Back in December, I decided to try to knit all of the democratic contenders. I wanted to finish them in time for Christmas and use them as ornaments. Sadly, it turns out I'm not that fond of knitting dolls, so I've only just now finished my first: Hillary. I don't think I'm ever going to make another doll like this again, so if anyone feels like making an Obama, I'd love to see it! You can probably use almost the same pattern, although I might make him a bit lankier and cut out the cleavage part.

Hillary pattern:
knit in a dkish weight - part tahki cotton classic, part whatever was sitting around in my stash, cotton or blend on size 3 dpns.

pants:
front and back (make 2):
co8
next 6 rows: st st (you'll end with a purl row)
next row: k4, turn, continue in st st on these four stitches for 10 rows total.
co four
break yarn, and reattach to remaining 4 live stitches with rs facing. st st for 10 rows.
co all sts

Make another identical piece. with right sides touching, sew pants together. you can just leave the ends on the inside, no need to weave in.

Note: when I put the whole thing together, I decided these legs were a bit too short. It might be worth adding a few rows of leg to both sides of the pants.

jacket (make 1):
co 18

for odd rows 1-7: knit
for even rows 2-8: k1, p to last st, k1

shaping:
row 9: k1, k2tog, k12, ssk, k1
row 10: k1, p to last st, k1
row 11: k1, kfb, k12, kfb, k1
row 12: k1, p to last st, k1

arm holes:
row 13: k4, sl2 onto a holder or scrap yarn, k9, sl2 onto a holder or scrap yarn, k3.
row 14: k1, p to last st, k1
row 15: k
collar:

row 16: bo 2, p to last st, k1
row 18: bo2, k to end, co2 using backwards loop method
row 19: p to end, co2 using backwards loop method
row 20: bo all sts

for arms: put the 2 sts for one arm on a dpn. pick up 2 more sts from the top of the arm hole. knit 12 rounds on these 4 sts. bo all sts. repeat for the other arm.

Shirt and head (make 1):
note: white is shirt color, pink is 'hillary' color
co 8 sts in white
row 1: k
row 2: p
row 3: k8, co 8 using backwards loop method. Join to work in round.
row 4: k
row 5: k3 in white, k2 in pink, k to end of round in white, carrying pink loosely behind and tucking around white every few sts.
row 6: k2 in white, k4 in pink, k to end in white
row 7: k1 in white, k6 in pink, k to last stitch in white, k last stitch of this round and first st of next round together
row 8: (you've already knit the first stitch of this round) k6 pink, k2tog white, k to last st white, k last st of this round tog. with first st of next round
row 9: (you've already knit the first stitch of this round) k6 pink, in white, k2tog, k to end. 12 sts remain.
row 10: in pink, k2tog, k4, k2tog. in white, k2tog k2. 9 sts remain. break white.
rows 11-14: k all sts in pink
row 15: [kfb, k1] to end. 12 sts.
row 16: k
row 17: [k2 kfb] to end. 15 sts.
row 18: k
row 19: [kfb k3] to end. 18 sts.
rows 20-23: k
row 24: [k2tog k1] to end
row 25: k
row 26: k2tog to end
break yarn. using a tapestry needle, thread the yarn through remaining sts and pull closed.

Using embroidery thread, make a face. Try not to suck as much as I did at this part. For the eyes, I found the easiest thing was to use white embroidery thread for the white parts and then regular sewing thread and a sewing needle for the colored part. Use the same yarn you used for the face to make a raised nose.

Put shirt in jacket and tack in with a few stitches. Pull the extra ends to the inside.

Sew bottom of jacket to pants. Pull ends to the inside.

Weave in the last few ends.