Tuesday 14 September 2010

1980s new wave doll's clothes


Ooh, last time I looked in the teen department at H&M, these 1980s New Wave disco clothes were bang back in fashion. Stripey jumpers and tube dresses everywhere!

If you'd like to knit some 1980s clothes for your Barbie, here's a treasure trove of disco trash for you to whip up. Doll's clothes are brilliant fun to knit as they take no time at all and can be made out of odds and ends of yarn that need to be used up. The tube dress is a great first project for a young knitter - it's just a small square of garter stitch, no increasing or decreasing.

Tube dress: You'll need DK yarn and No 9 needles.
Tension: 22 sts = 10cm in width measured over garter stitch.
Cast on 20 sts and work 11 cm in garter st (every row knit). Cast off loosely.
To finish: join back seam.

Leggings: You'll need 4 ply yarn and No 11 and No 13 needles.
Tension: 30 sts and 38 rows - 10cm square measured over st st using 3mm needles.
Legs: make 2. Using No 11 needles cast on 13 sts and work 10 rows in st st, starting with a K row. Inc 1 st at each end of next and every following 10th row until there are 21 sts. Work straight until leg measures 12 cms ending with a P row.
Shape crotch: Cast off 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st at each end of next row. 15 sts remain. Work straight until piece measures 3cm from start of srotch shaping ending with a P row. Change to No 13 needles.
Next row: K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Next row: P1, *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Rep last to 2 rows once more. Cast off loosely in rib.
To finish, join inside leg and crotch seams.

Top: You'll need 4 ply yarn and No 11 and No 13 needles, velcro or press studs, yarn for embroidering decoration.
Tension: 30 sts and 38 rows - 10cm square measured over st st using 3mm needles.
Front: Using No 13 needles cast on 22 sts and knit 1 row. Change to No 11 needles and work in st st starting with a K row, until work measures 7cm, ending with a P row.
Shape sleeves: Cast on 8 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 38 sts.
* Next row: K
Next row: K2, P to last 2 sts, K2.
Rep the last 2 rows until work measures 10 cms from beg. Cast off.

Left back: Using No 13 needles cast on 12 sts and knit 1 row. Change to No 11 needles.
Next row: K.
Next row: P to last 2 sts, K2.
Rep the last 2 rows until work measures 7cm ending with a K row.
Shape sleeve: cast on 8 sts at beg on next row. 20 sts. Complete as given for front from * to end.

Right back: Using No 13 needles cast on 12 sts and knit 1 row. Change to No 11 needles.
Next row: K
Next row: K2, P to end.
Rep the last 2 rows until work measures 7cm ending with a wrong side row.
Shape sleeve: cast on 8 sts at beg on next row. 20 sts.
Next row: K2, P to last 2 sts, K2. Complete as given for front from * to end.

To finish: Join top sleeve and shoulder sleeves, leaving 3 cms open at centre. Join underarm and side seams. Sew press studs or velcro to back opening. Embroider in French knots, steam stitch and running stitch as illustrated.

Stripey jumper: You'll need DK yarn oddments in 2 colours (A and B), No 9 and No 11 needles and 2 press studs.
Tension: 24 sts and 32 rows = 10 cm square measured over st st using No 9 needles.
Back and front alike: (note: carry colour not in use loosely up side of work). Using No 11 needles and A cast on 17 sts.
1st row: (right side) K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
2nd row: P1, *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Rep the last 2 rows 5 times more. Change to No 9 needles and working in st st, starting with a K row, work 2 rows in B and 4 rows in A. Rep the last 6 rows 3 times more. Using B knit 1 row. Using B cast off loosely knitwise.

Sleeves: using No 11 needles and A cast on 11 sts.
1st row: K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
2nd row: P1, (K into front and back of next st, P1) 4 times, K1, P1. 15 sts.
Change to No 9 needles and working in st st, starting with a K row, work 2 rows in B, 4 rows in A, 2 rows in B, 4 rows in A and 2 rows in B. Cast off loosely.

To finish: catch shoulder seams together at side edge. Sew cast off edge of sleeve to side edge of body placing centre at shoulder seam. Join side and sleeve seams. Sew a press stud to inside of neck edge 3cms froom each armhole.

2 comments:

  1. Gorgeous site....
    I love it.
    Check itttt... http://dysfunctionalbeginnings.com/
    Humorous literary, nonfiction, fiction, etc. about growing up, and beginnings in general.

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are beautiful! I would like to win these for my daughter, as her fourth birthday present. I think that would make it a super-special memory! Doll Clothes Superstore also has ready made hangers. It is a fantastic site for Doll clothes.

    ReplyDelete