Saturday, May 14, 2011

Knit Tutu Ballerina Dress for Waldorf Inspired Doll - pattern

Last year I designed a knit tutu dress for my 3 year old who desperately wanted to be a ballerina for Halloween. She absolutely loved it! Fast forward to this week and I thought it'd be fun to utilize my pattern for a custom ordered waldorf inspired doll. An evening of knitting and pattern editting and this is what I came up with. This is my first attempt at posting a pattern, so I hope its relatively clear.

This pattern is for a 14-15 inch waldorf inspired doll. The circumference of this doll at the waistline is approx 11 inches.

Yarn: Bernat Satin
Needles: Size 7
Gauge: 4"=18 sts in stockinette
Other supplies: 48 strips of tulle cut to approx 3" by 7"

Bodice (make 2):
CO 26 sts
Knit 2 rows in st st
Row 3: K1, *k2tog, yo, repeat from *, knit last st
Work 3 rows in st st
Repeat Row 3
Work in st st until piece measures approx 4.5" from cast on edge.

Shape Armholes:
Bind off 3 sts at beginning of next 2 rows (while maintaining st st pattern)
Next row: ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog
Next row: purl
Work 2 more rows of st st

Shape Neckline:
K3, attach another skein or section of yarn, bind off 12 sts, knit remaining 2 sts (you should now have 2 separate sets of 3 stitches at each end of the piece, each with their own working yarn).
Work 3 rows of st st
Bind off remaining 6 sts.

Finishing:
Seam together the shoulder and side seams. Weave in ends.
Cut 48 strips of tulle to approx 3" by 7"
Hook a strip of tulle to each yo opening at the bottom of the dress to make the tutu. There are two rows of yo holes and tulle should be hooked through both sets of holes in order to ensure a nice, full tutu. Below is a step by step picture tutorial for how to do this.

Step 1: Fold strip of tulle in half lengthwise


Step 2: Feed the folded end of the tulle through the hole created by the yarn over



Step 3: Open the tulle at the fold line


Step 4: Grab the tails of the tulle strip and pull them through the opening created at the fold line



Step 5: pull tight



After both rows of tulle have been hooked through the yarn over spaces, you should have this result:

5 comments:

  1. Very cool! Thank you!! I have been looking for something cute like this as a present for an American Girl Doll owner!
    I will get started tonight.

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  2. You're welcome! I hope you enjoy making it. Let me know if you have any questions. You know, my little girl loves her American Girl Bitty Baby - perhaps I'll make this dress for her baby doll and then they can have matching dresses. (Not sure why I didn't think of this before!)

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  3. So adorable!!

    I've been looking for something cute for a White Teddy Bear for a Children's Hospital donation.

    Can you imagine pink and white and a little headband with a bow?

    Thank you for posting this.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is so very cute! It fits the American Girl doll also, which is what I had hoped. Maybe make the knit part slightly longer than 4 1/2 inches. I put a small bow on the front to finish it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete