Note: You will need to refer back to this page for materials, abbreviations, sizing and pattern notes as these will not be given each day.
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 dress for a female doll in both 1:12th scale and 1:6th scale. The theme of the calendar this year is lace knitting.
The dress can be made in 1:12th scale to fit a 5½-inch/14 cm tall female dolls house doll and 1:6th scale to fit a 29 cm/11-½ inch tall doll (including Curvy Barbie). 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 2019 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 same pattern is used for both 1:12th and 1:6th scale, only the materials are different (see below for full details).
The design of the dress 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. If you do not wish to try the lace skirt, the dress can be worked as a stand alone item. 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 dress and skirt are both knitted flat on two needles and then sewn up, the dress is 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. The lace knitting may look complex, but if you follow the pattern exactly as it is written this again should be within the abilities of most knitters.
As another special Christmas offer, 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:
1:6th scale: 2.00 mm knitting needles (for Curvy Barbie you may prefer to use 2.50 or 2.75 mm knitting needles for overskirt), approximately 100 metres No 10 crochet cotton in main colour and 70 metres No 10 crochet cotton in contrast colour.
1:12th scale: 1.00 mm knitting needles, approximately ¼ x 5 g ball No 80 crochet cotton in each of two strongly contrasting colours, 15 cm length 2 mm wide ribbon (optional)
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The Advent calendar will remain available for free on our blog pages until 6th January 2020, when it will be removed and be released as a pattern to buy (this will include both 1:12th scale and 1:6th scale). If you wish to take advantage of the free pattern make sure you collect all 24 parts as they are posted.
Ability Level: Beginner to Experienced
This project is not suitable for a very first project in 1:12th scale miniature knitting.
Finished measurements
1:6th scale
Overskirt: 3.5 cm across waist, 12 cm across hem, 11.5 cm waist to hem. (Skirt for curvy Barbie knitted on larger needles 6 cm across waist, 15 cm across hem, 14.5 cm waist to hem.)
Belt: 25 cm long, 1 cm wide.
Dress: 5 cm across waist, 14 cm back neck to hem, 8.5 cm across hem
1:12th scale
Overskirt: 2.5 cm across waist, 5.5 cm across hem, 6 cm waist to hem.
Belt: 15 cm long, 0.4 cm wide or alternatively use 2 mm ribbon if a thinner belt is required.
Dress: 2.5 cm across waist, 6.5 cm back neck to hem, 4.5 cm across hem
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Abbreviations
st – stitch; sl 1 – slip next stitch from one needle to the other without working it; k – knit; p – purl; yrn – take yarn round needle to make a stitch; k2tog – knit next two stitches together to form one stitch; ( ) and { } – repeat instructions between brackets as detailed in text, for { } see note 5 below; k3tog – knit next three stitches together to form one stitch; k2togtbl – knit next two stitches together through back loops to form one stitch; sst – stocking [stockinette] stitch, one row knit, one row purl; m 1 – make 1 by knitting into loop between stitches, twist this stitch as you knit it to avoid holes forming (see bottom of this article for how to make a stitch)
NOTES: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING PROJECT
1. Even if you are an experienced knitter don’t try to be clever and alter the way the pattern is worked, this pattern is not very forgiving.
2. This pattern is a true lace pattern and has no rows of plain knitting. This pattern will work out if you just follow pattern exactly as it is written, even if you are not an accomplished lace knitter.
3. It may help to have a ruler or piece of card to place under each row as you work it. Keep a count of the rows as you work them, it is not easy to work out where you have reached in the pattern if you become distracted.
4. Where stitch counts are given this is for the total number of stitches on the needle, including any which are unworked from previous rows.
5. In rows 3 and 6 { } are used in addition to ( ) – work the whole of the section between these { } brackets, including any sections inside ( ) as detailed in the text. To make the repeat clearer these sections are printed in bold type
6. DO NOT use wrap and turn when working short rows, the ‘holes’ formed on the turning rows are part of the design.
7. The skirt is knitted sideways from back, but in order to make the pattern easier to knit, the back seam is slightly off centre.
© Copyright Frances H. Powell 2019
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.