Súgradh: Quick Knit Dolman Doll Cardigan Pattern with Stripe
Súgradh is a playful dolman doll cardigan knitting pattern. Designed to fit all popular 18-inch dolls, it’s knit from cuff to cuff, with a colourful stripe for extra charm. This tiny project is worked in worsted weight yarn. You may love it for gifting, craft fairs, or practicing garment construction on a small scale before tackling a full-sized sweater. Whether you’re knitting for a doll-loving child, adding to your collection, or just want a satisfying project, Súgradh is a delightful choice.
Súgradh is Irish for ‘play’. And this pattern is all about enjoying the playful process. Originally part of a presentation at a knitting summit, it joins a dropped shoulder doll cardigan availible here. There are raglan and set-in sleeve styles coming soon. Each pattern fits an 18 inch doll, and explores a different construction method in making pullovers and cardigans.
Yarn and Materials
This quick dolman doll cardigan pattern is knitted useing 100 meters/50g of worsted weight yarn. The samples was made using Sirdar Sublime Merino, and Drops Paris
Any worsted weight yarn that works to gauge should work.
Each cardigan took exactly a full 50g ball of yarn with nothing left over,
and a tense game of yarn chicken for the neckband and bind off.
If stash diving or purchasing, I do recommend using a yarn where
you have one full 50g ball plus a small scrap left over from another project, just in case.
Knitting Needles
You will also need 4.5mm needles, or size to match gauge.
Any type of needles will work for the project, as it is fully knitted in rows.
Crochet hook (optional, for crochet cast on).
Notions:
Stitch holders – safety pins could be used.
Darning needle for weaving in ends.
4 Buttons – 1 cm diameter.
Tension / gauge
For doll clothes or festive decorations, it is possible to play
about with gauge. Try different yarn and needles, see what
size they come out. Why not experiment now? Note, I
would never recommend this for clothes to be worn by a
person. Not only will the garment not fit, but tension
affects drapes and appearance, so it won’t look right or feel
right on either. But when knitting for dolls we don’t need to
worry so much. Which is one of the reasons they make great learning projects.
If using the patterns as Christmas decoration, use fingering or light fingering yarn, and 3 or 3.5 mm needles.
Stitches and Abbreviations used
This pattern only uses garter stitch and stocking stitch, so you can focus on building your confidence, seeing how a cardigan is constructed. The following terms are used:
Garter stitch: when knitting flat as in this pattern, garter stitch means knit every row. It is a textured stitch, with ridges showing.
Stocking Stitch: In the US, this stitch is called ‘stockinette’. When you knit in rows for this pattern, you knit 1 row, purl 1 row, and repeat.
How to work a crochet cast on
- Knit to end of row
- Turn and slip stitch to crochet hook
Turn tge work so the wrong side (purl side) is facing you. Slip tge last stitch from the knitting needle onto your crochet hook.
- Hook stitch around needle
With the yarn behind the knitting needle, and the crochet hook in front, use the hook to grab the yarn and pull through the stitch.
- Repeat for correct number of stitches
Repeat steps 2 and 3 untill you have one less stitch than needed. Then slip tge active stitch from the crochet hook back onto tge needle as the last stitch.
Knitting abbreviations used
co – cast on
k – knit
kfb – knit into the front and back of the stitch (increase 1 stitch)
of the stitch to increase
k2tog – knit 2 sts together (decrease 1 st)
m – marker
p – purl
pfkb – purl into front of stitch, knit into back of stitch (increase 1 stitch)
rep – repeat
rs – right side
sl m – slip marker
ssk – slip 2 sts knitwise, and knit 2 sts together (decrease 2 sts)
st(s) – stitches
ws – wrong side
yo – yarn over
Construction of quick dolman doll cardigan
The dolman doll cardigan pattern is worked all in one piece, side
to side. It is to knit flat, casting on for the cuff. Knit up the arm, cast on extra stitches for the body, knit to the neckline, work short rows for the front and back of the body, rejoin for the second shoulder, and knit down the second sleeve.
Pattern starts.
Part 1. First sleeve.
Set up: in main colour, co 18 sts
Part 2: Body
Body Set Up Row 1 (rs): k to end, transfer last stitch to a crochet hook and crochet cast on 16 sts. (40 sts total, 24 knitted, 16 cast on)
Note: I find a crochet cast on by far the best method here, but you can use a thumb cast on, or other method that you are familiar with to cast on additional stitches to an existing row.
Body Set Up Row 2 (ws): k4, p to end, transfer last stitch to crochet hook and crochet cast on 16 sts. (56 stitches total, 40 knitted, 16 cast on).
Divide for neck
You will now work short rows for the Right Front only, leaving the Back stitches unworked
Right Front
In Main colour
Buttonhole band
Back
Return to unworked stitches from body, with RS facing rejoin main colour.
Row 1: cast off 2 sts, k to end (28 sts)
Row 2: k4, p to end
Row 3: k to end
Rep Rows 2-3 another 8 times
Rep Row 2 once more. (20 rows in total worked for back)
Leave work on needles or stitch holder, and work left front, before rejoining for second side of body.
Left Front
Set up: in main colour, co 20 sts
Rejoin Front and Back
Second sleeve
Assembly
Fold work in half, so fronts lie on top of back.
Sew from hem to cuff on each side.
Weave in all ends.
Neckline
Pick up and knit 36 sts evenly around neckline.
Finishing
Weave in any remaining ends.
Sew buttons to correspond to buttonholes.
What to knit next:
Congratulations on finishing your dolman doll cardigan knitting pattern for beginners. I hope you found this a manageable pattern, or just a fun quick knit.
If you enjoy making dolls clothes, why not try making the dropped shoulder doll cardigan socks for your 18 inch doll next? Or a dress for a 14 inch doll?
You may also like to try out a crochet pattern, tge ‘Skerries top’, for kids sizes and adults, using a similar dolman construction.
Acknowledgements
This pattern was Tech Edited by Louise Plumridge, my thanks as always. Any errors that remain are my own. The PDF was formatted by Dara Adams.
Copyright
This pattern, including the wording and the pictures, are my work and copyright. Please do not distribute them in any way except by using the link to this blog post. You may not copy in any way, including by making your own videos, if they are directly based on my work.
This blog is not intended for commercial use. You may sell finished items based on this pattern only if you have made them in your own home, with your own hands. However, selling your own makes from this pattern, especially for charity, is strongly encouraged. I would love to hear about your event, and how it went.