Wednesday 7 February 2018

Baby Annabell Sleepsuit




I made one for ted so Annabell had to have one too.
This is an all in one sleepsuit in double knitting yarn, with raglan shaping.  The suit can be made with or without feet.   Short rows are used to shape the heel, and as Annabell is a ‘sitting down’ doll a lot of shaping is required for a good fit at the back. However, if your doll is not a ‘sitting down’ type which doesn’t need so much shaping, I have added instructions at the end of the body shaping, but, as all dolls are different, keep trying your knitting against your doll as you go.  
I made the multi colour suit in King Cole Cherish and the blue suit in a double knit yarn I had in my stash.  The knitted heart can be found on this site.

If you find any mistakes in the pattern or have any queries please let me know.  

A few people have asked me about wrap and turn for the shaping.
Here's a good tutorial to explain it far better that I can!
Wrap stitches




Measurements:   14” 36cm, Baby Annabell doll
Actual measurements: 
Chest 14”, Sleeve seam 3”
Materials: 100g double knitting yarn (I used King Cole Cherish Caramel), 
Needles size 3.25mm (US3)and 4mm (US 6)  4 small buttons
Tension: 22sts - 28 rows to 10cm (4in) in stocking stitch using 4mm needles
Abbreviations:  Ss: stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl), gs: garter stitch – every row knit, k: knit, p: purl, inc: increase, dc: decrease, beg: beginning, sts: stitches, tog: together, re: repeat. Yf: yarn forward
wrt k: wrap and turn knitwise - yf, sl st from left hand needle onto right hand needle, yb, sl st back onto left hand needle, turn, (pull yarn firmly to avoid a hole) 
wrt p: wrap and turn purlwise - yb, sl st from left hand needle onto right hand needle, yf, sl st back onto left hand needle, turn, (pull yarn firmly to avoid a hole) 
Worked from the ankle up

Left leg
Using larger needles cast on 14sts
Row 1:  k1, m1, k5, m1, k2 m1, k5, m1, k1
Row 2:  purl
Row 3:  k1, m1, k7, m1, k2 m1, k7, m1, k1    (22sts)
Beg with purl row work 9 rows ss*
Shape heel      right side facing
Row 1:   K8, wrt k
Row 2:   p5, wrt p
Row 3:   k4,wrt k
Row 4:   p3, wrt p
Row 5:   k4, wrt k
Row 6:   p5, wrt p
Row 7:   k6, wrt k
Row 8:   purl to end
Work 2 rows ss
Increase row:  (k3, m1) 6 times, k4    28sts 
Next row:   purl
Continue in ss inc 1 stitch  at each end of 5th, then every 4th row to 46sts ending on a purl row
Next row:   cast off 4ssts knit to end
Next row:   cast off 2sts purl to end.  Fasten off yarn and leave 40sts on holder

Right Leg


As left leg to *
Shape heel      right side facing
Row 1:   Knit to last 3sts, wrt k
Row 2:   p5, wrt p
Row 3:   k4, wrt k
Row 4:   p3, wrt p
Row 5:   k4, wrt k
Row 6:   p5, wrt p
Row 7:   k6, wrt k
Row 8:   purl to end
Work 2 rows ss
Increase row:  (k3, m1) 6 times, k4    28sts 
Next row:   purl
Continue in ss inc 1 stitch at  each end of 5th, then every 4th row to 46sts ending on a purl row
Next row:   cast off 2sts knit to end
Next row:   cast off 4sts purl to end.   (40sts)   Do not fasten off yarn

Join Legs

Knit across 40sts of right leg then continue across 40st of left leg    (80sts)
Purl 1 row

Shaping         
Row 1:    k58, wrt k
Row 2:    p36, wrt p    
Row 3     knit to end
Row 4:    purl across all sts
Row 5:    k57, wrt k
Row 6:    p34, wrt p      
Row 7     knit to end
Row 8:    purl across all sts
Row 9:    k56, wrt k
Row 10:  p32, wrt p      
Row 11   knit to end
Row 12:  purl across all sts
Row 13:  k55, wrt k
Row 14:  p30, wrt p     
Row 15   knit to end
Row 16:  purl across all sts
Dec row: k16, k2tog, k44, k2tog, k16
Next row:  purl
(for other dolls miss wrap rows: 9,10, 13 and 14)
Cast off 2sts at beg of next 2 rowsj
Work 10 rows ss

Divide for Armholes

K15, cast off 4sts, k36 (this includes st on right hand needle) cast off 4sts, k15, turn

Continue on 15sts for left front
Purl to last st, k1
K1,ssk, k to end
Repeat last 2 rows to 11sts, ending on neck edge
purl to last sts, k1
K1, ssk, k to last 2sts, k2tog
purl to last st, k1
Rep last 2 rows to 3sts
P2tog, k1
K2tog
Fasten off yarn

Re-join yarn to 36st for back, wrong side facing
K1, purl to last st, k1
K1, ssk, k to last 3sts, k2tog, k1
Rep last 2 rows to 20sts ending on wrong side row
Fasten off yarn, place sts on a holder

Re-join yarn to right front, wrong side facing   
K1, purl to end
Knit to last 3sts, k2tog, k1
Rep last 2 rows to 11sts, ending on neck edge
k2tog, k to last 3sts, k2tog, k1
K1, purl to end
k2tog, k to last 3sts, k2tog, k1
K1, purl to end
Rep last 2 rows to 3sts
k1, p2tog
K2tog
Fasten off yarn

Sleeves

Using smaller needles cast on 25sts
Work 6 rows k1, p1 rib
Change to larger needles
Working in ss inc 1 stitch at each end of next and following 4th row.   29sts
Work 10 rows ss
Shape armholes
Cast off 2sts at beg of next 2 rows
K1, ssk, patt to last 3sts, k2tog, k1
K1, purl to last st, k1
Rep the last 2 rows to 9sts, fast off yarn. Place sts on holder

Neckband
Sew raglan seams
With right side facing using smaller needles, pick up and knit 8sts along right side neck edge, knit 9sts along top of sleeve, knit 9sts, k2tog, k9 along top of back, knit 9sts along top of sleeve, pick up and knit 8st down left neck edge.   53sts
Work 5 rows k1, p1 rib.  Cast off

Left front band
With right side facing, using smaller needles, pick up and knit 25sts along left front edge, starting at neck edge to first set off cast off sts.  Work 5 rows k1, p1 rib.  Cast off

Right front band
With right side facing, using smaller needles, pick up and knit 25sts along right front edge starting at first set of cast off sts to neck edge.  Work 2 rows k1, p1 rib.
Buttonhole row:  rib2, (yf, k2tog, rib 4) 3 times, yf, k2tog, k3
Rib 2 rows.    Cast off

Sew side seams of legs and sleeves
Overlap front bands and sew into place at centre front
Sew on 4 buttons to correspond with buttonholes.
Sew in all ends


Sleepsuit without feet
Left leg
Using smaller needles cast on 28sts
Work 8 rows k1, p1 rib
Change to larger needles
Continue in ss,  inc 1 stitch at each end of next and every following 4th row to 42sts, then every alt row to 46sts ending on a purl row
Next row:   cast off 4sts knit to end
Next row:   cast off 2sts purl to end.  Fasten off yarn and leave 40sts on holder

Right leg
Using smaller needles cast on 28sts
Work 8 rows k1, p1 rib
Change to larger needles
Continue in ss, inc 1 stitch at each end of next and every following 4th row to 42sts, then every alt row to 46sts ending on a purl row
Next row:   cast off 2sts knit to end
Next row:   cast off 4sts purl to end.   (40sts)   do not fasten off yarn

Continue as sleepsuit above from ** 

PDF pattern to download


15 comments:

  1. Hi can you please explain the “wrap” and turn bit in the heel shaping does this mean wrap wool round needle before turning and completing the next row not come across this terminology on a pattern before so a little unsure what exactly it means

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi
      To help make things clearer:
      Row 1: K8, (yf, slst from left hand needle onto right hand needle, yb, sl st back onto left hand needle) the instructions in brackets are how to wrap a stitch, then (instead of finishing this row) turn the knitting round to work the next row. I’ve shortened this as wrap and turn for the other rows. On a purl row it’s a little different
      Row 2: p5, (yb, sl st from left hand needle onto right hand needle, yf, sl st back onto left hand needle) (wrap) turn

      I've added a tutorial on the post because lots of people have asked me and this video explains it far better than i can.

      Delete
  2. Is there any way I can alter this pattern to fit a 22inch doll please

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi
      Sorry but Baby Annabell is the only doll I knit for and as your doll is a lot larger I can't help.

      Delete
  3. Just wondered, on the right leg heel is

    "Row 1:   Knit to last 3sts, wrap, turn"

    The same as Knit to last 3sts, wrt k?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes row one should read knit to last 3sts wrt k

      I've amended the pattern and thanks for pointing this out

      Delete
    2. Why is the 1st row of heel shaping, different for right and left leg? Left leg- k8 then wrt k, Right leg is knit to last 3 stitches wrt k.

      Delete
    3. Hi
      the heel shaping is different for each leg as the rows begin at the inside leg. You will see how this works out when you sew up the inside leg seam

      Linda

      Delete
  4. Hello there. I'm wondering by the pattern, do we use dpns (double pointed needles) or just regular straight knitting needles for this pattern? I am a bit confused by what is meant by needing knitting needles as I do not know which type I should use. If you could please clarify, then thank you so much in advance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi. The needles are regular straight needles

      Delete
  5. For right leg, when you start row 2 there aren’t 5 stitches to purl. Am I missing something?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Never mind, my mistake

    ReplyDelete
  7. Can this be knit in the round? Not clear from pattern whether you're using double points, and when you are joining into a round or knitting flat. Please clarify. t

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The sleepsuit is knit on straight needles throughout. You could knit the legs on double pointed needles to the end of shaping, then change to rows. Also, knit the sleeves on dpns to shape armholes. Hope this helps

      Delete
  8. Thank you for sharing I appreciate you. From South Africa

    ReplyDelete