Baby Annabell Sleeping Bag

I wish there had been a knitting pattern for a sleeping bag when my children were babies (a long time ago now) and as I haven't got any babies to knit for what better than to make one for Annabell. 

 I tried a few different variations to try and reduce seaming etc, and came up with this one that is made in one piece from the hem with a front seam (easily knit in the round to the front opening)  The sleeves are knit first then added to the body to begin the yoke. 

My very helpful tester suggested that the sleeping bag could be altered for a 12” doll by making 3 fewer stitches on each side front and the back 6 fewer, and just 1 row of stocking stitch on the sleeves after increases are done. You would have to adjust the stitches of shaping of the yoke to match.  

Measurements:   14” 36cm, Baby Annabell doll

Actual measurements: 

Chest 14”, Sleeve seam 3” length from centre back to hem 12”

Materials: 100g double knitting yarn in main and 10g dk in contrast

(I used King Cole Cherish Whisper, and King Cole Cherish nickel for contrast), 

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

  

 Sleeves make 2 – (knit these first)

Using 3.25 needles and contrast, cast on 24sts

Work 6 rows k1, p1 rib

Change to 4mm needles and main

Working in ss inc 1 stitch at each end of next and following 4^th row to 30sts
Work 9 rows ss

Shape armholes

Cast off 3sts at beg of next 2 rows

Leave 24sts on holder

Body

Worked in one piece to front opening

Using 4mm needles cast on 100sts

Continue in ss until work measures 8ins

(can be knit in the round to this point then change to rows)

Cast of 3sts at the beg of next 2 rows   94sts

Work a further 11 rows ss

Divide for armholes

Wrong side facing

P19, cast off 6sts, p44 (includes st on right hand needle) cast off 6sts, p19 do not fasten off yarn

Join sleeves

Work across right front:  K4, (k2tog) 3 times, k9, knit across 24sts of first sleeve, continue across back:  k14, (k2tog) 8 times, k14, knit across 24sts of second sleeve, continue across left front:  k9, (k2tog) 3 times, k4

116sts

Next row (wrong side):  knit across all sts

Shape yoke

Row 1:  k14, ssk, k2tog, k20, ssk, k2tog, k32, ssk, k2tog, k20, ssk, k2tog, k14           108sts

Row 2:  knit               

Row 3:  k13, ssk, k2tog, k18, ssk, k2tog, k30, ssk, k2tog, k18, ssk, k2tog, k13           100sts

Row 4:  purl               

Row 5:  k12, ssk, k2tog, k16, ssk, k2tog, k28, ssk, k2tog, k16, ssk, k2tog, k12           92sts

Row 6:  purl       

Row 7:  k11, ssk, k2tog, k14, ssk, k2tog, k26, ssk, k2tog, k14, ssk, k2tog, k11           84sts

Continue decreasing as set to 52sts

Next row:  p25, p2tog, p25    51sts

Change to 3.25mm needles and contrast, work 4rows k1, p1 rib.  Cast off (you can go straight to picking up sts for left band if you prefer)

 

Left front band

With right side facing, using 3.25mm needles, and contrast, pick up and knit 25sts along left front edge, starting at neck edge to first set off cast off sts.  Work 5 rows p1, k1 rib.  Cast off

Right front band

With right side facing, using 3.25 needles, and contrast, pick up and knit 25sts along right front edge starting at first set of cast off sts to neck edge.  Work 2 rows p1, k1 rib.

Buttonhole row:  rib2, (yf, k2tog, rib 4) 3 times, yf, k2tog, k3

Rib 2 rows.    Cast off

To finish

Sew centre front seam to opening, Overlap front bands and sew into place at centre front.

Sew front and backs together at hem

Sew sleeve and underarms seams

Sew on 4 buttons to match buttonholes.

Sew in all ends

PDF pattern to download