Suggested needles are Size 4mm. or 6US. Suggested yarns are #3 or #4 (20-22 st to 4")
Spring Flared Sweater for American Girl Dolls
Back
Rows 1-6 Knit 6 rows in garter stitch. Rows 7-34 Knit 28 rows in stockinette stitch. Row 35 Knit 2 stitches together across row - 30 st Row 36 Purl. Rows 37,38 Decrease 3 st at beginning of next 2 rows-24 st. Rows 39-52 Continue in stockinette stitch for 14 rows. Row 53 Knit 7st Leave on needle. Cast off 10st. Knit 7 st. - 2 groups of 7 st on needle for shoulders. Row 54 Purl 7st. Row 55 Knit 7 st. Row 56 Purl 7 st. Row 57 Cast off 7 stitches. Join yarn at neck edge. Work on remaining 7st. Rows 54 Purl 7 st. Row 55 Knit 7 st. Row 56 Purl 7 st. Row 57 Cast off.
Right Front
Cast on 30 stitches. Rows 1-6 Knit 6 rows in garter stitch. Rows 7-33 Knit 27 rows in stockinette stitch knitting 3 st in garter stitch for front buttonhole band. Row 34 Wrong side - Purl to last 3 stitches. Knit2 together Knit 1. Buttonhole #1 worked over 2 rows. Row 35 Right side - Knit 1. Yarn over. Knit 1 to finish buttonhole #1. Then Knit 2tog across row. Knit 1. (3 for band. 13xk2tog. +1 = 17st) Row 36 Cast off 3 stitches. Purl to band. K3. -14 st. Rows 37- 45 Continue in stockinette stitch. Keep K3 for band. Row 46 Wrong side-Purl to last 3st. Knit2 together. Knit1. Row 47 Right side- Knit1. Yarn over. Knit 1.Buttonhole # 2. Knit to end of row. Row 48 Purl with 3 K for Band. Row 49 Right side. Cast off 3 st at neck edge. 11 st. Row 50 Purl. At neck edge, Purl 2 together. 10 st Row 51 Knit. Knit 2 together at neck edge. 9 st Row 52 Purl. Purl 2 together at neck edge. 8 st Row 53 Knit 2 together at neck edge. 7 st Row 54 Purl 7 st. Row 55 Knit 7 st. Row 56 Purl 7 st. Row 57 Cast off 7 stitches.
Left Front
Cast on 30 stitches. Rows1-6 Knit 6 rows in garter stitch. At front edge K3 stitches knit in garter stitch will make button band. Rows 7-34 Knit in stockinette stitch as for right front. Row 35 Knit 1. K2tog across row to front band. K 3 - 17 st. Row 36 Knit 3 Purl 14 st -17 st. Row 37 Cast off 3 stitches at armhole edge. Knit to end. -14 st Rows 38 - 47 Continue in stockinette stitch with front band. Row 48 Cast off 3 stitches for neck edge. Purl. - 11 stitches. Rows 49 -52 Continue in stockinette and Purl or Knit 2 together at each neck edge until 7 st on needle. Row 53 Knit 7 st. Row 54 Purl 7 st. Row 55 Knit 7 st. Row 56 Purl 7 st Row 57 Cast off 7 stitches. Join sweater fronts to back.
Sleeves
With wrong side facing, pick up 28 stitches. 14 st along the front and 14 st along the back armhole edges. With the right side facing, knit 30 rows in stockinette stitch. Then Knit 6 rows in garter stitch. Cast off.
Neck
With right side facing, pick up 36 st for neck band. ( 9 right front, 4 down back, 10 cast off stitches, 4 up back, 9 left front). Rows 1-6 Knit in K1P1 ribbing. Change to garter stitch, knitting all rows. Wrong side facing will be the top of the collar. Make 1 stitch at each end of the uneven rows. Row7 Knit1. Make1. Knit to last 2 st. Knit1 Make1 Knit1. Row8 Knit all stitches. Repeat these 2 rows until there are 46 st. Cast off.
To make up, join side seams and weave in loose ends. Sew on 2 buttons.
Alternative suggestions:
\* This is a revision of "Flared Sweater for 18 inch Dolls". - Use contrasting colour for collar and button band. If using contrasting colour continue up front band in the contrasting colour keeping yarns twisted so there are no holes at the join. - Add a graphic such as hearts or shamrocks for special occasions. - Make up in seasonal colours, reds and greens for Christmas, browns and oranges for autumn, pastels for Easter. - Make body of sweater longer to create a sweater coat. Heart chart based on 7 plus 1 stitches, using intarsia or fair isle for colour management. Have fun! Janet Longaphie
