Saturday, 6 March 2010

Free Pattern - Doll Outfit

So here's my pattern for a doll's set - I've knitted it up as a smock top with bell sleeves, with capri pants and a headband, but the smock top could easily become a sleeveless top or a dress. Capri pants can also be lengthened/shortened to make shorts or long trousers.


It's "modelled" by a Zapf Soft Bodied Baby Born doll.

Apologies for half the pattern being in capitals - Catalpa had happily sat on my laptop while I was making notes :p

Requirements -
3.25mm US3 UK10 needles
4.00mm US6 UK8 needles
DK weight yarn
couple of small buttons, elastic/ribbon/icord for capri pants waist.

Abbreviations -
k - knit
p - purl
stocking stitch - one row knit, one row purl.
kfb - knit front and back of one stitch to make two stitches.
yfwd - yarn forward


Smock Top -

CAST ON 42 STITCHES USING 3.25mm NEEDLES
ROW 1 - (K1,P1), REPEAT TO END
ROW 2 - (P1,K1), REPEAT TO END
ROW 3 - (K1,P1), REPEAT TO END
CHANGE TO 4.00mm NEEDLES
WORK 18 ROWS OF STOCKING STITCH, ENDING WITH A PURL ROW
NEXT ROW - K9,(K2TOG)X12,K9 (30 STITCHES)
WORK K1,P1 MOSS STITCH FOR 10 ROWS
NEXT ROW - (K1,P1)X3,K1 CAST OFF NEXT 16 STITCHES IN MOSS STITCH, (K1,P1)X3, K1
WORKING ON 7 STITCHES ON RIGHT HAND SIDE, MOSS STITCH 5 ROWS
LEAVE STITCHES ON A STITCH HOLDER
JOIN YARN TO NECK EDGE OF LEFT HAND SIDE AND WORK 5 ROWS OF MOSS STITCH. LEAVE STITCHES ON A STITCH HOLDER.

BACK
CAST ON 42 STITCHES USING 3.25MM NEEDLES
ROW 1 - (K1,P1), REPEAT TO END
ROW 2 - (P1,K1), REPEAT TO END
ROW 3 - (K1,P1), REPEAT TO END
CHANGE TO 4MM NEEDLES
WORK 18 ROWS OF STOCKING STITCH, ENDING WITH A PURL ROW
K9,(K2TOG)X12,K9 (30STITCHES)
(K1,P1)X7,K1 TURN WORK.
WORKING ON THESE 15 STITCHES, WORK 8 ROWS OF K1,P1 MOSS STITCH
NEXT ROW - CAST ON 4 STITCHES, (K1,P1), REPEAT TO END (19 STITCHES)
WORK ANOTHER 3 ROWS OF MOSS STITCH
CAST OFF 12 STITCHES, PATTERN TO END OF ROW.(7 STITCHES)
WORK A FURTHER 3 ROWS OF MOSS STITCH AND LEAVE STITCHES ON A STITCHHOLDER.
REJOIN YARN TO CENTRE BACK AND WORK 9 ROWS OF K1,P1 MOSS STITCH.
ROW 10 - (K1,P1)X5,K1,K2TOG,YFWD,K1,P1
WORK 2 MORE ROWS OF MOSS STITCH
CAST OFF 8 STITCHES, PATTERN TO END OF ROW (7 STITCHES)
MOSS STITCH 3 MORE ROWS AND LEAVE STITCHES ON A STITCH HOLDER.

WITH RIGHT SIDES FACING, GRAFT TOGETHER SHOULDER SEAMS USING KITCHENER STITCH (IF YOU'VE NEVER WORKED KITCHENER STITCH BEFORE, THERE ARE SOME EXCELLENT TUTORIALS ON YOUTUBE THAT TAKE YOU THROUGH STEP BY STEP - IT'S EASY, HONEST).

SLEEVES -
WITH RIGHT SIDE FACE, PICK UP AND KNIT 34 STITCHES ALONG MOSS STITCH BODICE USING 4.00MM NEEDLES.
WORK 5 ROWS OF STOCKING STITCH
CHANGE TO 3.25MM NEEDLES
WORK 3 ROWS OF MOSS STITCH, CAST OFF.

TO MAKE UP - JOIN SIDE AND SLEEVE SEAMS AND WEAVE IN ENDS.
STITCH A BUTTON ONTO TAB AT CENTRE BACK.

CAPRI PANTS
CAST ON 40 STITCHES WITH 3.25MM NEEDLES
ROW 1 - (K1,P1) REPEAT TO END
ROW 2 - (P1,K1) REPEAT TO END
ROW 3 - (K1,P1) REPEAT TO END
Change to 4.00MM needles
Work 24 rows in stocking stitch
Next row - cast off 2, knit to end of row
Next row - cast off 2,purl to last 3 stitches, p2tog, p1
Next row - knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1 (34 stitches)
Stocking stitch 15 rows, ending with a purl row.
Change to 3.25mm needles
Next row - (k1,p1) repeat to end
Next row - (k1,p1) repeat to end
Next row - k1,p1 (yfwd,k2tog,k1,p1)repeat to end of row.
Next 2 rows - k1,p1 rib
cast off in rib.

To make up - stitch seams on both inside legs and then join pieces by stitching centre front and back seams.

Thread ribbon/elastic or icord through eyelets at waist.

Headband - cast on 6 stitches
Row 1 - K1,P1
Row 2 - P1, K1
Continue until work measures 27cm.
Buttonhole row - k1,p1,cast off next 2 stitches,k1,p1
Next row - p1,k1,cast on 2 stitches,p1,k1
Next - k1,p1
Next - kfb,k4,kfb (8 stitches)
Next - kfb repeat to end of row (16 stitches)
Next - k
Next - k
Next - kfb repeat to end of row (32 stitches)
Next -k
join contrast yarn and kfb into every stitch (64 stitches)
cast off
To make up - tease ruffle edge with your fingers to make a flower. Sew on button.



Dolls Clothes

Last week, I offered to fulfil a ravelry RAK and knit doll clothes for a raveler's neice. I knew I had several vintage patterns that I inherited from my Nana.

I happily knitted up a set in 4ply sock yarn, thinking to myself at the time that it wasn't the fastest project in the world because of the thinner yarn. One set complete, I returned to rummage for a different pattern to use. I found another one in 4 ply...and then a set in 3 ply...and then one using 2 ply yarn...what the heck?! These are to dress a doll, not a baby! Impatient, I bought a modern pattern, and coupled the cardigan with a free (lovely) pinafore dress pattern on ravelry. I spent a morning knitting up the t-shirt vest from said pattern to discover it wouldn't fit over my dolls head - and not just a little tight, this was way out.

So another pattern started to form in my mind - something versatile, in double knit, quick and cute. Initially I thought this could be offered on ravelry as a pay-to-download, but I'm not quite confident enough to do that yet, so it's another freebie and hopefully it'll be enjoyed :)

Pattern coming up in next post :)