1:12th scale Ladies Bizarre Jumper

1:12th Scale Ladies 'Bizarre' Jumper

What Is Being Made

This is a miniature knitted jumper designed for 1:12th scale dolls house dolls, specifically sized to fit a 5½-inch (14 cm) tall doll. The garment is inspired by Art Deco 'Bizarre' patterns from the mid-1920s and 1930s, reflecting the loose, elongated silhouettes characteristic of that era's fashion. The finished jumper measures approximately 1½ inches (4 cm) wide at the chest, with a total height of 2¼ inches (5.5 cm) and sleeve length of 1¾ inches (4.5 cm). The design features a deliberately long and loose fit, authentic to 1930s styling.

Techniques and Construction

This advanced-level knitting project requires precision work at an extremely small scale. The pattern involves knitting both front and back pieces separately, with color work integrated throughout the design to create the distinctive Art Deco 'Bizarre' patterning. The garment construction uses stitch holders or safety pins to manage stitches during assembly, indicating a structured approach with multiple pieces that are later joined together. The loose, period-appropriate fit requires careful shaping and understanding of miniature garment proportions.

Stitches Used

While specific stitch names are not detailed in the pattern excerpt provided, the construction of this miniature jumper employs fundamental knitting stitches suitable for 1-ply yarn worked on extremely fine needles. The color work necessary to achieve the Art Deco 'Bizarre' patterns suggests the use of techniques such as stranded colorwork or intarsia methods to integrate the contrasting colors seamlessly into the design.

Materials Required

• Needles: One pair of size 19 (1 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needles
• Yarn: 38 yards (35 metres) of 1-ply wool or cotton in main color; 13 yards (12 metres) each of 1-ply wool or cotton in two contrasting colors
• Notions: 2 stitch holders or safety pins for managing stitches during construction

Yarn Weight and Material Notes

This pattern calls for cobweb and lace weight 1-ply yarn, which is exceptionally fine and requires advanced knitting skills to work with at this miniature scale. The designer specifies that either wool or cotton may be used, offering flexibility in fiber choice. The pattern includes a helpful alternative option: the jumper can be knitted using just two colors by substituting a light-colored wool for the medium-colored wool, using the same yardage amounts as specified for the three-color version.

Designer and Source

This pattern was created by Frances Powell in 2011 and is part of the Buttercup Miniatures collection. It is classified as difficulty level FP 25, indicating an advanced project suitable for experienced miniature knitters.