I designed my Hugadolly range to provide unique gifts for special people who may need a bit of extra love at a particular time. A gift of flowers seems finite. That is why a smiling little friend who can accompany you to places, sit in your car or on your bed to remind you that someone out there loves you, is much better for the soul. Four arms give you extra hugs and love, while knitted wings can send you wishes.

Hugadollies are not designed as a knitted toy or doll for a child, so I happily sew on button embellishments, ties, laces or ribbons. Polyester stuffing is used, so handwashing can be achieved if necessary. (Your Hugadolly may be much loved or have a preference for outdoor activities.)

Every Hugadolly I have made is unique in dress, colour and features. I use pure wool for all my knitting, except for the novelty fibre hair. Hugadollies are 30cm (12”) tall, with nine separate body parts, excluding wings – one body with attached head, two ears, two legs with feet and four arms with hands. Hugadollies have shaped feet with ankles and contoured hands. Clothes are knitted as a body part, except for the vampire collar and the wings that need to be sewn on.

I have included many alternatives to make your Hugadolly unique such as boots, boot toppers, shoes, socks, leggings, jeans, overlay skirt, shorts, bare midriff, belt, leotard look, short sleeved top, long sleeved shirt, collar, sleeve bands, armbands, bangle, gloves and wings. This equates to over 2,000 different Hugadollies that are possible from these inclusions. With clothing and colour choice, you can give a style – Goth, punk, nerd, monster. Also featured is a pattern for a carry bag in 12 ply, so you can carry your Hugadolly with you, attached to a belt loop or bag handle by a clip lock through its I-cord handle.

The materials list is easily found in any crafter’s room: DPNs (small straight needles are better for dollmaking), 8 ply wool of assorted colours, stuffing, cotton and needle to sew any embellishments, wild fibre for hair and a tapestry needle.

Mainly I use a scrap of wool for each eye but glued on eyes work too. Knitting the eyes and mouth while doing the face is easier. The nose is made from a tail end of a knitted ear after attachment to the head. The hair is latch hooked onto the head where a fringe can be fashioned if desired. Hair length is your choice.

Read the pattern first, look at your wool and choose the attributes you want your Hugadolly to have. Is it a Goth or a ballerina? See where the colour changes need to be made on your main body pieces as stated in the Clothes / Accessories section.