Babydoll Top

Babydoll Top by Aunt Janet's Designs

Project Overview

The Babydoll Top is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Janet Every, known as Aunt Janet's Designs. This downloadable PDF provides instructions for creating a fitted, feminine top suitable for children in sizes ranging from 12 months to 8 years old. The garment features a distinctive lace pattern that creates visual interest and texture throughout the piece.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a babydoll-style top for children, available in five size options: 12 months, 2 years, 4 years, 6 years, and 8 years. The top is constructed in the round using circular knitting techniques, creating a seamless garment from the cast-on through completion. The design includes decorative lace patterning that repeats multiple times depending on the size selected.

Knitting Techniques Used

• In-the-round knitting: The entire garment is worked circularly, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, seamless construction
• Lace knitting: The pattern incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create an openwork lace design
• Decreasing: Strategic decreases are worked to shape the garment, particularly in the size-specific shaping rounds
• Color changes: The pattern notes suggest the option to change yarn color during construction for added design variation

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Knit stitch (K): The foundational stitch used throughout the ribbed and stockinette sections
• Purl stitch (P): Used to create textured ribbing at the beginning and within the lace pattern repeats
• Knit two together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in the lace pattern and shaping
• Yarn over (YO): Creates the openwork holes characteristic of the lace design
• Lace pattern repeat: A four-round pattern that alternates between knit rounds, purl rounds, and the main lace decrease-and-yarn-over round, repeated 7 to 11 times depending on size
• Stockinette stitch: The base fabric used for gauge measurement and the foundation of the garment

Materials Required

This project requires minimal materials, making it an efficient knitting undertaking. Worsted weight yarn is used throughout, with yardage requirements varying by size: 3 skeins for the 12-month size, 3.5 skeins for size 2, 4 skeins for size 4, 5 skeins for size 6, and 6 skeins for size 8. Size 8 (5mm) knitting needles are specified for working with the worsted weight yarn. Additional notions include one stitch marker for tracking rounds, one stitch holder for securing stitches, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and finishing the garment.

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern specifies a gauge of approximately 15 stitches and 22 rows per 4 inches when worked in stockinette stitch. This gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished size. Cast-on stitch counts vary by size: 96 stitches for 12 months, 108 stitches for size 2, and 120 stitches for sizes 4 and 6, with 132 stitches for size 8. The pattern includes helpful checkboxes for tracking progress through each round, and size-specific decrease details are provided to ensure proper fit across the range of children's sizes.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes knitters have experience with basic techniques and are comfortable working in the round with circular needles. The lace pattern requires attention to yarn overs and decreases, making it suitable for knitters ready to expand their skills beyond basic stockinette and ribbing.