Happy Friday to everyone! I finished my sweater dress pattern (earlier than expected, yay!) for the Little Darlings. If you read yesterday’s blog post, “A Little Wish for Spring”, you saw the sample I made for this pattern. (The beret Alice is wearing is from my beret pattern.)
This sweater dress pattern has two sleeve lengths, short (shown) and elbow length. I’ve also included two dress lengths. I made the shorter length for “A Little Wish for Spring”. The longer length is the same width, but with 8 additional rows. The pattern guides you through the raglan bodice and then the increases to form the a-line skirt shape. BTW, as most of my knitting patterns are, this dress is knit all in one piece! The dress is made with fingering weight wool; I used Palette from Knit Picks in Blossom Heather.
My sweater patterns are made with ease to be worn over a dress. This sweater dress pattern, however, is made so that the dress fits on the doll without ease. It is a cute, fitted bodice, no bagginess. Dianna Effner created the most adorably sculpted Little Darling dolls, so I like to highlight their cuteness when I design for them.
The sweater dress is the perfect canvas for embroidery or other embellishment. I’ve included photos from some of my other Little Darling sweater dress embroidery to spark you creativity.
This pattern is available on Ravelry.
Bye for now! Thanks for stopping by!
Cindy Rice Designs 
This is so so cuuute Cindy !!!!
Thank you, Cath! ❤
It is so wonderful that you are offering these amazing patterns for sale. Knitters will rejoice.
We have finally seen the sun here. Yay.
Hi Joy,
I’m glad the sun is finally shining where you live! We are still in our gloomy spell, but that’s okay, I’m dealing with it… so far, anyway. I hope that when you say knitters you are including yourself in that group??? Have a great weekend Joy!
I hope there are plenty of sales for you on all these lovely patterns. I want you to have lots and lots of sales so you keep sharing your patterns with the rest of us!
What a nice thing to say, Sarah! I am glad you are enjoying the patterns as it brings me joy to share them with you all. ❤ Enjoy the weekend… maybe doing some knitting.
Hi Cindy, let me first say that I love all your knitted items and finished outfits! I had my daughter order the sweater pattern for Patsy/Ann Estelle for me and she printed it out for me. I am ready to start the first sleeve. Can hardly wait till I finish it! Then I am going to attempt to do some embroidery on it. It is so hard to find knitted or crochet patterns for my 10″girls and boys. These are my favorite dolls to play with .l sew for them also. They are always wanting something new !
Question. If I uesed a finer yarn and smaller needles do you think your Effener patterns would fit my 10″ears? Sorry don’t mean to write a book length note !
I live in N.H. And like you can not wait for spring to get here ! But our days are getting longer…
Thank you Diane G.
Hi Diane,
Thank you so much for your kind words! Adjustments would probably need to be made, but I can’t say for sure as I’ve never tried it. A suggestion and what I would do (if you don’t mind making a sample) is to make something per the pattern and then try it on your 10″ to see where it’s too big. It’s easier to reduce than to have something too tight as with all the wrinkles and pulling it’s often hard to tell where it’s too tight. I have the Little Darling measurements on the sales page for this pattern; you can compare the two dolls also. They aren’t terribly different. FYI, the difference in stitches between the Patsy and LD Light Cardigan patterns (on row 3) is only 8 stitches and the underarm is only 2 rows higher for Patsy. Patsy’s starts with a tighter neckline though, so there are increases on row 2. I hope this makes sense.
Cindy, thank you for your reply to my questions . They are very helpful . Diane G.