Product Description
‘Mermaid Friends’ are knit in one piece from the bottom-up. The Mermaid’s bandeau top is embroidered in duplicate stitch after knitting. Fast and fun to knit, these dolls are designed to be sturdy, safe, and perfect for even the littlest hands to hold.
This pattern includes charts and written instructions for Mermaid and Merman Friends. There are 2 .pdf patterns available -- one for circular knitting on dpns, and one for flat knitting on two straight needles. Both patterns include a photo tutorial for finishing the dolls.
Exact gauge is not important. Choose a needle 2 or 3 sizes smaller than recommended on the ball band to create a dense fabric that will keep the stuffing hidden.
Worsted Weight dolls are approximately 8 x 3 inches, DK/Sport dolls are approximately 7 x 2 3/4 inches, and Fingering weight dolls are approximately 6 x 2 1/4 inches.
Mermaid Friends Knitting Pattern by Esther Braithwaite
What is Being Made
Mermaid Friends is a downloadable knitting pattern for creating small knitted dolls designed for children. The pattern includes instructions for making both a Mermaid and a Merman character. These are flat knit dolls constructed as complete pieces, making them sturdy, safe toys suitable for young children to hold and play with.
Construction Method
The dolls are knit in one piece from the bottom-up using a flat knit construction method. This approach creates a continuous garment without requiring assembly of multiple pieces. The Mermaid's bandeau top is added after the main knitting is complete using duplicate stitch embroidery, a technique that creates decorative details on the finished fabric surface. This method allows for quick and enjoyable knitting while ensuring the finished dolls are durable and well-suited for children's hands.
Stitches and Techniques Used
- Flat knitting in one piece from bottom-up construction
- Duplicate stitch embroidery for decorative bandeau top detail on the Mermaid
- Chart-based colorwork for creating the doll design
Yarn and Materials
The pattern is designed to work with multiple yarn weights, accommodating 3-ply, DK, sport, and worsted weight yarns. The sample models shown in the pattern are knit using Paintbox Yarns Paintbox Simply DK and Lion Brand Yarn BonBons on 3.0 mm needles. The Mermaid uses less than 20 yards each of Kingfisher Blue (134) as the main color, Light Caramel (108) as a contrast color, and Marine Blue (133). The bandeau top embroidery is worked in BonBons Celebrate Light Blue (660). The Merman uses colors from the BonBons Brights collection.
Gauge and Needle Sizing
Exact gauge is not critical for this project. The pattern includes a chart showing approximate gauge and finished sizes for commonly used yarns. Crafters are advised to choose needles 2 or 3 sizes smaller than recommended on the yarn ball band. This sizing down creates a dense fabric that effectively conceals the stuffing inside the dolls, ensuring a neat and professional appearance.
Difficulty Level
This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience who are ready to work with colorwork charts and embroidery techniques. The one-piece construction and use of straightforward stitches make it an accessible intermediate project.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | 3 Ply, DK, Sport, Worsted |
| Pages: | 12 |
| Designer: | Esther Braithwaite |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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