American Girl Ice Skating - Ballerina Costume - Knitting Paradise

Created by Elaine Baker – Ladyfingers

Lovely Ballerina – Ice Skater Knitted Pattern

Part of Handout #4

American Girl Ice Skating - Ballerina Costume Materials needed: #6 knitting needles (circular, double-pointed, or straight) #8 knitting needles or #10 knitting needles for full skating skirt 1 ring marker Baby sport weight yarn (#3 weight) Color Suggestions: pink with multi eyelash trim, blue with white furry trim, holiday colored yarn

BASIC “SLEEVELESS DRESS” PATTERN – BODICE With #6 knitting needles, cast on 68 stitches. Knit 6 rows in garter stitch. Next Row: Knit 12, Bind Off 12 stitches (knit 2, slip left needle under first of the two stitches and draw it over the second knit stitch - one stitch decreased. Knit 1 and draw the second stitch on the right needle over that knit stitch, another stitch decreased. Continue until you have decreased 12 stitches). Note: You will have one stitch remaining on the right hand needle after the 12-stitch decrease. This will count as the FIRST STITCH in the following instructions. Knit 20 stitches (you only have to knit 19 stitches, because the first stitch is already on the needle). Bind Off 12 stitches then knit the remaining 11 stitches. Next Row: (This is tricky, but doable!) Knit 12 stitches - Turn the entire piece of knitting around so you are back to working on these 12 stitches (on wrong side). Cast On 5 stitches. Turn entire piece around to right side and knit the next 20 stitches. Turn to wrong side and Cast On 5 stitches. Turn piece around to right side and knit the remaining 12 stitches. 54 stitches on needle. Knit 1 row (wrong side). Note: You bound off 12 stitches to make the straps on the bodice. You cast on 5 stitches for the underarm areas of the two straps. Pull the yarn tightly when knitting the bound off and cast on stitches for the next few rows, especially the stitches next to the sides and body of the garment. You don’t want to leave unsightly holes at the under areas. Work in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) for 10-12 rows. You are now at the waistline. You should hold the bodice up to the doll to see if you are at or near the waistline - it all depends on how tightly or loosely you knit. Attach Panties to Top: At the waistline of top piece - on the Wrong Side - use a larger needle and knit across row. This will put the 54 purl nubs on the right side of the garment to attach the skirt later Part of Handout #4 for American Girl doll http://www.knittingparadise.com/t-97185-1.html July, 2012 1



Go back to the regular #6 knitting needle and continue in Stockinette Stitch for 8 rows. Next Row: Increase in first stitch, knit 26 sts, place center marker, knit 26 sts and increase in last st. (start with 54 sts, end with 56 sts.) Next Row: Increase in first stitch, increase BEFORE and AFTER marker, knit and increase in last stitch. Continue until there are 72 sts on needle. (4 knit rows) Next Row: Knit across 36 sts, remove marker, Turn and work back on the 36 sts of one leg of panties. Work 6 rows. Bind off in knit. Attach yarn and work across remaining 36 sts for second leg. Work 6 rows. Bind off in knit. Sew seams for legs and up the back. Do not sew back seam if adding a skirt! Attaching Skirt to Panties: If you plan to attach a skirt, with the panties attached, work the following: When bind off is complete for top and panties, hold it up with the panties at the top and the bodice at the bottom - right side toward you. Fold down the panties toward the back at the waistline. You will now be able to see the little purl nubs. Use a smaller knitting needle that will slip easily through the nubs. Thread this needle into the first nub, then the second, third, fourth, etc. until you have all the nubs on the needle - no knitting, just use the bare needle to do this - you just want to get all those little nubs onto a needle. (A double-pointed needle works great!) Don’t worry if you can’t pick up all 54 pearl nubs - you can correct this on the next row. On right side, knit across the row, working the nubs off the smaller needle and onto your regular needle. At this time you can pick up the nubs you missed, or knit in front and back of a stitch to increase until you get the required (54) number of stitches on the needle. Knit 1 row (wrong side). Next Row: Knit in the front/back/front of EACH STITCH - 2 stitches increased in each stitch across the row. = 162 sts. (Some knitters prefer to knit/purl/knit in each stitch. However, I think this takes an unnecessary step by having to throw your hand - or finger -into “purl mode”, instead of just knitting.) With yarn used for the bodice (main color), knit 6-8 rows. (Knitting in garter stitch gives this very full skirt more “body”, so it stands out and doesn’t look “frumpy”. On the 8th row - INCREASE in every 4th stitch across the row - to give the skirt a slight “flare”. ADD TRIM: Cut main color, leaving a long strand to sew skirt seam and up the back of the bodice. Attach your choice of trim and knit in garter stitch for 6-8 rows. Bind off in knit with trim yarn. Once again, this is tricky! Part of Handout #4 for American Girl doll http://www.knittingparadise.com/t-97185-1.html July, 2012 2



When you sew up the back seam of the “Onesie-bodysuit” - the bodice with attached panties, you need to Turn the garment inside out. Make sure you do not sew any part of the full skirt when sewing this back seam! Constantly check to make sure the skirt is out of the way. Once the bodice and panties seam is finished, Turn the garment right side out and sew the skirt seam (on the wrong side), matching the main color and the trim yarn.

PLAY-PRETEND ICE SKATES Materials needed: #6 knitting needles White yarn - sport weight yarn, #3 2 large paper clips Skate Boot: Cast on 18 stitches. Knit in garter stitch for 6 rows Knit in stockinet stitch for 10 rows. Heel: Knit 2 together, knit 14, knit 2 together = 16 sts. Purl 2 together, purl 12, purl 2 together = 14 sts. Knit 2 together, knit 10, knit 2 together = 12 sts. Knit in stockinet stitch for 6 rows. Toe: Knit 2 together, knit 8, knit 2 together = 10 sts. Bind off in knit. Sew seam. Attaching ice skate blade: Use one large paper clip for the blade. The rounded end is the front end. Weave the blunt end of the blade in and out of the bottom of the skate boot - down the center bottom. To keep the blade safe while playing, use 2-3 small strands of yarn and secure the blade to the boot by threading a strand into the bottom of the boot and tie it around the blade part that is threaded into the boot, knot securely. Repeat this 1-2 times. Note: The doll cannot stand up while wearing these fantasy “ice skates” - the blades will bend over. Use a metal doll stand and pose the doll as if she is “striding” on a blade.

“Sorry, there is no photo available for the ice skates - yet. This was taken from one of my Barbie patterns from years ago. I have not made any "skates" for the AG doll, but will do so ASAP and will post a photo when finished.” Part of Handout #4 for American Girl doll http://www.knittingparadise.com/t-97185-1.html July, 2012 3



PICTURES OF THE OUTFITS. White skating costume with Sweater top with light turquoise multi-colored sequin furry trim eyelash trim

Blue "Onesie-bodysuit" top before skirt is attached

Halter style with multi-pink eyelash

Halloween "Holiday" Skating Costume

Elaine Baker Santa Ana, CA

Part of Handout #4 for American Girl doll http://www.knittingparadise.com/t-97185-1.html July, 2012 4