© F H Powell 2018
This year we have decided once again to have an Advent Calendar for knitters and will be featuring a knitting pattern which will make a Nordic style sweater for a male doll in both 1:12th scale and 1:6th scale. The theme of the calendar this year is colour work in knitting. On some days there will also be tutorials published on the blog to help less experienced knitters and will show in more detail how to work the different techniques required by the pattern.
The sweater can be made in 1:12th scale to fit a 15 cm tall male dolls house doll and 1:6th scale to fit a 13-inch/32.5 cm fashion doll/action figure, such as Ken, GI Joe and Pallitoy Action Man. As usual this will not have a religious theme, although Christmas based, so everyone can take part.
Each part of the Advent Calendar will be posted here each morning on our blog pages
The calendar will start on 1st December 2018 and a new part of the pattern will be added each day, with the final part and finishing instructions being given on 24th December.
The design of the sweater looks very complex, but in fact has been kept simple so no matter how rushed you are preparing for Christmas this year, you can find 10 to 30 minutes a day to sit and relax with a few rows of knitting. We have tried to keep the sweater shape itself very simple so you can concentrate on the colour work. By working a few rows a day this should give knitters more confidence to tackle a complex looking design and find out it is not as difficult as it appears.
The sweater is knitted flat on two needles and then sewn up, the main parts are knitted in stocking [stockinette] stitch with two colours and has some simple shaping, so this should be within the abilities of most knitters from beginners to experienced alike.
As another special Christmas offer, on days with no tutorial or knitting tip, we will offer one of our patterns at a discounted price for 24 hours (at the end of the 24 hour offer period the price of the pattern will revert to its normal price).
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To participate you will require the following materials:
1:12th scale: Size 19 (1.00 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needles, 40 yards/37.5 metres1-ply yarn in each of two colours, 2 stitch holders or safety pins
1:6th scale: Size 1.50 mm knitting needles, 60 yards/55 metres No. 10 crochet cotton or 2-ply yarn in each of two colours, 2 stitch holders or safety pins
Note: This design can also be worked in 1:24th scale: follow the instructions for the 1:12th scale pattern, but use No 80 crochet cotton/No 70 tatting thread with 0.50 mm needles
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The Advent calendar will remain available for free on our blog pages until 6th January 2019, when it will be removed and be released as three separate patterns to buy (1:12th scale and two 1:6th scale), so make sure you collect all 24 parts as they are posted.
Ability Level: Intermediate to Experienced
This project is not suitable for a very first project in miniature knitting.
Approximate finished sizes of sweater:
1:12th scale: 2½-inches/6 cm tall by 1¾-inches/4.5 cm wide, sleeve seam: 1¾-inches/4.5 cm
1:6th scale: 4-inches/10 cm tall by 3-inches/7.5 cm across chest, sleeve seam: 3½-inches/9 cm
Gauge:
1:12th scale: This is not important as dolls can be any size.
1:6th scale: worked over stocking {stockinette] stitch in one colour – 7 rows and 6 stitches = 1 cm
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Abbreviations:
st – stitch; k – knit; p – purl; ( ) – repeat instructions between brackets as detailed in text; inc – increase by knitting twice into next stitch to make 2 stitches; k2tog – knit next two stitches together to form one stitch; p2tog – purl next two stitches together to form one stitch; sst – stocking [stockinette] stitch (one row knit, one row purl)
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Note on reading the charts
· The knit rows (odd numbered rows) are read from right to left.
· The purl rows (even numbered rows) are read from left to right.
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Tips for working with more than one colour
1. Before commencing the pattern it may be easier to wind the yarn onto bobbins or place the balls in separate bags as this will prevent the colours becoming tangled as you work.
2. When carrying yarn across the back of work, take care not to pull yarn too tightly as this will distort the pattern and the shape of the garment.
3. If one colour has to be carried across more that 7 stitches it is advisable to ‘weave’ the yarn when working with the other colour i.e. place the yarn being carried ‘over’ the yarn in use before working the next stitch. This is important otherwise the back of the garment will be a mass of long loops and these will catch on the fingers of the doll when dressing.
4. If the doll has ‘splayed’ fingers it will ease the dressing if you wrap the hand in cling film before dressing the doll in the sweater
5. Always remember to check the chart for the next row to be worked, as you will find some rows require the yarn to be carried across the work ready for the next row.
6. When working in this scale it is much better to use the ‘carried behind’ method rather than cutting and joining the yarn each time a colour is changed on a row. Cutting and re-joining creates too much bulk to this scale when the ends are sewn in.
© Copyright Frances H. Powell 2018
All rights reserved. This pattern is for private use only and may not be reproduced in any form, or reproduced for commercial gain including selling any item knitted up from these patterns without written permission from Buttercup Miniatures. Reproducing or transmitting this pattern by any means for any purpose other than for personal use constitutes a violation of copyright law.