1:12th scale camisole top

1/12th Scale Ladies Camisole Top (c.1922) Knitting Pattern

What is Being Made

This is a miniature knitting pattern designed by Frances Powell for creating a historically accurate ladies camisole top circa 1922, scaled to fit 5½-inch (14 cm) tall dolls house dolls. The finished garment measures approximately 1½ inches (4 cm) at its widest point and 2 inches (5 cm) in height. The camisole represents an authentic early 20th-century undergarment style, featuring a simple tube construction that was historically shaped and fitted to the figure using ribbon ties rather than fitted seaming.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs fundamental hand-knitting techniques adapted for extremely fine-scale work. The pattern utilizes basic shaping methods including yarn overs for decorative openings and strategic decreasing through knit and purl together stitches to create the garment's silhouette. The construction method involves knitting a tube of fabric that relies on ribbon ties for shaping and fitting, which is historically accurate to the 1922 period. Working at 1/12th scale requires precision and control with miniature needles and extremely fine yarn.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (sst): The primary stitch structure, created by alternating knit rows and purl rows to produce the smooth, classic knit fabric appearance
• Knit Stitch (k): Basic knit stitch used throughout the garment construction
• Purl Stitch (p): Used in alternating rows to create stockinette stitch fabric
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A decrease stitch that combines two stitches into one, used for shaping the garment
• Purl Two Together (p2tog): A decrease stitch on purl rows for shaping purposes
• Yarn Round Needle (yrn): A yarn over technique that creates decorative openings and lace-like details in the fabric

Materials

This pattern requires one pair of size 18 (1.25 mm/US size 4/0) knitting needles, which are extremely fine needles suitable for miniature work. The yarn is 1-ply cotton totaling 25 metres, representing a cobweb-weight yarn—one of the finest yarn weights available for hand knitting. Additionally, 1 metre of 2 mm wide silk ribbon is needed for trimming and, historically, for the functional ribbon ties that shape the camisole to the doll's figure. The use of cotton yarn is appropriate for the historical period and creates an authentic appearance for this 1920s-era garment.

Design Notes

The pattern includes a historical note explaining that authentic camisole tops of the 1922 era consisted of a simple tube of fabric or knitting that appeared flat and shapeless until the ribbon ties were fastened, at which point the garment would be shaped and held snugly to the figure. This design approach reflects actual historical construction methods rather than modern fitted garment shaping. The gauge is noted as not critical, acknowledging that dolls house dolls vary in size and proportions just as humans do, allowing for flexibility in the finished fit.