The Antidote to Valentine's Day: Enit Nelav, The Felted Voodoo Doll

So much for maintaining a little mystery! I became so obsessed with my Mystery Project that I finished it much sooner than I thought I would. Sooooo, let me introduce you to Enit Nelav*, the anti-Valentine's Day Voodoo Doll.

Whether I'm in a relationship or not, I don't like Valentine's Day. It is too commercial, too competitive, and I hate the way the quality of everything (flowers, restaurant meals) goes down while prices go up. I made it clear to DB early on that we didn't have to celebrate Valentine's Day, or if we did, it could be celebrated on another day. (You could say I'm very practical. So practical that I have told DB that I prefer kitchen appliances to jewelry, much to the confusion of his friends.)

So it was this line of thinking that prompted me to create Enit Nelav. If you have any old flames that are haunting you, or if anyone is making your life miserable, Enit Nelav is for you! While others may be out on Valentine's Day eating bad, expensive food and carrying wilty roses, you can stay home and have much more fun sticking pins into your own Enit Nelav! Here's how to make him/her/it.....

Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun, sport weight, plus various bits and bobs of yarn from your stash
Needles: Size 9 US
Notions, etc.: needles - blunt and sharp, stitch-holder, poly-fill.
Gauge: 4 sts/inch in st st (pre-felting)
Stitch pattern: st st

Note 1: This is knit in one piece. You start with the buttocks (as Stephen Covey says, "begin with the end in mind"), knit up the back, increase for the arms, decrease to make the neck and head, then go up and over the top of the head to the front arms and torso, then continue down past the front waist to create two extra-long legs. The piece is then folded at the head, wrong sides facing, then the legs are folded in half, and the bound-off ends of the legs are attached to the cast-on edge of the buttocks.

Note 2: Because items tend to shink more row-wise than stitch-wise when felted, I have compensated for this in the number of stitches and rows. That's why the pre-felted doll will look like it has skinny legs and muscular arms. Don't worry, it will all work out in the wash.

Note 3: During the felting process, the wrong sides will want to merge together. It is OK for the arms and legs to do this, but you may want to insert a piece of smooth colorfast fabric into the torso so it lays flat inside and keeps the fibers apart. Take the fabric out when you are finished with the felting process.

Note 4: This pattern is copyright-protected. That means you cannot pretend it is your own, or receive any financial gain from the design or finished object. This pattern is for your own personal use only. If any of this confuses you, please contact me.

Note 5: While this doll is a voodoo doll, you can create any look you want. The shape can be used for many types of dolls - scary or otherwise.

Note 6: The design of this doll is a complete fabrication of my twisted mind. Any resemblance (e.g., hair color, skin tone, wardrobe, etc.) to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Directions:
CO 20 sts. Work in st st for 6.25 inches. At beginning of next row, CO 15 sts for arm. Work across arm (15 sts) and body (20 sts). Turn work, CO 15 sts for other arm. Work across all 50 sts and work even for 1.5 inches. Bind off 20 sts, then work remaining sts. On next row, bind off 20 sts. You will have the center 10 sts remaining on your needle, with arms flapping on each side. These center 10 sts become the neck and head. Work these 10 sts for 6 inches. On next row, CO 20 sts. Work across arm (20 sts) and neck (10 sts). On next row, CO 20 sts. You should have a total of 50 sts again. Work in st st for 1.5 inches. On next row, bind off 15 sts. Work across remaining 35 sts. On next row, bind off 15 sts. Work remaining 20 sts (the torso) even for 6.25 inches.

You are now ready to add the legs: With RS facing, work across 7 sts. Put these stitches on a stitch holder. Bind off next 6 sts. Work next 7 sts even for 12 inches. Bind off these 7 sts. Go back to the 7 stitches on the holder and work these sts even for 12 inches, so the legs match in length.

Seaming: Fold the object in half lengthwise from the center of the head, with wrong sides facing. Match the arms and torso, and tie the edges together at intervals with contrasting-colored yarn to help you pace your seaming stitches. Fold each of the legs in half, wrong sides facing, and attach each of the bound-off edges of the legs to the cast-on edges of the buttocks (leaving the 6 stitches in the middle for the crotch).

Stitch together all open sides of the doll, EXCEPT for one side of the head. You will need that opening to fill the doll with poly-fill. Remove the contrasting color yarn that you used to pace your seaming stitches.

Felting: Throw the doll in a hot-water wash cycle with abrasive garments (jeans, towels etc.). After the wash cycle, pull at the doll to work it into shape if necessary. My Enit Nelav only went through one cycle, but you may want to put yours through twice to get rid of stitch definition.

With scrap yarn, embroider a face onto the doll's head. I went for the primitive look, but you may want to do something fancy. Stuff the doll with poly-fill. With needle and matching thread, sew up the side of the doll's head.

Now let your imagination run wild, adding hair, amulets, clothing, chicken bones, etc. If you add a loin cloth as I did, be prepared for when everyone lifts it up to peer underneath. People are human. What can I say?

If you are into needle-felting, you could have lots of fun embellishing this doll!

Once you are finished, stick pins into your doll as you think horrible thoughts about whoever may be tormenting you.

If you see any mistakes or would like to suggest any improvements, send me an email!

*(Enit Nelav is Valen tine spelled backwards)

Comments

[Sarah Fairbanks]

Do you sell these at the shop, I have no idea how to knit but I NEED one of these, badly. I will stop by when I am in the area to check on it. Thanks

[Kathy]

That's fantastic! I could use several for old flames . . .

[Anne]

I'm so with you on Valentine's day nonsense. It's just become a big bonus day for florists and restaurants. Love the doll!

[Viv]

I *love* it. I am an Anti-VD person too (check out this blog entry of mine from last year- scroll down to 2/14): http://mywoolynest.typepad.com/my_wooly_nest/2006/02/index.html

[lisa]

Enit Nelav is HILARIOUS! Even my son likes him. I will just have to make him. And I have some hideous sparkly fuzzy silver and black Eskimo that may make great hair. Thank you for the pattern write up!

[Teresa (NC)]

LOL! I thought we were the only family that didn't celebrate Valentine's day. My daughters always tell their boyfriends, no valentines on valentine's day. I must share Enit Nelav with them. Too adorable!

[Holly]

I LOVE the hair!! I would've never guessed what this would be.

[Bobbie]

Showed this to one of our faculty - she thought it was the best idea ever and, of course, demanded I make one! Way to go, Ellen!

[Liz]

What a great voodoo doll! Love the loincloth. :)

[Sharon]

This is delightful. I love it. :)

[Suzanne]

Love this! Especially love the green 'do'.