Darla has been asking me to make some 18 Inch Doll Clothes for her 18″ doll. First up for Dolly is the Simple Spring Vest. This vest will fit most 18″ dolls. The pattern is relatively simple as it is worked in rows in one piece.
This pattern fits (I have tried it on all 3 of these brands): My Life as Dolls, Our Generation 18 Inch Dolls and American Girl Dolls. The pattern is not affiliated or designed for any one single ‘brand’ and I honestly cannot recommend one brand over another as my children love each doll equally.
Simple Spring Vest for Dolly
This simple to crochet spring vest is perfect for Dolly! Sized and shaped to fit an 18″ doll, the doll vest is crocheted using medium weight [4] yarn and a 5 mm (H) hook. Worked back and forth in rows and all in one piece it is fun to crochet and an easy “first garment” to make.
Supplies
- Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver. Medium Weight [4] Yarn. No-Dye-Lot Solids: 7 oz (198 g) / 364 yds (333 m). 100% Acrylic.
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Finished Project Yardage: 83 yds / 76 m
- Scissors, Yarn Needle, Stitch Marker (optional)
Difficulty Level
Easy
Finished Size
14 inches wide by 7.75 inches tall
Width at top is 10 inches.
Edging adds approximately 1 inch on each edge.
Gauge
approximately 7 sts per 2 inches
approximately 2 rows single crochet per inch
approximately 2 rows double crochet per 1.5 inches
You can substitute any yarn and hook for this stitch pattern – just remember when you substitute if your gauge is different, the finished size of your project will also be different.
Abbreviations
US Terminology used
BPdc – Back Post double crochet
BPsc – Back Post single crochet
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
FPdc – Front Post double crochet
FPsc – Front Post single crochet
R – row
RS – right side (pretty side of the project)
rem – remaining
rep – repeat
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
st/sts – stitch/stitches
* – Repeat the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated. This repeat will contain of multiple instructions.
() – Repeat the instructions between the parentheses the number of times indicated.
[] – at the end of the row – the total number of stitches
Helpful Tutorials
Helpful Video Tutorials
Notes
- This project is worked in rows until you add the edging.
- The edging is worked in rounds around the outside edges.
- Fits 18″ Dolls like American Girl, Our Generation and My Life as
- Ch 3 at the beginning of the row counts as 1 dc.
- Count the ch 6 as 6 stitches.
- Ch 1 at the beginning of a row is not counted as a stitch.
Simple Spring Vest for Dolly Pattern Instructions
R1: RS: Ch 23, 1 dc in the 4th ch from the hook. 1 dc in each of the next 10 chs. 1 sc in each of the next 10 chs. Turn. [21]
R2: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. Turn. [21]
R3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 10 sts. 1 sc in each of the next 10 sts. Turn. [21]
R4: Rep R2
R5: Rep R3
R6: Rep R2
R7: Rep R3
R8: Rep R2
R9: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 10 sts. 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, ch 6, sk 6 sts, 1 sc in each of the last 2 sts. Turn. [21]
R10: Ch 1, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the 6 ch (working through 2 of the loops for each ch), 1 sc in each of the next 13 sts. Turn. [21]
R11: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 10 sts. 1 sc in each of the next 10 sts. Turn. [21]
R12: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. Turn. [21]
R13 – R24: Rep R11 and R12 in order.
R25: Rep R11
R26: Ch 1, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, ch 6, sk 6 sts, 1 sc in each rem st across. Turn. [21]
R27: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 10 sts. 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts. 1 sc in each of the 6 ch (working through 2 of the loops for each ch), 1 sc in each of the last 2 sts. Turn. [21]
R28: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. Turn. [21]
R29: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 10 sts. 1 sc in each of the next 10 sts. Turn. [21]
R30: Rep R28
R31: Rep R29
R32: Rep R28
R33: Rep R29
R34: Rep R28 do not finish off but remember to turn to make the right side of the project face you before you begin the Edging Section.
Edging Section
When we work the edging section we work around the outside edges of the finished vest, in rounds. There is no specific stitch count for this but please try to ensure you have an even number of stitches when you are finished (so divisible by 2). The final 2 rounds are worked in alternating front post and back post stitches.
Round 1: Work 1 round of single crochet stitches evenly around the outside of the vest. I worked 3 sc in each corner, 1 sc in each sc row end and 2 sc in each dc row end. Be sure to work 3 in each corner. If you are facing the vest as though it is being worn, you should be finishing at the bottom left corner. Remember to work 3 in that corner (I forgot my first time around!).
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- open with RS facing towards you
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- Closed as if on the doll.
Round 2: Working up the front of the vest toward the collar, work 1 FPdc in the first st, 1 BPdc in the next st up to the corner 3 stitches. Switch to FPsc, and BPsc around the collar section only (so around the back of the neck and to the front of the best again. When you reach the front again, work your FPsc, BPsc for the corner 3 stitches and switch back to FPdc and BPdc to edge the remaining of the round.
You work all stitches using FPdc and BPdc except the collar behind the neck. Those are worked in FPsc and BPsc. Please see the image above. The green arrows show the area where we work the FP and BP sc stitches. The remainder of the edging is worked using FP and BP dc stitches.
Round 3: Repeat R2. Finish off with an invisible join and weave in any ends you have.
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- Front
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- Back
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- Side
#doll #freepatterns #redheartyarns #joycreators #crochet #18inchdollclothes #18inchdoll
The doll pictured today is an Our Generation Doll. She is available on amazon here:
Rhondda says
Hi Joyce, 4 ply yarn is fingering weight yarn [1] (you can see the comparison for yarn weights here: https://www.ravelry.com/help/yarn/weights ) which is much too lightweight to work for this pattern. This pattern calls for Medium Worsted Weight Yarn [4] – an example is Red Heart Super Saver yarn. It is a equivalent to a 10-ply yarn.
The pattern includes R10. Perhaps it didn’t print out for you? The pattern is available for free on my blog (the post you just commented on) and it definitely includes all the rows for the pattern. Here is R10 to make it easier for you:
R10: Ch 1, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in each of the 6 ch (working through 2 of the loops for each ch), 1 sc in each of the next 13 sts. Turn. [21]
Let me know if you have any other questions I can help you with.
Wishing you the best,
Rhondda
Joyce Frisino says
Today I printed your Simple Spring Vest for Dolly Pattern instructions. two big problems. I used 4 ply yarn, h hook. Way too small for 18″ doll. So i upped hook to an I. Those results fit an 15″ doll. Also pattern is missing R10..Page 5/12 ends with R9, Page 6/12 starts with row 11. What’s up with all this? What the heck do I do for R10?
Rhondda says
I’ll try my best 🙂 Thank you for letting me know you like them!!
D. Bridges says
Fabulous!. Please can you create more 18 inch doll clothes patterns. Our girls can’t get enough of them.
Rhondda says
I’m so happy she liked making it too! I will have the dress pattern up on Thursday too 🙂 it is pretty straightforward too if she enjoyed making the vest 🙂 Thank you for trying the pattern Teresa!! and for letting me know 🙂 Have a lovely week, Rhondda
Teresa says
Had a great time with my nine year old granddaughter making this, it was her first finished crochet project, we worked together, step by step while I made one for her sister.