Red and White Tunic for 18-inch Doll

Free Doll Tunic Knitting Pattern

I designed this seamless tunic to match the Leggings and Earflap hat. However, it makes a great separate piece to match other outfits. Great for both sporty and casual looks.

Skills Required/Techniques Used:
--Knit & purl, cast on & bind off
--Increasing: knit front and back (kfr&b), make 1 (m1)
--Working in the round on double pointed needles (dpn)
--Picking up stitches

Size: fits 18-inch dolls like American Girl, Our Generation and other dolls with similar body.

Materials: Lambs Pride Super Wash by Brown Sheep (affiliate link) Co, sport weight 100% wool yarn 180 yds (165 m)/ 50 g, main color (MC): 1 ball, contrast color (CC) - about 1/4 ball.

Needles: circular US # 5 (3.75mm) and double pointed needles of the same size for the sleeves OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE
Note: When working stockinette in rounds the gauge may change, because we use only knit stitches, so you might need double pointed needles one or two size higher.

Gauge for stockinette st: 24 st x 28 rows = 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm):

Notions:
- 4 stitch markers
- Stitch holders or 2 pieces 10” long of contrasting color waste yarn to hold stitches
- Yarn needle
- 4-5 sew-on snaps size 2/0 or 3/0
- Sewing needle and thread of color matching the yarn for attaching the snaps

Abbreviations:
dpn – double pointed needles
K – knit
P – purl
St, sts – stitch, stitches
pu&k - pick up and knit
as est. - as established, work as the pattern demands,
co – cast on
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
kfr&b - knit the same st through front and back loop
m 1 - make 1 increase - make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit it as a regular stitch.
bb – button band

Pattern Notes:

Stockinette in rows:
Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2: purl
Repeat 2 rows.

Stockinette in rounds: all rounds knit

Garter stitch in rounds: knit the first round, purl the next round. Repeat 2 rounds.

Textured pattern in rows: multiple of 6
Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2 (WS): *k4, p2, - repeat from *
Repeat 2 rows.

The selvedge/edge stitches are worked as follows: knit the first stitch and purl the last one.

Button Bands (bb) are worked in garter stitch on 3 stitches in the beginning and in the end of each row.


Short Overview of the Pattern:

Tunic is worked top-down, seamlessly, with round yoke. First the tunic is worked back-and-forth with the opening on the back to the hip line, then worked in rounds. The yoke is worked in 2 colors, sleeves and the body are worked in MC. The sleeves are worked in the round on dpn. Button bands (bb) are worked together with the body of the tunic, in garter stitch - all rows knit.

Tunic

Yoke:

With MC yarn cast on 46 sts

Row 1 (RS): k45, p1.

Row 2 (WS): k4, p38, k3, p1.

Repeat rows 1-2 two more times.

Row 7 (RS, increase row): k4, *m1, k2 - repeat from * 19 times , m1, k3, p1 = 66 sts

Row 8 (WS): k4, p58, k3, p1

Row 9 (RS) : k65, p1.

Repeat rows 8-9 two more times, repeat row 8 one more time. From row 11 work with CC.

Row 13 (RS, increase row): k4, * m1, k2 - repeat from * 29 times, m1, k3, p1 = 96 sts

Row 14 (WS): k4, p88, k3, p1.

Row 15 (RS): k95, p1.

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


Divide for sleeves and bodice:

Change to MC.

Row 19 (RS): k14, transfer 22 sts on a stitch holder or piece of waste yarn, co 6, k24, transfer the next 22 on a stitch holder or piece of waste yarn, co 6, k13, p1. = 64 sts

Row 20 (WS): k4, *p1, k3 - repeat from * 14 times (repeat from * to last 4 sts,), m1, k3, p1 = 65 sts

Row 21 (RS): k4, *kfr&b, k3 - repeat from * 14 times, kfr&b, k3, p1 = 80 sts

Row 22 (WS): k4, *p2, k3 - repeat from * 15 times, p1. (80 sts)

Row 23 (RS): k79, p1.

Repeat rows 22-23 six more times, repeat row 22 one more time.

Row 37 (RS, increase row): *k5, m1 - repeat from * 15 times, k4, p1 = 95 sts

Row 38 (WS):k4, *p3, k3 - repeat from * 15 times, p1

Row 39 (RS): k94, p1.

Repeat rows 38-39 four more times, repeat row 38 one more time.

Note: you can continue to work back and forth with the opening on the back till desired length of the tunic, or you can close the work into round.


Closing the Work into a Round:

Row 49 (RS)/round1: K91 (till the last 4 sts) transfer the last 4 sts to a spare needle, overlap with the 4 sts of the right BB, holding the spare needle over the left needle. Insert the right needle in the first st on the spare needle, then in the first st on the left needle, yarn over, pull the yarn through both sts, cast both of them off. Repeat with the remaining 3 sts of the button band. Place a marker after these 4 sts of the former bb to mark the beginning of the round. = 91 sts

Round 2: *k3, p3 - repeat from * to last 4, k4

Round 3: knit around.

Repeat rounds 2-3 six more times or to desired length. Bind off. Cut yarn.


Sleeves

Transfer 22 sts from waste yarn to dpn, distribute evenly.

Round 1: starting with the middle (it's 3rd) underarm st, pu&k 3 sts, k22, pu&k 3 sts. (= 28 sts)

The beginning of the round starts in the middle of underarm sts.

Work 35 rounds in stotckinette: all rounds knit.
Bind off. Cut yarn.


Finishing:

Weave in all yarn ends. Block the tunic. Sew the snaps on the button bands.

Have fun!