Free Vintage Crochet Doll Sweater and Cap Pattern - Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet

This free vintage crochet doll sweater and cap pattern is from the Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet. The pattern has been updated to modern use with AI. You will find the original text from the book at the bottom of this page in italics. The book's how to crochet section is here: A Lesson In Crochet - Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet.  The modern pattern is untested. I am adding these free vintage crochet patterns to my blog so they are in one place and easily searched.

Vintage Crochet Doll Sweater and Cap Free Pattern

Modern Pattern:

This vintage crochet pattern creates a sweater and cap set using a lightweight yarn (like sport or DK weight) in two colors, white and blue. Modern crocheters should choose a similar yarn and adjust hook size as needed to achieve the desired gauge. The pattern uses US crochet terminology.

Sweater:

Chain 60.

Row 1: Double crochet (dc) in each stitch across. Turn.

Row 2: Chain 3 (counts as a treble crochet), treble crochet (tr) and dc in the back loop of the next dc, skip 1 dc. Repeat from * to the end of the row. Turn.

Row 3: Tr and dc between the tr and dc of the previous row. Repeat across.

Row 4: Chain 1 (counts as a dc). Dc in the back loop of each stitch across.

Row 5: Repeat Row 4. This completes the shoulder section.

Fronts:

Working on half the length, repeat Rows 2, 3, 4, and 5, then repeat Row 2 again. This completes one front. Work the other front in the same way on the other half of the length.

Back:

Join the two fronts at the center back.

Armholes:

Fold the sweater and join under the arms, leaving the desired size opening for the armholes.

Sleeves:

Chain 15. Repeat Rows 1 through 5. Then repeat Rows 2 through 5 twice more. Join the last row to the first to form a tube. Attach the sleeve to the armhole.

Border:

Using blue yarn, work 4 rows of dc around the entire sweater, working in both loops (not back loop only) and working 3 dc in one stitch at each corner for smooth turning.

Buttonholes:

After working 2 rows of the left front border, create buttonholes by chaining 3, skipping 3 dc. Repeat, spacing the buttonholes 8 dc apart. On the next row, work a dc in each of the chain spaces.

Sleeve Cuffs:

Finish the bottom of the sleeves in the same way as the border, but skip every other stitch in the first row to create a slightly gathered cuff.

Buttons:

Sew pearl buttons onto the sweater, aligning with the buttonholes.

Cap:

Chain 5 and join to form a ring.

Round 1: Chain 3. (Yarn over, insert hook in ring, yarn over and draw through) twice, yarn over and draw through all loops on the hook, chain 1 to close the "bean stitch." Make 6 more bean stitches in the ring. Join to the top of the first bean stitch.

Round 2: Chain 3. Make a bean stitch in the top of each bean stitch from the previous round and between each bean stitch. Join.

Round 3: Chain 3. Make a bean stitch between each pair of bean stitches from the previous round, widening every 3rd or 4th stitch by making a bean stitch on top of a bean stitch.

Rounds 4-5: Repeat Round 3, widening every 5th bean stitch (or as needed to maintain the shape).

Rounds 6-10: Work 5 more rounds without widening. This completes the body of the cap.

Border:

Turn the cap wrong side out. Attach the blue yarn and work on the wrong side to form a band that will turn up on the right side.

Row 1: Chain 3. Draw a loop through the 2nd and 3rd chains from the hook and through the next 2 stitches of the last round of the cap. Yarn over and draw through all loops on the hook, chain 1 to close the star stitch. Draw up a loop through the eye of the star stitch just made (under the chain-1 space), another loop through the back part of the last loop of the preceding star stitch, and 2 loops in the next 2 stitches. Repeat from * around.

Rows 2-4: Continue working in star stitch for 3 more rows. Fasten off.

Tassel:

Make a tassel using the blue yarn and attach it to the top of the cap with a crocheted cord.

Original Text:

One skein of white and blue Saxony will be sufficient for two sets; use a crochet-hook that will carry the wool easily. Commence the sweater with a chain of 60 stitches.

1. A double in each stitch of chain, turn.

2. A treble and a double in back of double of last row (chain 3 for 1st treble of the row), miss 1 double; repeat to end of row, turn.

3. A treble and a double taken between treble and double of last row; repeat.

4. A double in back of each stitch of last row (chain 1 for 1st double).

5. Same as 4th row. This completes the portion over the shoulder.

On one half the length repeat the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and again the 2d row which completes one front. Work in the same way on the other half of length, which brings you to the center of the back and makes half of the sweater. Make the other half to correspond, and join neatly down center of back. Fold and join under the arms, making the armscye of desired size.

For the sleeve: Make a chain of 15 stitches, and repeat from 1st to 5th row; then repeat from 2d to 5th row twice, and join last row to 1st; also crochet sleeve in the armscye.

Entirely around the sweater make 4 rows of double crochet with blue yarn, working in both veins of stitch to avoid a rib, and putting 3 stitches in 1 at corners to turn smoothly. After working 2 rows of left front make the buttonholes, separated by 8 doubles, by chain 3, miss 3; then in next row make a double also in each stitch of chain.

Finish bottom of sleeves in same way, missing every 2d stitch in 1st row to draw in the cuff a little. Sew on pearl buttons to match the buttonholes.

Cap: Chain 5, join to form a ring.

1. Chain 3, (yarn over hook, insert hook in ring, take up yarn and draw through) twice, yarn over and draw through all the loops on needle, chain 1 to close the "bean," make 6 more bean-stitches in ring, and join to top of 1st.

2. Chain 3, and make a bean in top of each of last row, and between each 2; join.

3. Chain 3, a bean-stitch between each 2 of last row, widening every 3d or 4th by making a bean in top of bean.

4, 5. Same as 3d row, widening every 5th bean, or as necessary in order to keep the shape.

Make 5 more rows without widening, which completes the body of cap.

For the border, turn cap wrong side out and tie in the blue yarn, working on the wrong side to form the band so that it will turn up on the right side.

1. Chain 3, draw a loop through 2d and 3d stitches from hook, also through next 2 stitches of last row of cap, * take up wool and draw through all the stitches on needle, chain 1 to close the star, draw up a loop through eye of star last made, under the 1 chain, another through back part of last loop of preceding star, and 2 loops in next 2 stitches; repeat from *, and continue until you have made 4 rows of star-stitch. Fasten off neatly.

Make a tassel of the colored (blue) yarn, and attach to top of cap by a crocheted cord.

This set will make a charming gift for a little girl. By using fourfold Germantown the sweater will be large enough for the small mother herself to wear, or it may be easily enlarged by using the heavier wool and working in the same pattern on a longer foundation-chain. The cap may also be made large enough for a child by adding to the number of bean-stitches in each row.

Happy Hooking!
 
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This free vintage crochet pattern is from Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet by Anonymous. It is available for download on Project Gutenberg at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26113 . The wording has been updated for modern readers with the assistance of Google Gemini 2.0 Flash.