inspired by Terry Pratchett's Discworld

One of the problems with this method, using thread off of cones or skeins, is to keep the thread from tangling while combining them together.  The irrisdescents are particularly tangly and winding them into balls just makes snarls.

I wind them off the cones onto weaving bobbins, and then put them in single or double shuttles. 

This photo shows striped fabric woven with one strand of fine white mohair on and two strands of 20/2 navy wool on the.  The thread not in use is carried along the backside.  A cone of irrisdecent thread (available from Webs) is also shown.  

Double shuttles and bobbins are found at weaving supply stores and online shops such as Webs and Robin & Russ.

Here is what I do.  Decide whether the pants will close with a snap or be pull-ons.  For pull-ons, crochet around an elastic band (I sometimes tie a knot in an elastic to make it snugger - a regular pony tail band is too big.  The non-rubber no-tangle hair elastics put out by Goody are fantastic.  (And I can't find them up here even when we go off island, so if you find some, grab some for us - they are what we use in our hair as  well.)  Anyhow, crochet around the band so that it is well filled and looks filled when stretched around the doll's waist.  Single crochet (sc) another row or two.  Continue sc but start decreasing so that the
fit when you get to the hips is not baggy.  Obviously I try the outfit on the doll a lot while crocheting!  When you get about to the crotch, chain about 3 stiches in the middle edge of this tube and join to the other edge.  Sc back along this chain about 3 times and you've made the crotch.  This is the time to look and see if the leg holes now formed are a reasonable size.  If too small, back up aways and don't decrease as much around the hips.  Then sc around the leg holes, decreasing as necessary to get the fit as tight or loose as you want.  Particularly if I'm using something fatter than #10 cotton, I often switch to half
double or double crochet.  Sc is better but the others go faster!  But you can see how easy it is to make either tight fitting pants, bell bottoms, etc.

For snap pants, it is the same for the hips on down.  The top is made by crocheting a swatch big enough to go around waist & hips, sort of a trapezoid I guess & keep on going as before. 

Another approach to pants, is to crochet the front & back separately and then join together either with matching crochet or with a stripe.  I think Duckman's was done this way.  For me, this is much harder to get to match but given the nature of Duckman, that didn't really matter!
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  There are 2 versions of Susan, first as she was in Soul Music dressed a DEATH with  black dress with some lace, cowl and cape, sythe and Binky.  The next version  is Susan from round Hogfather time, dressed as a nanny. 

  The doll I used both times is a blond Barbie with jointed elbows and knees.  (The Horse Riding Barbie works well, other jointed ones are the Gymnast Barbie, Ballet Barbie & the Barbie in a wheelchair.  The Ballet Barbie is particularly nice because she has a closed mouth instead of a goofy grin.)  Susan has to have a black streak in her hair.  The easy way is to use a colored pen and paint the strands you want black.  The hard way - that  gives a bit better look - is to remove the head and reroot in black strands from brow line  to top of the head.  I used black doll hair & sparkly embroidery thread.  Susan's face also needs marks from where DEATH slapped Mort.  That is done with a fine brush and a little lavendar acrylic paint.  You can repaint more of the face if you want.  (And I can give you pointers to web sites that have instructions on head removal, hair rerooting, and face painting, if you want.) 

   I tend to take ideas from published fashion doll crochet patterns, or make pieces from one & pieces from another, rather than following them all to the letter.  Susan as DEATH  has the blouse of a fashion doll dress pattern with elbow length sleves so that I could  get her arms through the cape. You can use any boddice pattern you like, just don't  crochet farther than the waist. 

  Her underpants are not from a pattern.  I crochet around an elastic, like you would a scrunchy.  Single crochet around, increasing as needed around the hips.  When the lower hips are reached, crochet a crotch. 

  The skirt is any fashion doll full skirt pattern, stopping at the knees and a ruffle added.  It  is short so she can ride a horse! 

  The cape is black chenille and is done rather loosely in double and triple crochet  stiches.  I don't think I followed a pattern, though I think I have one for a cowled cape, if  you need one. 

  Susan from Hogfather is more complicated.  She has a straight underskirt that is basically a tube with the waist crocheted around an elastic.  (Take a look at at my page of  fashion dolls patterns from historic periods  because several of the dresses that  inspired Susan's are there.  Almost all my fashion doll patterns have come from Ebay,  and all of these come up fairly often.) Susan's overskirt is more-or-less inspired by the  Louis XIV bride, but not as full.  The blouse/jacket is based on the "Fashion Doll Yesteryear" , the doll in red in the back row. And her hat is from "Rendevous by the  Lake".   I often added more ruffles everywhere!  I wanted her to look sort of like an  over-the-top Mary Poppins, but not too cute!  Shoes were commercial plastic ones because I'm not good at making shoes yet.

These go very fast and it is fun to experiment around with what works for your particular doll and fashion.  If you keep on going round the leg holes you end up with pants and don't have to worry with a velcro or snap fastening! 

Crocheted with #20 varigated crochet thread

Crocheted with #10 gold crochet thread