Pattern of the Month

Instructions.

The basic dolls are identical, differing only in hair and clothing.

Girl Doll - head (2 pieces alike):

With No 11 needles and flesh colour, cast on 12 stitches.
Working in stocking stitch, increase 1 stitch at each end of the next 9 rows, then increase stitch each end of the following 5 alternate rows. Then, increase 1 stitch each end of every 3rd row until there are 46 stitches.
Work 15 rows straight.

Now decrease 1 stitch at each end of the next and every 3rd row
until 40 stitches remain.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of the following 5 alternate rows, then decrease 1 stitch at each end of every row until 12 stitches remain. Cast off.

Make a second piece the same and join together, leaving cast-on edges open.
Stuff firmly.

Girl Doll - body (2 pieces alike):

With No 11 needles and flesh colour, cast on 24 stitches.
Work 22 rows stocking stitch.
Then, decrease 1 stitch at each end of the next row.
Work 5 rows straight.
Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next and every 5th row until there are 32 stitches.
Work 5 rows straight.
Cast off 7 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of the following 3 alternate rows.
Work 3 rows straight.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of the next row.
Work 17 rows straight.
Cast off.

Make a second piece the same and join together, leaving cast-off edges open.
Stuff firmly and sew to head opening.

Girl Doll - legs (make 2):

With No 11 needles and flesh colour, cast on 38 stitches.
Work 10 rows stocking stitch.

Next Row: k14, k2tog, k6, k2togtbl, k14.
Next Row: p13, p2togtbl, p6, p2tog, p13.
Continue decreasing as set on every row, working 1 stitch less at the beginning and end of the rows until 26 stitches remain.

Continue straight until work measures 12 inches.
Cast off.

Join back and foot seams.
Stuff; close opening and sew to body.

Girl Doll - arms (make 2):

With No 11 needles and flesh colour, cast on 25 stitches.
Work in stocking stitch until work measures 7 inches, ending after a purl row.

Next Row: k1, (m1, k11, m1, k1) twice.
Purl one row.
Next Row: k1, (m1, k13, m1, k1) twice.
Purl one row.
Next Row: k1, (m1, k15, m1, k1) twice.

Work 11 rows straight.
Next Row: k1, (k2togtbl, k13, k2tog, k1) twice.
Next Row: p1, (p2tog, p11, p2togtbl, p1) twice.

Continue to decrease as set on the next 4 rows.
Cast off.

Join side and hand seams.
Stuff; close opening and sew to body.

Girl Doll - hair:

Cut brown yarn in 36 inch lengths. With centre of strands of yarn at centre of head, arrange evenly over head from front hairline to nape of neck, backstitching securely over centre for parting.
Smooth down to ear level, catch down, then plait ends, tie and trim.

Girl Doll - features:

Cut oval sections, as given in the diagram, for eyes, (white felt); centres (black), mouth (red); sew on as shown in picture.

Girl Doll - jumper:

BACK: With No 9 needles and Red yarn, cast on 48 stitches.
Work 4 rows in k1/p1 rib. Break off red yarn, and join in Navy yarn.
*

** Continue in stocking-stitch until work measures 3¼ inches, ending with a purl row.

Next Row (make back opening): k26; turn.
Next Row: k4, purl to end.
Next Row: knit.
Repeat the last 2 rows until work measures 5¼ inches, ending with a purl row.

Shape the armhole by casting off 3 stitches at the armhole edge on the next 3 rows.
Continue until work measures 8 inches.
Cast off.

Rejoin yarn to the inner edge of the remaining stitches, cast on 4 stitches, and complete to match the other side.

FRONT: Work exactly as for BACK as far as *.
Continue in stocking stitch until work measures 5¼ inches, ending with a purl row.

Shape armholes by casting off 3 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows, then k2tog at each end of the next 3 rows.
**

Neck shaping:
Next Row: k12; turn.
Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on the next 3 rows.
Cast off.

Slip the centre 12 stitches on to a stitch holder and work the other side of the neck to match.

SLEEVES: With No 9 needles and Red yarn, cast on 40 stitches, and work as for the BACK up to *.

Continue in stocking stitch, until work measures 2 inches, ending with a purl row.
To shape the top, cast off 3 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows, then k2tog at the beginning of every row until 22 stitches remain.
Cast off.

NECKBAND: Join the shoulder seams.
With No 9 needles and Red yarn, starting and the centre back, pick up and knit 48 stitches around the neck, including the stitches on the holder.
Rib 3 rows, and cast off loosely in rib.

Set in the sleeves.
Join side and sleeve seams.
Sew on 3 press studs down the back opening.

CHERRIES: Cut two circles in red felt - about the size of a 1p piece. Sew on and embroider stems with white yarn as shown in the photo.

Girl Doll - trousers:

LEGS (2 pieces alike): With No 9 needles and Red yarn, cast on 42 stitches. Work in stocking stitch, until work measures 8 inches, ending with a purl row.

Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next and following 4th row.
Work 3 rows.
Cast off 2 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of the next 3 rows.
Continue in stocking stitch, until work measures 12½ inches.
Cast off.

Make a second leg the same.

Join front and back seams.
Join leg seams.
Turn up ½ inch hems to right side on legs and catch stitch in place.
Turn in ½ inch hem at waist, enclosing a ring of elastic, and catch stitch in place.

Girl Doll - socks:

With No 9 needles and Green yarn, cast on 46 stitches.
Work 10 rows in stocking stitch.

Next Row: k17, k2tog, k8, k2togtbl, k17.
Next Row: p16, p2togtbl, p8, p2tog, p16.

Working in stripes of 2 rows Red, and and 2 rows Green, continue decreasing as set until 32 stitches remain.
Pattern 13 rows.
Still working in stripes, knit 1 row, then rib 3 rows, and cast off in rib.
Join leg and foot seam.

Girl Doll - shoes:

Cut out 4 upper sections and 2 soles from red felt, using the pattern given in the diagram.
Join heel and toe seams.
Sew the lower edge of the upper around the sole.

Boy Doll - head, body, legs, and arms:

Work exactly as for GIRL doll.

Boy Doll - hair:

Using a darning needle and 2 strands of dark brown yarn, work around hair line, then then fill centre thus:
Wind the yarn three times around 2 fingers of your left hand and back stitch these loops to the head. Stitch the next 3 loops close to the previous loops, and continue in this way, covering the head densely.

Boy Doll - features:

Exactly as the GIRL doll.

Boy Doll - jumper:

BACK: With No 9 needles and Blue yarn, cast on 48 stitches.
Work 8 rows in stocking-stitch.
Join in Light Blue yarn, and work 2 rows, then break off Light Blue.
Continue in Blue. ***

Complete the back as for the GIRL doll's jumper, starting from **.

FRONT: Work exactly as for BACK (above) as far as ***.
Then continue to work as for the GIRL's jumper as far as **.

Shape armholes by casting off 3 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows, then k2tog at each end of the next 3 rows.
**

Neck shaping:
Next Row (wrong side facing): p16; turn.
Next Row: k2, k2tog, knit to end.
Repeat the last 2 rows until 10 stitches remain.
Work 1 row.
Cast off.

Rejoin the yarn to the inner edge of the remaining stitches, and work the other side to match, working k2togtbl, instead of k2tog.

SLEEVES: With No 9 needles and Blue yarn, cast on 40 stitches, and work as for the (Boy's) BACK up to ***.

Continue in stocking stitch, until work measures 2½ inches, ending with a purl row.
To shape the top, cast off 3 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows, then k2tog at the beginning of every row until 22 stitches remain.
Cast off.

NECK INSET:
With No 9 needles and Blue yarn, cast on 3 stitches.
Work 2 rows in stocking stitch.
Working in stripes of 2 rows Light Blue and 2 rows Blue, increase 1 stitch at each end of the next and every following alternate row until there are 15 stitches.
Cast off knitwise.

COLLAR:
With No 9 needles and Blue yarn, cast on 36 stitches.
Working 1 stitch knit at each end of ever purl row, work as for the (Boy's) BACK up to ***.
Work 13 rows straight.
Next Row: k1, p11, cast off knitwise the next 12 stitches, purl to the last stitch, k1.

Continue on these stitches only.
Still working the garter stitch edge as set, decrease 1 stitch at each end of the 3rd and every following 4th row until 2 stitches remain.
Knit 3 rows.
K2tog and fasten off.

With right side facing, rejoin yarn to inner edge of remaining stitches, and work other side to match.

Join shoulders.
Sew in inset.
Sew press studs to collar to points to fasten at centre front.
Sew on 3 press studs down the back opening.
Set in sleeves.
Join side and sleeve seams.
Turn under ½ inch hems at lower edge, collar and sleeves and catch stitch in place.

Boy Doll - trousers:

Work as for the GIRL doll's trousers but using Blue yarn, and turning all the hems to the wrong side.

Boy Doll - boots:

Cut out 4 upper sections and 2 soles from white felt, using the pattern given in the diagram.
Cut 4 circles in red felt about the size of a 10p piece, and sew on each side of the heel for decoration, as shown.
Join heel and toe seams of uppers, and sew around sole.
With white thread, work stitching line as shown by broken line.
Pierce eyelet holes and lace with Blue yarn.

Materials

Double knitting yarn in 20g balls:

Girl Doll:
• 6 balls in flesh colour;
• 4 balls in red;
• 4 balls in brown;
• 3 balls navy, and
• 1 ball in lime green.
• One 6-inch square of red felt and scraps of white and black felt for shoes, cherries and features.
• 3 press studs and a waist length of elastic.

Boy Doll:.
• 6 balls in dark blue;
• 4 balls dark brown;
• 1 ball in light blue.
• One 6-inch square of white felt and scraps of red and black felt for boots and features.
• 5 press studs and a waist length of elastic.

• A pair each of Nos 11 (3mm) and 9 (3¾mm) knitting needles
• Stuffing for each doll.

Tension

28sts x 36 rows to 4 inches on No 11 needles.
24sts x 32 rows to 4 inches on No 9 needles.

Size matters

Height 24 inches.

Abbreviations

m1: make 1 stitch by picking up the strand of yarn before the next stitch and knit into the back of it
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
k2togtbl: knit 2 stitches together through back loops (also known as ssk - "slip, slip, knit")
p2tog: purl 2 sts together
p2togtbl: purl 2 sts together through back loops

A Word
on the Wool.

The original yarn was a courtelle bri-nylon standard double knitting.

Disclaimer
(well...almost)

In transposing any pattern it is always a risk that errors will be introduced, in spite of dedicated proof reading.
If you have any problems with this pattern, please and I will try and assist.

Pattern Diagram

This is the pattern for the felt pieces used for the features, shoes, and boots.
It is mapped on to a grid of 1 inch squares, (subdivided into eighths), originally designed for you to draw it out yourself on to a grid of 1 inch squares. You can download pdf files of printable graph paper from the web - you need 8 lines to the inch.