Sunday 8 March 2015

Barbie crochet prom dresses



Its been a while since I made anything for Barbie so I had a look in my stash and found some oddments of 4ply yarn.  I had forgotten I had the sparkly pink yarn so what else to make but a prom dress.   The metallic colour yarn is Sirdar Firefly which I bought ages ago as it was on offer, with the idea that it might come in useful for a scarf but it makes an interesting skirt for the dress. 
The dresses are made from the top down so are easy to put on Barbie.  The only problem is you have to be very careful as her feet can get caught in the crochet.  I usually hold her feet as I pull the dress on.

    The bodice is shaped at the rear (as photo) so the skirt is lower at the back - I was shopping with my daughter and granddaughter looking at prom dresses a few weeks ago and noticed that lots of them have this type of shaping.  The dress is very tight fitting so be careful with tension- but as these little garments are so quick to make it takes no time pull work out and start again!

Any Ravelers out there - if you make the dress please post a photo and link to the pattern


If you find any mistakes are have problems with the pattern please leave me a comment.  













To fit 12” Barbie (the latest model)

Materials:  approx 50g 4ply yarn in main and contrast
please note: not suitable for craft crochet thread
Crochet hook no 3.00 and 4.00 (or size to match tension)
Tension: (Gauge) 22sts x 24 rows to 4” over dc  (check your tension and use suitable size hook)
Abbreviations:
Dc: double crochet (US single crochet), tr: treble crochet, (US double crochet) 
ch: htr: half treble, chain, sl st: slip stitch, inc: increase, beg: beginning

Note: These designs are worked in a continuous round so place a marker at beg of round to keep track of number of rounds.  
For a softer fabric for the garments, work in back loop only throughout the bodice and through both loops for skirt

The dress is made from the top down.


Bodice


Using no 3.00 hook make 30 chain 
work in rounds as follows:
round 1:   1dc in each of next 11 ch,1htr in each of next 3ch, 1slst in each of next 2 ch, 1htr in each of next 3ch, 1dc in each of next 11 ch (30sts)
round 2:   1dc in each of next 11dc, 1htr in each of next 3htr, 1slst in each of next 2slst, 1htr in each of next 3htr, 1dc in each of next 11dc  
round 3:   as round 2
round 4:   dc around
round 5: 1dc in each of next 6dc, miss 1dc, 1dc in each of next 16dc, miss 1dc. dc to end (28dcs)
round 6: dc around
round 7: 1dc in each of next 6dc, miss 1dc, 1dc in each of next 14dc, miss 1dc. dc to end     (26dcs)
rounds 8-12: dc around

work 7dc place a marker here to donate beg of round (the rounds now start at the side of dress)
round 13: (hip shaping)1dc in each of next 6dc, 1slst in each of next 2dc, 1dc in each of next  7 dc, 2htr in next dc, 1htr in each of next 8dc, 2htr in next dc, 1dc in next dc  (28sts)
round 14: 1dc in each of next 6dc, 1slst in each of next 2slst, 1dc in each of next 7dc, 2htr in next htr, 1htr in each of next 10htr, 2htr in next htr, 1dc in next dc  (30sts)
round 15: 1dc in each of next 6dc, 1slst in each of next 2slst, 1dc in each of next 7dc, 1htr in next  14htr, 1dc in next dc   
rounds16:20:  as round 15.   fasten off yarn 



Skirt

round 1: change to contrast, slst in first st, 3ch (counts as 1tr), 2tr in same st, work 3tr in each st to end. slst in top of 3ch
change to no 4.00 hook,
round 2:   slst into next tr, 3ch, 2tr in same tr, (3tr into middle tr of next cluster) repeat to end  slst in top of 3ch
repeat round 2 to required length  
Edge round:  work 5tr in each cluster around.

fasten off yarn


Neck edging

using no 3 hook and contrast work a round of (dc, 1ch) in each chain, around neck line.


To Finish:  sew in all yarn ends.


PDF pattern to download




Tuesday 27 January 2015

Teddy bear crochet jacket









My crochet teddy dress pattern has been very popular so I thought I'd have a go at a crochet jacket. 
The sleeves are made first then the main body is made in one piece to armholes. The yoke is crocheted across the right front, sleeve, back, sleeve then left front and continued in rows.  I work the dc through the font loops only to made a softer fabric.  


All teddy bears are different sizes - my models are a 14" bear i picked up in a charity shop and  build a bears lil cub is 15" and the bunny is 17".  The pattern is easy to alter to fit your bear - just increase the rows on the sleeves or body.  You could also add an extra decrease row at the neck edge if you want.

I've had a few problems writing this pattern in both sizes so if you find any mistake or typos please leave a message so I can amend it.  



Any Ravelers out there - I would love to see a photo of your project linked to this pattern.





Crochet Pattern

2 sizes to fit 12/14” and 15/17” teddy bears  second size is in red

You will need:  approx 75g (250yds) of double knitting yarn, no 4.5 crochet hook, 2 buttons

Tension:  18dc x 20 rows to 4" using no 4.5 hook

Abbreviations:  this pattern is written using UK terms:  ch: chain, dc: double crochet (US sc) tr: treble (US dc), 


Sleeves (make 2)

No 4.5 hook make 30 (34) ch
Work 2 rows dc       (30 (34) dcs)
Base row:   4ch, (miss 1dc, 1dc in next dc, 1ch, miss 2dc, 3trs in next dc, 1ch) to last 5dc,  miss 1dc, 1dc in next dc, 1ch, miss 2dc, 1tr in last dc
row 1:    2ch, (3tr in next dc, 1ch, miss 1tr, 1dc in next tr, 1ch) rep to last dc, 3tr in dc, 1ch, 1dc in top of 4ch space.  
row 2:    4ch, (miss 1tr, dc in next tr, 1ch, 3tr in dc,1ch, )  rep to last 3 trs, miss 1tr, 1dc in next tr, 1ch, 1tr in top of 2ch

Repeat last 2 rows 2 (3) times then row 1,  (6 (8) pattern rows in total) adjust length here if required, finish on row 1.  Fasten off yarn



Main body

No 4.5 hook make 84 (96)ch
Base row:   1dc in 5th ch from hook, (1ch, miss 2ch, 3tr in next ch, 1ch, miss 2ch, 1dc in next ch) rep to last 2ch, miss 1ch, 1tr in ch (13 (15)shells
row 1:    2ch, (3tr in dc, 1ch, miss 1tr, 1dc in next tr, 1ch) rep to last dc, 3tr in dc, 1ch, 1dc in top of ch
row 2:    4ch, (miss 1tr, dc in next tr, 1ch, 3tr in dc,1ch, )  rep to last 3 trs, miss 1tr, 1dc in next tr, 1ch, 1tr in top of 2ch

Repeat last 2 rows 5 (6) times then row 1,  (12 (14) pattern rows in total) adjust length here if required finish on row 1. Do not fasten off yarn


Yoke

The yoke is worked in dc rows, make 1ch at beg of each row as edge st - does not count in stitch count and work in front loop only for a softer fabric.

1st size only

With right side facing work along right front as follows:
base row:    1ch (does not count in stitch count) (1dc in dc, 1dc in each of next 3trs) 3 times

Continue across top of sleeve:
Miss dc and next 3trs on sleeve, (1dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3trs) 4 times, 1dc in next dc.

Continue across back, 
Miss dc, 3trs, dc 
(1dc in each of next 3trs, 1dc in next dc ) 5 times, 1dc in next dc, 1dc in each of next 3trs

Continue across top of second sleeve
Miss dc and next 3trs on sleeve, (1dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3trs) 4 times, 1dc in next dc.

Continue across left front
Miss dc 3trs, dc,
(1dc in dc, 1dc in each of next 3trs, ) 3 times, 1dc in top of ch   ( 80 dcs)
Turn

2nd size only
With right side facing work along right front as follows:

Base row:   1ch (does not count in stitch count) (1dc in dc, 1dc in each of next 3trs) 3 times, 1dc in dc, 1dc in tr

Continue across top of sleeve
Miss dc and next 3trs on sleeve, , (1dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3trs) 5 times, 1dc in next dc. 

Continue across back
Miss 2tr,dc, 2tr
1dc in next tr, (1dc in dc, 1dc in each of next 3trs) 6 times, 1dc iin dc, 1dc in next tr

Continue across top of second sleeve:
Miss dc and next 3trs,  (1dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3trs) 4 times, 1dc in next dc.

Continue across left front
Miss 2tr, dc, 2tr
1dc in tr,(1dc in dc, 1dc in each of next 3trs, ) 3 times, 1dc in top of ch    (98 dcs)  turn
next row:    dc7, (miss 1dc, dc11) 7 times, miss 1dc, dc6    (90dcs)
next row:     dc across row


Both sizes

row 1:  dc 5  (miss 1dc, dc9 ) 7 (8) times, miss 1dc, dc4   (72 81 dcs)
row 2 and alternative rows: dc across row
row 3:  dc 4 (miss 1dc, dc8 ) 7 (8) times, miss 1dc, dc4    (64 72 dcs)
row 5:  dc 4  (miss 1dc, dc7 ) 7 (8) times, miss 1dc, dc3   (56 63 dcs)
row 7:  dc 3 (miss 1dc, dc6) 7 (8) times, miss 1dc, dc3     (48 54 dcs)
row 9:  dc 3 (miss 1dc, dc5) 7 (8) times, miss 1dc, dc2     (40 45 dcs)

Work 2 rows of dc down left front, along hem and up right front, working a 2ch buttonhole at beg of yoke and at neck edge on first row.

Sew up sleeve seams and underarms. Sew on buttons to match buttonholes. Neaten ends