I just used a basic doll pattern that I found on a bag of polly stuffing and did the whole yarn hair thing. I did the clothing out of fleece because you don't have to hem it or any thing, and you can just make little slits for the button holes. I did adjust the clothing pattern to make it look less sack like.
Also, as a mom of two daughters, their dolls always looked like them. Good luck. I'm sure that whatever you come up with will be loved. :D