Back-to-School Jumper for 18-inch Doll

Free Doll Jumper Knitting Pattern

This is a fun and easy jumper dress for the American Girl Doll. I knitted it as a back-to-school project, but of course it works for other occasions too.

Skills Required/Techniques Used:
-Knit & purl, cast on & bind off
-Increasing: knit front and back (kfr&b) - one stitch increase
- Decreasing: knit 2 together (k2tog), purl 2 together (p2tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk).
-Working in the round on double pointed needles
-Picking up stitches

Materials: Knit Picks (affiliate link) Palette fingering weight 100% wool yarn 231 yds (210 m)/ 50 g - 1 ball.

Needles: Circular US 1.5 (2.25 mm) and OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Gauge: 32 st x 40 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm) in stockinette st.

Notions:
- stitch markers
- Yarn needle
- 2 buttons
- Sewing needle and thread of color matching the yarn for attaching the buttons

Abbreviations:
K – knit
P – purl
St, sts – stitch, stitches
pu&k - pick up and knit
as est. - as established, work as the pattern demands, here
co – cast on
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
k2tog - knit 2 together
ssk - slip-slip-knit
p2tog - purl 2 together


Pattern Notes:

Stockinette Stitch in rounds: all rounds knit

Seed stitch in rows (multiple of 2):
Row 1: *k1, p1 - repeat from * across
Row 2: *p1, k1 - repeat from * across
Repeat 2 rows.

Seed stitch in rounds (multiple of 2):
Round 1: *k1, p1 - repeat from * around
Rounds 2: * p1, k1 - repeat from * around
Repeat 2 rounds.

1x1 Rib in rounds (multiple of 2): all rounds *k1, p1 - repeat from * around.

Selvedge/edge stitches: knit the first st and purl the last one.


Jumper, Short Overview:

The jumper is worked top down, seamlessly on circular or double pointed needles, whichever you prefer. First the bodice is worked in 1x1 rib to the waist line. Then the skirt is worked in stockinette, the hem of the skirt is worked in seed stitch. The stitches for the shoulder straps are picked up on the edge of the bodice and are worked in seed stitch back and forth.
Button holes are worked on the strap, but you can also knit without button holes and use snaps. However, I think decorative buttons look better.


Bodice

Cast on 90 sts. Join into round taking care not to twist the sts. Place a marker at the beginning of the round, slip marker while working.

Work 1x1 rib for 15 rounds or until the working piece is 2".


Skirt

Next round: *k2, kfr&b - repeat from * around. = 120 sts

Next round: knit around.

Repeat the last round until the skirt is 4" long.

Work 10 more rounds in seed stitch pattern:

Round 1: *k1, p1 - repeat from * around

Round 2: *p1, k1 - repeat from * around

Repeat these 2 rounds 4 more times. Bind off.


Shoulder Straps

Put the jumper on a doll. Determine the position of the straps on the back of the jumper. Place markers, the distance between the straps is 10-12 stitches.

With RS facing, pu&k 10 sts, work the strap in seed stitch pattern in rows ,

Row1 (RS): (k1, p1) 5 times.

Row2 (WS): k1,(k1,p1) 4 times, p1.

Repeat 2 rows until the strap is 4" long. Try on a doll, add more rows if needed.

The next row (RS, making the button hole): (k1, p1 ) twice, yo, p2tog, (k1, p1) twice.

The next row (WS): k1,(k1,p1) 4 times, p1.

The next row: (RS): k1, ssk, (p1,k1) twice, p2tog, p1. ( = 8sts)

The next row (WS): (K1, p1) 4 times

The next row (RS): K1, ssk, k1, p1, k2tog, p1. (=6 sts)

The next row (WS): k1,(K1, p1) twice, p1. Bind off.

Work the second strap in the same way. Bind off.


Finishing

Weave in all yarn ends. Block the piece. Sew on buttons to the bodice on the front.

Have fun!