1st Straight Needle Lesson:
My Mum (a brit) taught me to knit when I was about 8 years old. I had mastered the knobby she made for me from a spent thread spool with nails hammered around the top. Now it was time to learn the ‘real’ thing – straight needles. She gave me a kit which was in a tin that was designed to hold the project: a skein of yarn and a pair of #8 needles. The can was like a tall coffee tin with a lid that had a hole in the center of it and a thick string for a handle. The hole was to allow the yarn to pass thru while the can held the skein. I thought how ingenious this was. The kit also had a picture of my favorite doll on it.
My Barbie had numerous outfits but this one would be the prize. It was perfect for my brunette that sat next to me watching over the entire process. I remember being absorbed by this project for what must have been hours. It was incredible the way the yarn worked into patches of color changing with each row or stitch. The yarn was space-dyed and I had never seen anything so magical. I worked diligently lost to the yarn and needles.
There were a few times that I had to ask Mom to fix split stitches, added stitches or ones that got twisted somehow she would quickly put it right. I was determined to have this dress finished that evening. Barbie seemed to agree too. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be as I was told it was time for bed. I tried to resist this but finally did as I was told. As I looked at the dress project I hadn’t even accomplished half of it. Even worse were all the holes and missed stitches throughout the dress. Feeling sad, annoyed and a bit defeated I went to bed.
When I awoke there was the dress for Barbie at the end of my bed. The dress was perfectly knit with no holes. The top of the dress was in stockinette stitch and the skirt knitted in garter stitch. There was even a belt to tie at the waist. The sleeveless dress fit perfectly. I’ll never forget this beautiful surprise my Mother secretly gave me. I thought she stayed up all night to make it for me. She loved me the most, I knew. Happy Mum’s Day!
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Hand knit Barbie Dress by Robin
1960′s Barbie Dress:
Skein of worsted weight yarn – preferably space-dyed
pair of #8 straight needles
gauge: 4 stitches and 6 rows = 1 inch over stockinette stitch.
SSK explanation.
Cast on 15 stitches.
knit in garter stitch for 3″
knit 2 stitches; k 2 tog; knit 2; knit 2 tog; knit 3; knit 2 tog; knit 2. (12 sts).
p 1 row
k 1 row
p 1 row
k1; ssk; knit last 3 stitches; k 2 tog; k1. (10 sts)
p1 row
k 1 row
p 1 row
k1; ssk; knit last 3 stitches; k 2 tog; k1. (8 sts)
p1 row
k 1 row
p 1 row
k1; ssk; knit last 3 stitches; k 2 tog; k1. (6 sts)
p 1 row
k 2, bind off 2, k 2
p 2
k 2 tog
p 1
k1
p1
k1; slip yarn through last stitch. cut off
start opposite side: p 2 stitches
slip;slip; knit
p1
k1
p1
With single stitch on needle cast on 5 stitches; knit bound off single stitch from opposite side (6 sts)
p 1 row
k1; make 1; knit to last 2; make 1; k 1.(8 sts)
p 1 row
k 1 row
p 1 row
k1; make 1; knit to last 2; make 1; k 1.(10 sts)
p 1 row
k 1 row
p 1 row
k1; make 1; knit to last 2; make 1; k1 (12 sts).
knit 2 stitches; make 1 knit 4; make 1; knit 4; make 1; knit 2. (15 sts).
knit in garter for 3 “.
bind off loosely
knit sides
Belt:
Braid three yarns each 12″ long.
Share your Barbie dress with me! -robin@relovedfabrics.com
Love to hear your comments here too.
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