1:12th scale Ladies Cami-knickers

1:12th Scale Ladies Cami-knickers by Frances Powell

What is Being Made

This pattern creates historically accurate 1:12th scale ladies cami-knickers designed to fit 5½-inch (14 cm) tall dolls house dolls. The design references authentic undergarments from the 1930s-1940s era, with two distinct versions offered—one from the 1930s and one from the 1940s. The finished cami-knickers measure approximately 2½ inches (6 cm) tall by 1¼ inches (3 cm) wide at the waist, making them properly proportioned miniature garments for period-accurate dolls house dressing.

Techniques and Construction Methods

This advanced miniature knitting project requires experienced needlework skills and is explicitly not suitable as a first project in miniature knitting. The pattern employs traditional hand-knitting construction techniques scaled down to work with extremely fine materials and needles. Knitters must work with multiple needle sizes in sequence to achieve proper shaping and fit on the diminutive scale. The construction involves careful stitch management and precision throughout, as even minor variations can significantly impact the finished garment's proportions on a doll-sized piece.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): The primary stitch structure, created by alternating knit rows and purl rows to produce the classic smooth, flat fabric characteristic of traditional undergarments
• Knit stitch: Foundation stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl stitch: Used in combination with knit stitches to create stocking stitch fabric

Materials and Yarn Specifications

For the 1930s Version: Knitters will need one pair of size 19 (1.00 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needles, 40 yards (37 metres) of 1-ply wool, and narrow ribbon for straps.

For the 1940s Version: This version requires three different needle sizes to achieve proper construction—size 19 (1.00 mm/US size 5/0), size 20 (0.90 mm), and size 21 (0.80 mm) knitting needles. The yarn material options are ¼ of a 5g ball of either No. 80 crochet cotton or No. 70 tatting cotton, plus a spare size 19 (1.00 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needle or stitch holder for managing stitches during construction, and narrow ribbon for straps.

Note: Gauge is not critical for this project, as individual dolls vary in size and the pattern can be adjusted accordingly. This flexibility allows knitters to customize the fit to their specific dolls house doll.

Designer Information

This pattern is by Frances Powell, an independent designer specializing in miniature knitting. The pattern is catalogued as FP 87 from Buttercup Miniatures and is protected by copyright © Frances Powell 2010.