PRETTY IN PICOTS Doll Sweater & Headband
By Terry Liann Morris - SailingKnitter www.liannoriginals.com Picot edgings add a touch of spice to this little doll sweater and matching headband. Extra large neck opening and extended back opening makes it easier for a child to dress her favorite $18^{\prime\prime}$ doll. Sweater is worked in the round to the armholes, then flat to the shoulders. Sleeves are picked up and knit down to the cuffs.
Materials
$35\mathrm{g}$ (140yds) Fingering/sock weight yarns. Sample knit in Fortissima Cotton Colori by Schoeller Esslinger $(75\%$ cotton, $25\%$ nylon) Color #0004, 1 skein. Doll is "Alexis", Target New Generation 1 set US Size 3 $\left(3.0\mathsf{m m}\right)$ double point needles or size needed to obtain gauge 1 hook and eye set
Sizes
To fit $18^{\prime\prime}$ Doll such as American Girl or Target's New Generation Gauge 7 % sts x 9 rows = 1"
SWEATER LOWER EDGING
Cast on 100 sts. Distribute evenly onto 3 or4 needles and join to knit in the round taking care not to twist the stitches. Knit 5 rounds. Next round (eyelet round): $^{*}({\sf k}2{\sf t o g},{\sf y o})^{*}$ , repeat from \* to \* to end of round Knit 5 rounds. Fold cast on edge up to meet the needles, folding along the eyelet round with wrong sides together and right sides outside. With left needle, pick up a stitch from the cast on edge and knit it together with the first stitch on the needle. Continue around always knitting 2 sts together - one from the cast on edge and one from the needle taking care to line up the rows of stitches.
BODY
Continue knitting in the round until body measures $2\;\%^{\prime\prime}$ (7cm) from lower edge picot points.
DIVIDE FOR ARMHOLES
Note: When instructed to bind off stitches in the middle of a row you will need to knit the next 2 stitches before passing a stitch over to bind off. Bind off 2 stitches at beginning of the round, work the next 45 sts., bind off the next 4 sts, work the last 47 sts. Turn work. FRONT You will now work the front half of the sweater (48 sts) back and forth in established stockinette pattern in rows beginning with a wrong side (purl) row. Rearrange the stitches so that the back (46sts) is waiting on two needles, and the front is on one needle. First row: bind off the first 2 stitches, and purl to end of row ( $[=46$ sts). Work even until piece measures $4\;\%^{\prime\prime}$ (11.5cm) from lower edge ending after working a purl row. SHAPE FRONT NECKLINENext row: knit 16, bind off the center 14 stitches, knit 15, turn. Right Shoulder: Row 1: Purl Row 2: Bind off the first 2 stitches, knit to end at armhole edge $=14$ sts. Row 3: Purl Row 4: Bind off the first 2 stitches, knit to end $=12$ sts. Row 5: Purl Row 6: Bind off the first 2 stitches, knit to end $=10$ sts. Row 7: Purl Bind off. Left shoulder: Attach yarn to armhole edge with right side of front facing. Row 1: Knit Row 2: Bind off first 2 stitches in purl, purl to armhole edge $=14$ sts. Row 3: Knit Row 4: Bind off first 2 stitches in purl, purl to armhole edge $=12$ sts. Row 5: Knit Row 6: Bind off the first 2 stitches in purl, purl to armhole edge $=10$ sts. Row 7: Knit Bind off in purl. BACK With wrong side facing you, attach yarn and purl to other armhole bind offs. Turn work. Continue to work back and forth for 8 more rows.
Divide for center back opening:
Next row: knit 23 stitches only. Turn Work. Right Back: Keeping both side edges even, work in stockinette stitch until piece measures the same as the front to the shoulder. Bind off. With right side facing you, attach yarn at center back opening and work Left Back the same as for right back. SHOULDERSEAMS Sew shoulder seams matching the 10 sts of each shoulder to 10 sts from the armhole edges of the back shoulders.
SLEEVES
Attach yarn at center lower armhole, pick up and knit 40 stitches around armhole distributing stitches evenly onto 3 needles. Join to work in the round. Knit until sleeve measures $1\,\%^{\prime\prime}$ (4.5cm).。 Next Round: K1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches of round, K2tog, $\mathsf{k1}=38$ sts. Knit 4 rounds. Decrease Round: K1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches of round, K2tog, $\mathsf{k1}=36$ sts. Knit even until sleeve measures $3\,\%^{\prime\prime}$ (9cm).
SLEEVE CUFFS
Next round: $^{*}({\sf k}2{\sf t o g},{\sf y o})^{*}$ , repeat from \* to \* to end of round Knit 5 rounds. Bind off,leaving a $12^{\prime\prime}$ tail for sewing. Fold along the eyelet round with wrong sides together and right sides out. Sew bound off edgeto inside cuff.
NECK FINISHING
Attach yarn toBack Left at center opening.Pickup and knit 12 sts along back neckedge, continue along front neck edges picking up 30 sts more,then pick up 12 sts along remaining back edge $=54$ sts. Row 1: Knit Row 2: k12, k2tog \*(k5, k2tog)\*, repeat from \* to \* 3 more times, $\mathsf{k}\mathsf{1}\mathsf{2}=4\mathsf{9}$ sts. Bind off LOOSELY in knit stitch.
Back Opening:
Attach yarn at center Back Right neck edge, pick up and knit 14 stitches down one edge, pick up 1 stitch at bottom of opening, then pick up & knit 14 stitches up the other side $=29$ sts. Turn. Bind offin knit stitch. Sew a hook & eye set at top of opening. Weave in all yarn tails. Block, emphasizing picot points.
HEADBAND
Cast on 84 sts. Distribute evenly onto 3 or 4 needles and join to knit in the round taking care not to twist the stitches. Knit 5 rounds. Next round (eyelet round): $^{*}({\sf k}2{\sf t o g},{\sf y o})^{*}$ repeat from \*to\*to end of round Knit 10 rounds. Next round (eyelet round): $^{*}({\sf k}2{\sf t o g},{\sf y o})^{*}$ , repeat from \* to \* to end of round Knit 4 rounds. Bind off. Fold along the eyelet rounds with wrong sides together and right sides out. Sew cast on and bound off edges together using the mattress (ladder, “"fake grafting") method matching stitches. Weave in all yarn tails. Block, emphasizing picot points. Enjoy! Many thanks to test knitter Kathleen Shuford!
