Trove #4 - A Knitted Outfit for a 20" Doll

My girls had very large baby dolls, pretty well actual newborn baby size. I could buy small baby clothes at the thrift shop for them. This pattern would make a lovely fancy set for big Dolly. Included are directions for a singlet (undershirt), modesties (panties or diaper cover), jacket, bootees, and bonnet. I love the various terms I come across for the underwear. 

I use KnitPicks Palette yarn for most of my doll clothes. It knits very smoothly, is not fuzzy, and the colors are beautiful. It is a hand-wash yarn, so you may want to go for a machine-washable yarn.

A KNITTED OUTFIT FOR A 20” DOLL.

Weekly Times (Melbourne,Australia), October 1939.

She is not an expensive doll, but when the bonnet and jacket and bootees and dress are made, to be taken on and off (let us whisper it), there is underwear, too; well, some little girl is going to be very happy. A lovely present to make for Christmas time.

Materials Required. — 2 ½ oz. 2 ply (fingering) super wool. 1 reel fibrone (a silk thread), 1 pair No. 10 (US3, 3.00-3.25mm) needles, 1 steel crochet hook. No. 3, 4 buttons, 2 ½ yds. ½ inch ribbon. 1 yd. of ¼ in. ribbon, 20 in. celluloid doll.

Pattern (MS). 1st Row: Purl 1, *m 1, k 3. k. 2 tog., k. 2 tog.. k. 3. m 1, p. 2. repeat from *ending with p 1.

2nd and every alternate row: K. 1. p. 10. *k. 2. p. 10, rep from * ending with k. 1,

3rd Row: P. 1. *k. l, m1, k. 2, k. 2 tog., k. 2 tog., k. 2, m. 1, k. 1, p. 2, rep. from * to last St.. p 1.

5th Row: P. 1 *k 2. m. l. k. 1, k. 2 tog., k. 2 tog., k. 1. m. 1 k 2. p. 2. rep. from * to last St.. p. L

7th Row: P. 1. *k 3. m 1. k. 2 tog., k. 2 tog., m 1, k 3. p. 2. rep from to last st. p. 1.

8th Row: K 1. p. 10. *k 2. p 10. rep from to last st., k. 1

BONNET. – Measurements: 5 ½ in. to centre back from front. 11 ½ in around face. Cast on 84 sts. Knit one row plain Work 2 patterns, then 24 rows of stocking stitch. Shape back by knitting tog. every 11th and 12th stitch. Next row purl. Knit tog. every 10th and 11th stitch Next row purl. Continue ro decrease in this way until 14 sts. remain on needle, ending with a purl row. Knit 2 tog. all across row. Break thread, leaving about 6 inches. Thread through darning needle, run through remaining sts., draw up tightly. Sew together the shaped portion of bonnet. With fibrone, work following edge all around bonnet. 1 double crochet into edge, 2 ch, 2 tr. in same place, miss 1 st. of foundation, repeat from all round. With ½ inch ribbon make rosettes for bonnet and sew on strings.

SINGLET.— Cast on 48 sts. Work 2 patterns. Work 40 rows st st. Cast off 10 st at beginning of next 2 rows. Work 8 rows of moss st (MS) on remaining 28 stitches. Then MS 5, cast off 18. MS 5. Work 14 rows moss st on these 5 st. then k 2, in 1, k 2 log, k 1. Next row: MS. Cast off. Join wool at neck edge, work other shoulder strap to correspond. Work back same as the front, but omit the buttonholes on shoulder. Sew up side seams. Sew on buttons. Work crochet edge same as bonnet around hem, armholes, and neck. Work around buttonholes to keep firm.

Measurements of singlet: Length 814 inch, chest 13 inch.

MODESTIES. — Cast on 48 sts. Work 2 rows of k 2, p 2, rib, then k 2, m 1, k 2 tog, all across row for ribbon holes. Work 5 rows of k 2, p 2, rib, 2 rows of st st, then work 2 patterns, then 8 rows of st st. Knit 2 together both ends of needle every alternate row till 18 sts remain. Cast off firmly and work another piece to correspond. Sew up side seams, and work crochet edge around legs, same as on bonnet. Thread ¼ inch ribbon through holes at waist.

Measurements: 6 ½ inch deep, 13 inch waist.

JACKET. — Cast on 72 sts for back. Knit 1 row plain, then work 2 patterns, then 18 rows st st. ending with a purl row. K 1, k 2 tog, across row, work 10 rows st st, then shape armhole by casting off 7 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Then k 2 tog both ends of needle in the next 2 knit rows. Continue in st st on the remaining 30 sts for 18 rows. Cast off. Right Front. — 36 sts 1 row plain, work 2 patterns, then work in pattern on the first 12 sts and st st on remaining 24 sts for 18 rows, ending with a purl row. Then pattern 12, k 2 tog. k 1 to end of row (28 sts). Still keeping continuity of pattern at front, work 10 rows of st st to armhole. Next row cast off 7, work to end of row. K 2 tog at arm edge in the next 2 knit rows, then still keeping pattern at front, work on remaining stitches in st st for 16 rows, ending with a purl row. Cast off 12, knit 7. Work 10 rows. Cast off 12, 7. rows of st st on these 7 sts. Cast off. Work other front to correspond, working the 12 pattern st at end of needle instead of the beginning.

Measurements: Length, 7 ½ in., chest 13 ½ in., sleeve 3 ½ in.

SLEEVES. — Cast on 36 sts. Knit 1 row plain, knit 2 patterns, then work in st st, increasing 1st both ends of needle every 6th row till 42 sts on needle, and 22 rows st st worked. Take 2 tog. both ends of needle every row till 12 sts remain. Cast off. Sew up seams. Sew in sleeves. Work crochet edge round sleeves, neck front, and hem of jacket. Sew ribbon at front of neck to tie.

BOOTEES. — Cast on 36 sts. Knit 1 row plain, then work 1 pattern. Knit 4 rows st st, then k 4, k 2 tog across row. Next row purL Form ribbon holes by k 1, m 1, k 2 tog across row. Work 22 rows st st. Cast off. Sew up back seam and seam under foot. Press seam under foot so as it comes in centre of knitting and thus presses out the point made when seaming under foot. Crochet around top of bootee and thread ankle with ¼ in. ribbon.

DRESS. — Measurements : Length 12in., chest 13 ½ in., sleeve ½ in.

Front : Cast on 84 sts.

Knit 1 row plain.

Work 2 patterns, then 70 rows st st ending with a purl row.

Then k 1. k 2 tog across row (56 sts).

Next row: Purl.

Form ribbon holes as follows: k 2, m 1, k 2 tog, across row.

Next row: Purl

Then k 7, k 2 tog across row (50 sts).

Next row: Purl. .

Work 8 rows st st, then shape armhole by casting off 7 at beginning of next 2 rows, then k 2 tog both ends of needle in the next 2 knit rows. Work 15 rows in st st ending with a purl row.

Proceed as follows: k 8, cast off 16. k 8.

Work 10 rows st st on these 8 sts. Cast off.

Join wool at neck edge and work 10 rows st. st. on remaining 8 sts. Cast off.

Back. — Work back of frock same as front until 50 sts on needle, then proceed as follows:—

1st row: K 27 st, turn,

2nd row: K 4, p 23.

Repeat these 2 rows 3 times more, then shape the armhole by casting off 7 st at beginning of the next row. Then k 2 tog at armhole edge in the| next 2 knit rows. Form a button-hole at inside border on next row by k 2. m 1, k 2 tog, purl 14.

Work 14 rows st st, always keeping border at edge, then form another buttonhole as before.

Work 2 more rows, then cast off firmly.

Join wool at the inside edge of remaining 23 sts. Cast on 4 sts for placket. Work to correspond with other side omitting buttonholes.

SLEEVES. — Cast on 36 sts, knit 18 plain rows. Work 1 pattern, then k 2, m 1, k 2 tog for ribbon hole.

Next row purl. Knit twice into every 6th st, making 42 sts. Work 5 rows st st. then k 2 tog at both ends of needle every row till 14 sts remain. Cast off.

Work another sleeve to correspond. Sew up seams, sew in sleeves and sew on buttons. Work around buttonholes to keep firm. Work crochet around neck, sleeves and hem. Thread narrow ribbon through sleeves and wider ribbon at waist. All garments may be pressed lightly with hot iron and a damp cloth.