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 it will feature a knitting pattern which will make a winter jumper for a male or female doll in 1:6th scale (this may also be knitted in 1:12th scale – see materials list below). The design can be knitted as a single colour jumper or with the addition of a a two colour seasonal design on the front of the jumper. The photo of the design will be added tomorrow with the first part of the pattern.
As usual this will not have a religious theme, although it will be Christmas/Winter based, so everyone can take part.
Each morning a new part of the Advent Calendar pattern will be posted on these blog pages.
The calendar will start on 1st December 2025 and part of the pattern will be added each day, with the final part and finishing instructions being given on 24th December.
As usual the design has been kept simple so no matter how rushed you are preparing for Christmas this year, you can find 20 to 30 minutes a day to sit and relax with a few rows of knitting. By working a few rows a day this should give knitters more confidence to tackle a complex looking design and discover it is not as difficult as it may appear.
The jumper is knitted flat on two needles and then sewn up. There is very little shaping (and no shaping in areas of colour work), so this should be within the abilities of most knitters from intermediate to experienced alike. The design may look complex, but if you follow the pattern exactly, as it is written, this should be within the abilities of most knitters.
As another special offer, each day during Advent we will feature one or two of our patterns at a discounted price for 24 hours (at the end of the 24 hour offer period the price of the patterns will revert to their pre-discount price).
———————————-
PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, as this will NOT be shown each day
Ability Level: Intermediate to Experienced
Note: This project is not suitable for a first project in 1:12th scale miniature knitting.
Materials required:
1:6th scale: 2 mm needles for male doll or 1.5 mm for female doll, 90 metres 3-ply/light fingering yarn in Main colour; optional – small amounts red and white, cable needle, 3 stitch holders or safety pins.
1:12h scale: 1.00mm/ UK size 19 needles for male doll or 0.90mm/UK size 20 for female doll, 50 metres 1-ply yarn in Main colour; optional – small amounts red and white, cable needle, 3 stitch holders or safety pins.
Finished size of jumper:
1:6th scale Man:
Back neck to hem – 10 cm/4-inches; sleeve seam – 10 cm/4-inches; chest – 7.5 cm/3¼-inches.
1:6th scale Lady:
Back neck to hem – 8 cm/3¼-inches; sleeve seam – 8 cm/3¼-inches; chest – 6 cm/2½-inches.
1:12th scale Man:
Back neck to hem – 6 cm/2½-inches; sleeve seam – 5 cm/2-inches; chest – 4 cm/1½-inches. Note: jumper for 1:12th scale female doll has not been test knitted
Gauge
1:6th scale – worked over stocking/stockinette stitch: 5 rows = 1 cm and 5 stitches = 1 cm
1:12th scale – not important as dolls house dolls vary greatly in size and shape
Abbreviations
st – stitch; k – knit; p – purl; ( ) – repeat instructions between brackets as detailed in text; sst – stocking/stockinette stitch (one row knit, next row purl); inc – increase by working twice into front and back of next stitch to make 2 stitches; k2tog – knit next two stitches together to form one stitch; k2togtbl – knit next two stitches together through back loops to form one stitch which slants to the left; p2tog – purl next two stitches together to form one stitch; M – Main colour (example written as p 10M), A – first contrast colour (example written as k 3A), B – second contrast colour (example written as p 3B); c6b – slip the next 3 stitches onto a cable needle and leave at the back of work, knit next 3 stitches then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle; c6f – slip the next 3 stitches onto a cable needle and leave at the front of work, knit next 3 stitches then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle.
NOTES – PLEASE READ BEFORE STARTING
1. The pattern is designed to work in all scales listed.
2. The 1:6th scale pattern will fit either a 29-30 cm/11-½ to 12-inch tall doll (including Curvy Barbie and Sindy) or a 32.5 cm/13-inch tall doll (including broad Ken and Action Man). The 1:12th scale pattern will fit either a 13.5 cm/5½-inch tall female or a 15 cm/6-inch male dolls house doll
3. The two colour pattern on the front of the jumper may be omitted, just work these rows using stocking/stockinette stitch in the Main colour.
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. DO NOT cut yarns unless told to do so.
3. 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.
4. If one colour has to be carried across more that 5 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 loops and these will catch on the fingers of the doll when dressing.
5. If the doll has ‘splayed’ fingers it will ease the dressing if you wrap the hand in cling film before fitting the sweater.
——————————–
The Advent calendar will only be available for FREE on our blog pages until 9.00 am 6th January 2026, when it will be removed and be released as a digital pattern to buy from either Ravelry or LoveCrafts. If you wish to take advantage of the free pattern make sure you collect all 24 parts as they are posted or be prepared to buy the pattern.
© Copyright Frances H. Powell 2025
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.