Barbie Heart Sweater

As its nearly Valentines day, I've posted this heart sweater, which takes only 25g of dk yarn and a small amount of contrast. 

The front, back and sleeves are made to the armhole then the raglan shaping knit in one piece.  Its always a challenge to try and make these small items easy and less fiddly to knit and with this way there is only a smallish seam for one raglan and then the arm and sides can be sewn up in one seam.  When making the motif, use separate strands of pink yarn so you don't carry yarn across the motif.  When changing colour twist the yarn to avoid a gap.  If your new to block colour knitting (intarsia) try this tutorial  
Intarsia

I've designed this pattern to fit the basic Barbie but, as its a loose fit should also fit the new curvy fashionista doll.

As always, please let me know if you find any mistakes or have any queries.  

To fit : 12 in Barbie (latest model)

Materials: 25g pink and small amount red, double knitting yarn

Needles size 3mm, and 3.25  (US3), Small button

Tension: 28sts and 32 rows over 4 in (stocking stitch) on 3.25 needles

Abbreviations: k: knit, p: purl, ss: stocking stitch (one row plain, one row purl), inc: increase, dc: decrease, beg: beginning, sts: stitches, tog: together, psso: pass slipped stitch over  (or use ssk)

Front

Using smaller needles and pink, cast on 19sts

Work k1, p1 rib for 4 rows, inc 1 st at each end of last row (21sts)

Change to larger needles

Work chart A

Using pink, work 4 rows ss

Work chart B (11 rows)

Next row:  purl

Armhole shaping

Cast off 2sts at beg of next 2 rows    17sts

Leave sts on holder

Back

Work as front, excluding motif

Sleeves (make 2)

With 3mm needles and pink, cast on 16sts

Work k1, p1 rib for 4 rows

Change to 3.25 needles

Work chart A

Work 16 rows ss, inc 1 st at each end of 5^th row (18sts)

Armhole shaping

Cast off 2sts at beg of next 2 rows    14sts

Leave sts on holder. Don’t fasten off yarn after second sleeve.

Raglan shaping

With right side facing slip sts onto left hand needle in the following order: 17sts back, 14sts first sleeve, 17sts front, 14sts second sleeve,  yarn should be at the beginning of row.   62sts

Row 1:    k1, sl,k1,psso, k9, k2tog, sl,k1,psso, k13, k2tog, sl,k1,psso, k10,  

              k2tog, sl,k1,psso, k12, k2tog, k1

Row 2:    purl

Row 3:    k1, sl,k1,psso, k7, k2tog, sl,k1,psso, k11, k2tog, sl,k1,psso, k8,  

              k2tog, sl,k1,psso, k10, k2tog, k1       

Row 4:    purl

Work 4 more rows decreasing as set to 30sts,  Don’t fasten off yarn and continue with neckband

Neckband

Change to 3.25 needles

Next row:  (k1,p1) 3 times, k2tog, (p1,k1) 2 times, p1, K2tog, (p1, k1) 3times, k2tog, (p1,k1) 2 times, p1, k2tog  26sts

Work 1 row k1, p1 rib.

Next row: (buttonhole row) k2tog, yf, rib to end

Cast off in rib.

To finish

Sew raglan seam with buttonhole to 1” of neck edge.

Sew side and sleeve seams, fasten off all ends

Sew on small button to correspond with buttonholes
neaten all ends

Chart A

Chart B

Barbie ribbed sweater

This little sweater is very similar to my Teddy ribbed jacket, same simple rib and the current trend of block colours.   Made in 4ply it takes less than 20g of yarn great for using up all those tiny amounts.  The pink/blue and white sweater was made in oddments of Rico 4ply but unfortunately its now out of production (shows how long i had it stashed away).  For the mustard/green and grey sweater I used Stylecraft life 4ply which has a great range of trendy colours.  

The back and front is made in one piece (see photo) with the sleeves picked up at the shoulders and a button fastening at the back for ease of fit The back is slightly longer than the front but can be simply adjusted to any length you want.  I have done short sleeves but can be made longer before starting the decreasing.  Its a bit fiddly with all those ends so I leave a longish strand when changing colour for sewing seams and, if I'm honest, usually end up knotting other ends where possible. 

Pattern

To fit: 12 in Barbie (as the sweater is a loose style it would also fit the Fashionista dolls) 

Materials: approx 10g each of 4ply yarn in 3  colours

Needles size  3.25mm (US3)  (if you want a tighter fit use 3mm needles, 1 small button

Tension: 28sts and 36 rows over 4 in (ribbed pattern) using 3.25 needles

Abbreviations: k: knit, p: purl, st:stitch, sl: slip patt: pattern, beg: beginning,  yf: yarn forward, dec: decrease, tog: together, psso: pass slipped st over

front and Back 

knit in one piece from front hem to back hem

Cast on 25sts in colour A

Row 1   knit

Row 2  (k1, p1) to last st, k1

These two rows form the pattern, repeat 5 times (12rows patt)

Change to colour B and patt 12 rows (place a marker at each end of 10th row)

Change to colour C, patt 6 rows,

Divide for neck

Patt 9sts, cast of next 7sts, patt to end turn

Working on 9sts for right front

row 1       (wrong side)  Patt to end                                

row 2        sl1, k1, psso, patt to end                                      

rows 3:4:  Repeat last 2 rows  (7sts)                                              

rows 5:7:  Patt 3 rows                                                                         

row 8:      cast on 6sts, patt to end (keeping patt correct)  13sts        

row 9:      patt  to end

row 10:    Buttonhole row:  k2tog, yf, patt to end                                           

row 11:18:    pattern 7 rows

Fast off yarn keep 13sts on needle

Rejoin colour C to remaining 9 sts, left front wrong side facing 

row 1:       patt to end

row 2:       patt to last 2sts, k2tog

rows 3:4:  Repeat last 2 rows  (7sts) 

rows 5:8:  Patt 4rows                                                                         

row 9:       cast on 5sts, patt to end (keeping patt correct)  12sts        

row 10:18:   patt  9 rows                                                                                 

Fasten off colour C, join colour B

Pattern across 12sts, then continue across right front    25sts

Work 11 rows patt in B, change to A and work 16 rows (adjust length here if you want)

Fasten off yarn

Sleeves

Using colour B, and 3.25 needles, pick up and knit 19sts along edge between markers

Beg with the second row of patt, work 13 rows pattern at the same time dec 1 st at each end of 6th row.  17sts

Cast off

Sew side and sleeve seams, sew on small button to match buttonhole. fasten off ends