Knit Baby Doll Bed

Note: This post was written in November to be posted after Christmas (so as to not ruin the surprise).

Dragonfly has been doing more pretend play lately, especially "mommy" pretend play.  It think she might finally be ready for some baby doll accessories.

The baby is the Melissa and Doug "Gabrielle" doll (here).  The hat came with the doll but the sleep sack was sewn by me.  I bought a newborn onesie from Goodwill, cut the snaps off the bottom, and added an elastic casing.  It's just long enough for this 12" doll.

To Knit a Moses Bed:
Unfortunately, this is going to be more of a "suggestion" than a pattern.  Start with some yarn and some needles.  I used a pair of straight and a pair of cabled circulars.  They could be the same needle size but they don't really need to be- I used a pair of size 8 straights and a pair of size 10 circulars.  Using a provincial cast-on, pick up the number of stitches you need to get the length of bed you want.  I did multiples of 10 because I wanted to do a specific pattern for the sides of the bed.  I chose 50 stitches.

Base of Bed:
Rows 1-4: Knit across
Row 5: K1, knit front and back into the same stitch, knit until last 3 stitches, knit front and back into the same stitch, K1 (increase row)
Row 6: Knit across
Rows 7-13 odd rows: repeat increase row
Row 8-14 even rows: Knit across

You should now have 10 more stitches then when you started (for example from 50 to 60).  You can do more increase rows if you wish.  Then, knit every row until the base is as wide as you'd like.  I think mine is about 5 inches.  Begin decrease pattern.

Odd Rows: K1, K2tog, knit across, SSK, K1
Even Rows: Knit across

When your numbers are back down to the original, knit across for 3 rows.  On the 4th row, knit stitches onto the circular needles.  At the end of the row, begin using your extra needle to pick up stitches along the edge and knit them onto the circular needle.  With my bed, I aimed for 30 stitches per side.  After the sides, start on the provincial cast on end, undoing those stitches and knitting them.  At the end of that row, pick up the stitches on the last side, which should bring you to the beginning of the circle.  My bed had 160 stitches as I began the bed's walls (50+30+50+30).  It's time to start the basket weave pattern.


Basket Weave Pattern
Row 1: (K10, *K1, P1* for 10 stitches) repeat 20 stitches in pattern
Row 2: (K10, *P1, K1* for 10 stitches) repeat 20 stitches in pattern
Continue pattern for 10 rows.

Row 11: Knit all stitches
Row 12: (K10, *P1, K1* for 10 stitches) repeat 20 stitches in pattern
Row 13: (K10, *K1, P1* for 10 stitches) repeat 20 stitches in pattern
Continue pattern for 10 rows.

Row 22: Knit all stitches
Row 23: (K10, *K1, P1* for 10 stitches) repeat 20 stitches in pattern
Row 24: (K10, *P1, K1* for 10 stitches) repeat 20 stitches in pattern
Continue pattern for 10 rows.

You've finished with side one of the bed.  Either bind off all stitches or place active stitches on a spare cable or length of yarn.  Cut yarn.

At the base of the bed, pick up 160 (or whatever number of stitches you used before) and place on cable needle.  Begin working basket weave pattern for the second side.  Your "wrong sides" need to be facing each other.

Knit side two to match side one.


Accessories Pocket
If you desire to add an accessories pocket to the inside of the basket, pick up any number of stitches on the edge (I chose 30) and knit them in the basket weave pattern for however long you desire.  At the end of each row, pick up a stitch from the wall of the basket and knit it into the pocket stitches.  Cast off with an i-cord or normally.  Weave in your ends.

Finishing
Using the 3 needle bind-off, either bind off all stitches.  When the majority of the bed is cast-off, insert plastic canvas between the walls to stiffen them.  Continue binding-off and weave in all yarn tails.  Declare the project finished or add handles by picking up stitches (I used a much smaller needle than I used for the main part of the bed) and knitting good length before casting-off.  Sew the loose end to the bed (I chose to catch the canvas in hopes of making the handle more durable).  Make two handles, find a cute dolly for the bed, and gift it.

OR

Using 3 needles, knit the front and back together.  When you get the majority of the way around the bed, insert plastic canvas between the walls.  Continue to knit the sides together.  To make the folded-over blanket/decoration, knit every stitch until the blanket measures the length you chose.  Use a picot cast off to make the decorative edge.

Picot Cast Off
1- into first stitch, cast on 3.
2- bind off 4 stitches.
3- slip stitch back to left hand needle.
Repeat steps 1-3 until only one stitch is left.  Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Add garter stitch handles using the method outlined above.



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