1:12th scale Ladies jumpers c.1938

1/12th Scale Ladies Summer Jumper and Puff Sleeve Coatee c.1938

What is Being Made

This pattern set includes two historically accurate miniature knitted garments designed for 1/12th scale dolls house dolls approximately 5½ inches (14 cm) tall. The collection features a puff sleeve coatee and a puff sleeve jumper, both inspired by 1938 fashion. These are authentic period pieces reflecting the feminine aesthetic that emerged in late 1930s knitwear design, when puff sleeves were at the height of fashion from 1935 to 1939.

Garment Specifications

Puff Sleeve Coatee:

• Finished waist width: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• Finished chest width: 1½ inches (4 cm)
• Sleeve length: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• Total height: 2 inches (5 cm)

Puff Sleeve Jumper:

• Finished waist width: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• Finished chest width: 1¼ inches (3 cm)
• Sleeve length: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• Total height: 1½ inches (4 cm)

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

These miniature garments employ advanced knitting techniques appropriate for working at an extremely small scale. The puff sleeve construction is a signature design element, requiring shaping techniques to create the characteristic fullness at the shoulder and upper arm that was fashionable during the 1930s. The patterns accommodate the natural variation in dolls house doll proportions, making gauge adjustments unnecessary—a practical consideration when working with such diminutive finished pieces.

Materials and Tools

For the Coatee:

• One pair size 19 (1 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needles
• 37½ yards (35 metres) of 1-ply wool or cotton yarn in cobweb weight

For the Puff Sleeve Jumper:

• One pair size 19 (1 mm/US size 5/0) knitting needles
• Optional: size 21 (0.8 mm) knitting needles for finer detail work
• 25 yards (28 metres) of 1-ply wool yarn in cobweb weight

The use of cobweb weight yarn—among the finest yarn weights available—combined with miniature needles creates the delicate fabric necessary for authentic 1/12th scale dolls house clothing. The 1-ply construction provides the lightweight, refined appearance appropriate to 1938 summer garments.

Historical Context

Designed by Frances Powell, these patterns reflect genuine fashion history. By 1938, as the threat of war loomed in Europe, knitted garments became increasingly feminine in design. Puff sleeves were a dominant fashion element during the mid-to-late 1930s, worn high on the shoulder in a style that epitomized the period's aesthetic. These miniature reproductions capture that historical accuracy for dolls house enthusiasts and historical miniature collectors.

Skill Level

Rated as advanced difficulty, these patterns require experienced knitters comfortable working with extremely fine yarns and needles at a 1/12th scale. The precision required for miniature garment construction, combined with the shaping techniques needed for puff sleeves, makes this project suitable for knitters with substantial experience in both standard and miniature knitting.