), altered, resold or used for commercial purposes without
authorization. You can neither reproduce, publish, alter, sell or use
for commercial purposes FINISHED DOLLS made with this pattern
without authorization.
Thank you!

C arla

www.amourfou-crochet.com Aholichet