Trove #5 -- Gifts For Little Mothers

Here's a cuddly dress and bonnet for a 16" doll, courtesy of Trove. Click here to find the original pattern as published in the Brisbane Courier-Mail in 1938.

Here's my edited version of the pattern, because they can be very difficult to read.

GIFTS FOR   LITTLE MOTHERS – HOW TO OUTFIT THE BABY DOLL.

The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. Australia), 28 November 1938.

FATHER CHRISTMAS could not leave anything that would please the small girl better than a baby doll dressed in a woolly frock and bonnet. The dolls now available are so realistic that in the distance they could easily be mistaken for a real baby. Here are some directions for a frock and bonnet for a doll 16 in. long.

MATERIALS – required are two ounces white Shetland wool, 3 yards of half inch white silk ribbon one pair each of No. 10 (US3) and No. 9 (US5) knitting needles, a crochet hook, small buttons.

A PRETTY LACY PATTERN has been chosen for this outfit. Nine rows make the pattern, which is worked as follows, keeping always 2 stitches at each end of the row garter stitch.

1st row: K 1, k 2 tog..* k 4, m 1, k 1, m 1. k 4, k 3 tog , rep. from * to end of row.

2nd and every alternate row: Purl.

3rd row: K 1, k 2 tog., * k 3. m 1, k 3, m 1, k 3, k 2 tog., rep. from * to end of row. ,

5th row: K 1, k 2 tog., * k 2, m 1, k 3 tog., m 1, k 2, k 3 tog., rep. from * to end of. row.

7th row: K 1, k 2 tog.. * k 2, m 1, k 3 tog., m 1, k 2 tog., k 2, m 1, rep from * to the end of row.

9th row: K 1, k 2 tog., * k 3 tog., m 1 rep. from * to end of row.

FOR THE BONNET, use No. 9 knitting needles, cast on 53 stitches, and work half an inch in. garter stitch or plain knitting. Work on in pattern, making a hole at each end of needle by k 2 tog wool over needle every 4th row. Work without shaping for three patterns, then stop making holes and change from pattern to st. st, and shape for back as follows:— K 2, k 2 tog., * k 9 k 3 tog., repeat from * three times more, ending row k 2 tog., k 2. Next and every alternate row purl. Every plain row the sts. between the k 3 tog. will decrease by two. When only 13 remain altogether, draw thread through these sts, and draw up. Stitch up back for 2 ½ in.

FOR THE FROCK.— Using No 9 needles, cast on 63 stitches, and work garter or plain knitting till a quarter inch deep. .Change to the pattern and work six patterns in depth. Next row knit 2 together, k 3, repeat to end of row. Work a row of holes round waist and then change to moss stitch. Work 1 ½ inches, then cast on 10 stitches at the beginning of next two rows to form sleeves. Continue working, in moss stitch until 4 inches from the last pattern. Cast off the centre 9 stitches, and then knit 2 together at each side of neck every row until 22 stitches re main on each side, working both sides at once with two balls of wool. Work two rows without shaping. Cast off. Work the back of frock exactly the same as front, but work on without shaping for neck. When sleeves measure same as front. cast off right across the back. Join the sleeves together and the shoulders, leaving an opening of about an inch on each side. Work one row of double crochet round the neck, making two small loops on each shoulder for buttonholes. Crochet round the sleeves to make them fit the arm tightly. To make up, join all seams and press very lightly through a damp cloth. Thread the holes with ribbon, and stitch two ribbon strings and rosettes to the bonnet.