Thursday 9 April 2015

Teddy knitted dress and shoes





This is an easy knitting pattern for a dress and shoes.  The dress skirt has a 4 row pattern. changing to garter stitch (every row knit) for the bodice.  The shoes were inspired by some little bootees I made for my grandson a while ago.  I had a bit of a fuss to get the right size for the sole of the shoe as teddy bears paws are large and round!  I tried lots of different ways to edge the shoe - knitting a hem was way too fiddly and difficult to explain in a written pattern.  I don't usually add any crochet in what is essentially a knitting pattern, but couldn't figure out another way to make a neat edge.  If you don't crochet, maybe you could top stitch round the edge just to make it stand out a bit which makes the shoes less like babies bootees.....  I added the strap and then thought - what about little slip on shoes so made the motifs which I think works quite well.
The pattern fits my 15" Lil Cub build a bear well and should be ok for small bears if you work a few less rows.  If you have a larger bear its easy enough to add a few more stitches and adjust the pattern.
A few notes on Tension:  I used budget yarn for this pattern which is great for dolls and teddy clothes but it tends to be a bit thicker than other double knit. Check your tension and measure your bear to make sure the dress fits.  The shoes should fit most Build a Bears.  
The actual measurement of the dress is 8" from hem to shoulder and 16" around chest.  

You will need: 100g double knit yarn, 25g double knit yarn and 2 small buttons if making two colour shoes,  No 3.25mm and 4mm needles, (US3 and 6) No 3.5 crochet hook
Tension: 22sts x 30 rows over 4” using no 4mm needles and pattern
Abreviations: k: knit, p: purl, tog: together, sts: stitches, yf: yarn forward, S1: slip one stitch, M1:  pick up loop between last and next st and work into the back of this loop.
Dc: double crochet (US single crochet), ch: chain


Dress

Back and front (both alike)
Using no 3.25 needles cast on 72sts
Work 6 rows in garter stitch (every row knit)
Change to no 4mm needles 
Work 2 rows stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row)
Row 1: k2,p2 to end
Row 2: purl
Row 3: p2, k2 to end
Row 4: purl
These 4 rows form the pattern
Repeat pattern until work measures 4.5 ins ending on a wrong side

Next row:  (k2tog) across row (36sts)
Work 9 rows garter stitch
Shape armhole:
(right side facing)  Cast off 4sts at the beginning of next 2 rows.
Next row: k2tog, k to last 2sts, k2tog  (26sts)
Work 9 rows garter stitch
Neck shaping:
Next row: k8, cast off 10sts, k8
Turn, continue on 8sts:
Next row: k6, k2tog
Next row: k2tog, k5  (6sts)
Work 10 rows garter stitch  (check length of straps against your bear to ensure a good fit)
Cast off. Fasten off yarn leaving a tail for sewing seam.

Rejoin yarn to remaining 8sts wrong side facing.
Next row: k2tog, k6
Next row: k5, k2tog (6sts)
Work 10 rows garter stitch  
Cast off. Fasten off yarn leaving a tail for shoulder sewing seam.


To finish

Sew side seams
Sew shoulder seams
Fasten off all ends


Shoes with straps

Using no 3.25 needles cast on 28sts
Row 1: knit
Row 2: k1, m1, k12, m1, k2, m1, k12, m1 k1   (32sts)
Row 3: knit
Row 4: k2, m1, k12, m1, k4, m1, k12, m1 k2   (36sts)
Row 5: knit
Row 6: k3, m1, k12, m1, k6, m1, k12, m1 k3   (40sts)
Row 7: knit
Row 8: k4, m1, k12, m1, k8, m1, k12, m1 k4   (44sts)
Row 9: knit
Row 10: k5, m1, k12, m1, k10, m1, k12, m1 k5   (48sts)
Row 11: knit
Row 12: k6, m1, k12, m1, k12, m1, k12, m1 k6   (52sts)

Change to no 4mm needles  
Work 8 rows garter stitch
Shape  top
Row 1: k32, k2tog, turn   
Row 2: s1, k12, k2tog, turn
Row 3: s1, k12, k2tog, turn
Repeat rows 2 and 3  twice
Row:  8: s1, k12, k2tog, turn
Row 9 s1, k to end of row across all sts
Cast off  
Join foot and back seam

Strap
Using no 4mm needles cast on 3sts
Work 24 rows garter stitch
Next row:  k2tog, yf, k1
Knit 1 row
Cast off


Shoe Edging



Using no 3.5 crochet hook fold shoe along last row of sole (see picture) and beginning at centre back edge work a round of dc through loops.

Sew strap onto shoe as in photo, placing button hole on outer side of right and left shoe.  Sew on button to correspond with buttonhole.


Shoes with white sole and motif


Using white yarn, work as shoes above to end of row 12
Change to contrast yarn and continue to end.
Use white to complete edging.
Motif
With no 3.50 crochet hook and white yarn make 3ch, 6dc in 3rd ch from hook, slip stitch to top of 1st dc, (3ch, 1dc) to last dc, slip stitch in dc
Sew motifs on front of shoe and sew on button.  You can also make a motif and sew on dress to match shoes

Fasten off all ends

Finished Projects  on ravelry      

9 comments:

  1. Thanks for this lovely pattern. How would I adjust the dress pattern to fit a 9 inch teddy bear (8 inches round the chest)? Should I just halve the number of stitches cast on?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi

      Its not so easy to just halve the number of stitches because of neck shaping etc. I have 2 suggestions:

      You could reduce the cast on stitches to 44 (they must be multiples of 4 for the skirt pattern) then adjust the pattern to fit ie reduce the number of rows and the stitch count for the neck shaping. Keep checking on your bear for a good fit.

      Or, knit on 3.25 needles throughout using 4ply yarn - which would probably be the best idea

      Hope this helps

      Delete
    2. Thanks. I will try what you suggested.

      Delete
  2. I'm making knitted teddies to give to children in hospitals. Will you allow me to use your patterns to clothe the teddies? These are toys for giving out by charities visiting children in hospitals. I provide the yarn and the making of the teddies and clothes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi
      Yes of course use my patterns. I often get messages from people who knit for charity and I'm delighted that my patterns make a small contribution to a good cause.
      Linda

      Delete
  3. Hi I love this pattern and was wondering if you mind if I use this to make outfits for my mum to sell in her charity shop I make lots of bits for her and your patterns are ace xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes of course. I'm always happy for my patterns to be used for charities.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello I'm hoping to knit something for Daisy - my granddaughter's soft cow toy. She is 22cm around chest and 15cm from shoulder to knees . Any suggestions please

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  6. The pattern I see is on a bear. To make for a doll, do I have to adjust? And where

    ReplyDelete