Simple Knitted Wig for a Waldorf Type Baby Doll

In my post of March 5, 2020, I discussed knitting a wig for a tiny Waldorf Type baby doll. It worked really well for doll whose head from forehead to crown measured 1 inch. But would the same technique work for larger Waldorf Type baby doll. The answer is a resounding—YES!

I used Smooth Mohair Doll Hair Yarn for both the tiny doll and this big boy, knitting with US size 3 straight knitting needles. I made the wigs by knitting a straight piece (like a scarf) to the length that fits from the where the ear would be on one side to where the ear would be on the opposite side.

I cast on 8 stitches for the tiny doll. This doll’s head, from forehead to the posterior crown of his head measured 4 inches. The tiny doll’s head had measured 1 inch, so I figured I could simply make this big doll’s wig 4 x larger. So I cast on 32 stitches. As I was knitting, it was quickly clear that there was a lot more stretch in 32 inches than there was in only 8 stitches. I had to start over twice before I got the correct number of stitches. Unfortunately, I’ve lost the scrap of paper I used to keep notes as I was working, but the final stitch count was between 24 and 28 stitches.

If you knit a doll wig, your stitch count may be different because everyone’s knitting varies a bit. Knit a sample, hold it up to the doll’s head and see how it fits.

Once the wig is the length needed (check by draping the knitting over the doll’s head, from side to side, NOT front to back), bind off.

Fold the knit piece in half and slip stitch the two halves together, just on ONE of the folded ends. This creates a little hood that fits nicely on the doll’s head. Pin the wig along the forehead and mold it bit as needed along the sides and back to make a natural hair line. Attach the wig to the doll’s head using sewing thread in a matching color and a regular needle.

If you find that the back of the wig at the top of the head was a little loose and has a little point, use the sewing thread and needle and take a couple of stitches to tack down the wig where it feels loose. A couple tacking stitches at the top of the head should be all that’s needed.

To give the doll a cow lick, take a piece of scrap yarn and threaded a yarn needle. Run needle and yarn through the peak of the stitched end of the wig and come back out about a stitch away. Cut the yarn about 2 inches long and tie a knot. Trim to the the length you want.

To give him bangs, thread a needle with a little looped piece of yarn. Run the needle into the front edge of the wig, leaving the loop loose. Using the needle, bring the 2 strands of yarn back through the loop, pulling it tight.

Looking down at the top of the head at the knitted wig

Finally gently brush the mohair wig with a wire dog brush to fuzz up the mohair. The mohair will undoubtedly felt some with lots of play. That’s to be expected. And it’ll still be cute.

Knit Wig for a Tiny Waldorf Type Doll

A lot of Waldorf type dolls have hair that is a cap crocheted with mohair yarn for doll making. But there are some makers who knit wigs. I probably could crochet a wig but I’m much more comfortable knitting. So I decided to try knit a wig for this tiny 5 inch tall Waldorf type baby doll. There’s a pattern for a knit wig on the sleeve of De Witte Engel mohair boucle doll yarn but it creates little pseudo pig tails and I just wanted a smooth wig. So I decided to try and make my own pattern.

I used smooth mohair doll hair yarn. ThIs doll has a 4 inch head circumference (measured around the head at eye level).

Here’s what I did:

Using size 3 US knitting needles, cast on 8 stitches. Using a garter stitch knit until the piece is long enough to reach from chin level on one side of the face to chin level on the other side of the face. (I didn’t count rows, I just checked the knitting on the doll until it was the right length). Bind off.

Fold the rectangular knit wig in half the long way. Sew the two halves together on just one side, leaving the other side open. Fit the wig on the doll’s head. The sewn seam should be at the center back of the head. Pin the wig around the face and around the back of the lower head. Adjust as needed. Once you are happy, sew the knit wig to the doll’s head with a tiny running stitch with cotton thread.

The bangs are several scraps of yarn that I sewed to the doll’s head before I put the knit wig on the doll’s head.

This worked beautifully for this tiny doll. I’m wondering if there might be a bit of a point a the upper back edge of the wig with a bigger doll, but I haven’t tried it, so I don’t know.