Outfits for 16 inch baby doll

It seems my granddaughter is being given a restored vintage doll’s pram, bed and wardrobe for Christmas, so I thought I’d better get her a doll to go with them! I wanted a doll that was just a doll – I think today’s toys do far too much and don’t leave any room for a child’s imagination. I managed to find a plain vinyl baby doll in the local B & M store, but as it came as part of a bath time set it has no clothes (apart from a nappy). Next task – knit clothes for her! As usual I couldn’t find a suitable pattern, except for the leggings (from Claire at www.babydollhandknitdesigns.co.uk - her patterns are in various sizes and suitable for premature babies too).

 

These clothes are knitted in 4-ply 100% acrylic – mostly ends of Bramwell cones that I’ve had lying around for over 20 years. Any 4-ply yarn that knits to the correct tension will do; it’s a good way of using up those odd half balls that always seem to be left over.

Vest

(worked in garter stitch throughout)

Materials:

4-ply yarn in white

Pair size 3.25 mm (UK 10) needles

4 buttons

Tension:

7 sts to 1 inch over g st

Front:

With white and 3.25 mm needles, cast on 12 sts. K 3 rows.

*Next row: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1

Next row: K

Repeat these 2 rows until there are 36 sts.*

Cast on 3 sts at start of next 2 rows (42 sts). Work 36 rows g st.

Cast off 2 sts at start of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st at each end of next 3 rows (32 sts).

Dec 1 st at each end of next and following alt rows 3 times (26 sts).

K 6 rows.

Divide for neck: Next row: K9, cast off 8, K9.

**Working on these last 9 sts only, dec 1 st at neck edge on next 2 rows. K 4 rows.

Buttonhole row: Next row: K4, y fwd, K2tog, K3. K 3 rows.

Dec 1 st at each end of next 2 rows (3 sts). S1, K2tog, psso and fasten off.

Rejoin yarn to remaining 9 sts on needle and work as for right shoulder from **.

Back:

Cast on 6 sts. Inc 1 st at each end of next 3 rows (12 sts). K 2 rows.

Buttonhole row: K3, yfwd, K2tog, K 3, yfwd, K2tog, K2

K 21 rows on these 12 sts.

Cont as for front from * to *.

Cont to inc at each end of alt rows until there are 42 sts.

Work 36 rows g st.

Cast off 2 sts at start of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st at each end of next 3 rows (32 sts).

Dec 1 st at each end of next and following alt rows 3 times (26 sts).

K 16 rows.

Divide for neck: Next row: K9, cast off 8, K9.

***Working on these last 9 sts only, dec 1 st at neck edge on next 2 rows. K 8 rows.

Dec 1 st at each end of next 2 rows (3 sts). S1, K2tog, psso and fasten off.

Rejoin yarn to remaining 9 sts on needle and work as for left shoulder from ***.

Do not press. Join side seams. Finish buttonholes. Attach two buttons to bottom of front, and two to tabs on back.

Socks

The pattern for these was taken from Claire’s leggings pattern (see above)– work as far as the end of the foot decreases, then work 4 rows rib and cast off loosely.

Sew up seams.