Classic Suit (Sweater and Skirt) for 18-inch Doll

Free Doll Suit Knitting Pattern

This outfit consists of a pullover and skirt. I was going for a retro vibe. Something that might look at home on a 1950s school girl.

The pullover is knitted in parts, which are then sewn together. It features contrast knitting at the neck, hem and sleeves, which adds a charming splash of color to this outfit.

The skirt features rib knitting, which is meant to mimic the pleated A-line skirts of the 1950s.

Feel free to experiment with different color choices. This pattern is very good for that!

Skills Required/Techniques Used:

-Knit & purl, cast on & bind off

-Increasing

-Working in the round on double pointed needles

-Working with yarn needle to assemble the sweater

Materials:

• Bernat (affiliate link) Satin 100% acrylic yarn worsted weight, color - Forest Mist, 149 m (163 yds)/100 g - 1 skein.
• Bernat (affiliate link) Satin 100% acrylic yarn worsted weight, color - Silk, 149 m (163 yds)/100 g - 1 skein. You can use any white yarn of the same weight as you'll need only a small amount of it.

Needles: US #4 (3.50 mm) straigt and double pointed needles OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE.

Gauge: 18 st x 24 rows = 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) for stocking stitch

Notions: yarn needle, 4 sew-on snaps, sewing needle and thread of matching color to attach snaps.

Abbreviations:
k - knit
p - purl
m1 - make 1 increase - I used the increase described by Elizabeth Zimmerman: make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit as a regular stitch.
RS - right side
WS - wrong side

Pattern Notes:

1x1 Rib in the round: multiple of 2.
All rounds: *k1, p1 - repeat from * around.

Garter Stitch in rows: all rows - knit.

Stockinette Stitch:
Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2 (WS): purl

Repeat 2 rows.

Edge stitches are worked as follows: knit the first st. and purl the last one.

Sweater

Sweater is worked by parts which are then assembled.

Front

With white yarn cast on 28 sts.

Work 4 rows in garter stitch. Cut white yarn, attach green.

Row 5 (RS): k27, p1.

Row 6 (WS): k1, p27.

Repeat rows 5 and 6 nine more times.

Row 25: k10, bind off 8 sts, k9, p1.

Continiue to work the left and right parts of the front separately from 2 balls of yarn.

Work 7 rows more (rows 26-32) on each part of front in stockinette: knit the RS, purl the WS. Bind off.

Right Back

With white yarn cast on 15 sts.

Work 4 rows in garter stitch, cut the white yarn, attach the green one.

Row 5 (RS): k14, p1.

Row 6 (WS): k1, p14.

Repeat rows 5 and 6 ten more times. Repear row 5 one more time.

Row 28 (WS): bind off 5 sts. p10.

Row 29 (RS): k9, p1.

Row 30 (WS): k1, p9.

Repeat rows 29-30 one more time. Bind off.

Left Back

With white yarn cast on 15 sts.

Work 4 rows in garter stitch. Cut the white yarn, attach the green one.

Row 5 (RS): k14, p1.

Row 6 (WS): k1, p14.

Repeat rows 5-6 ten more times.

Row 27 (RS): bind off 5 sts, k9,p1.

Row 28 (WS): k1, p9.

Row 29 (RS): k9, p1.

Repeat rows 28-29 one more time. Repeat row 29 one more time. Bind off.

Sleeve

With white yarn cast on 20 sts.

Work 4 rows in garter stitch. Cut the white yarn and attach the green one.

Row 5 (RS): k19, p1.

Row 6 (WS): k1, p19.

Row 7 (RS): k1, m1, k18, m1, p1. =22 sts

Row 8 (WS): k1, p21.

Row 9 (RS): k21, p1.

Repeat rows 8-9 one more time, repeat row 8 one more time.

Row 13 (RS): k1, m1, k20, m1, p1. = 24 sts

Row 14 (WS): k1, p 23.

Row 15 (RS): k23, p1.

Repeat rows 14-15 one more time. repeat row 14 one more time.

Row 19 (RS): k1, m1, k22, m1, p1. = 26 sts

Row 20 (WS): k1, p25.

Row 21 (RS): k1, p25.

Repeat rows 20-21 one more time, repeat row 20 one more time.

Row 25 (RS): k1, m1, k24, m1, p1. = 28 sts

Row 26 (WS): k1, p27.

Row 27 (RS): k27, p1.

Row 28 (WS): repeat row 26. Bind off.

Finishing

Join shoulder seams.

With white yarn pick up 42 sts along the neckline and knit 5 rows in garter stitch for the collar. Bind off.

Join side seams and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves.

Sew 4 sew-on snaps to the back opening.

Skirt

The skirt is worked in the round on doble pointed needles.

Cast on 52 sts, distribute them on dpn evenly. Join into round taking care not to twist the stitches.

Work 5 rounds in 1x1 rib: *k1, p1 - repeat from * across the round.

ROund 6 (increase round): *k1, m1, p1 - repeat from * across the round. = 78 sts

ROund 7: *k1, p2 - repeat from * across the round.

Repeat round 7 nine more times.

Round 17: *k1, p2, m1 - repeat from 8 across the round. = 104 sts

ROund 18: *k1, p3 - repeat from * across the round.

Repeat round 18 nine more times

Round 28: knit

Round 29: purl

Repeat rounds 28-29 two more times.

Repeat round 28 one more time. Bind off.

Finishing

Weave in all yarn ends.

Enjoy!