Reversible Knitted Sweater for American Girl Doll (Free Pattern!)

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This sweater is based on the Caramel Popcorn Dress pattern by Elaine Phillips, but I decided to just make it into a top instead of a dress.  This was easy to do – I just worked it flat as written for the yolk, but when you were supposed to join in the round and start the bodice/skirt section, I just kept knitting flat without increases until it was shirt-length.  I added a 1×1 ribbed band at the bottom and then picked up stitches along the edges to make a 1” button band.

Some of the sweaters I knit for my doll can be a little hard to get over dolly’s head for those with little hands so I was inspired to make one that buttoned all the way down the back, much like the commercially-made doll shirts are constructed.  It was only after I finished that I realized that this technique made the sweater reversible! It can be worn one way as a shirt or in reverse as a cardigan.

Here is is on the back:

And here it is worn as a cardigan with the buttons in front! (If I had to do it over again, I’d probably make the button band thinner so it looks a little better when it’s all buttoned up like this, but c’est la vie).

yarn details

Knit Picks Shine Sport in Grass and Green Apple
Sport Weight
60% Cotton, 40% Rayon
Machine Wash
(leftovers from Sheldon!)

project details

based on pattern: “Caramel Popcorn Dress” by Elaine Phillips (free pattern available on ABC Knitting Patterns)
needles: US size 1.5 (2.5 mm), nickel-plated circs (from my interchangeable set)
gauge: 12.5 stitches and 21 rows = 2 inches in stockinette (blocked)
yarn used: 44 yards of Green Apple (MC) and 18 yards of Grass (CC).
finished size: 12.75” along hem, laid flat; and it’s about 5” tall measured down the center front.
duration: June 18 – July 2, 2021