First of all, Congratulations to the Class of 2020!! What a rough year this has surely been for them!! Our youngest is a junior and our older three have already graduated, so I can’t even imagine what the seniors have been through this year.
As I was blogging Jasmine June the other day, I realized that kids up here are supposed to be graduating right now – so, I decided to make up this fun and easy ensemble in case you have a graduating kid that you’d like to custom make a doll for.
This ensemble will/should fit all of my Calendar Kid dolls. What I am posting is more of a formula than a pattern, so that you will be able to modify it for your doll and adjust for size.
But, first, you may want to read more about my Calendar Kid Dolls. These are customizable and about 18 inches as I have made them. I am sharing a new pattern here on my blog on the 1st day of each month – so, what that means is that you can already find 6 free doll patterns right here on my blog!
If you like this post, you may also want to check out my DOCTOR AND NURSE DOLLS.
You can also read more about each doll and what is coming later in the year in my ORIGINAL DOLL POST.
I have each doll and the entire sets of all 12 in my Etsy.
So, let’s get to making that Cap and Gown.
I want to say thank you for all who stop by to support my patterns and my blog. I have chosen to NOT do ads on my blog (with the exception of my affiliate links) and offer FREE patterns, but please – if you love my patterns and want to say a little thank you- or just have some good small business karma support points- a purchase now and then or a visit to any of my affiliate links really helps. It keeps this blog going so I can continue to offer free patterns for all to enjoy. I also purchase a pattern now and then or visit an affiliate link from my favorite blogs and designers. Thank you
This pattern is intended for personal use only. This pattern -and all my patterns- are offered for free or a small fee to help support my family so please do not redistribute, sell, copy or use them in any way not in accordance with fairness.
You may sell products made from this pattern, but please give me credit as the designer. Please do not use my photos as your own work, but you may use my photos to reference back to my blog, Etsy, Pinterest, IG or FB, but please link back to me.
If you find any problems with this pattern please let me know and if you have any problems with any of it feel free to message me and ask for support.
Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to me, Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Don’t have time right now? Pin this and come back later. <3
Pictured wearing the cap and gown are Jasmine June, Mario May and Jae-Lynn July. She will be released free right here on my blog July 1, but if you’d like to purchase her PDF you can find it here in MY ETSY or if you prefer Ravelry, she is also there.
I have used plain black RHSS 4-ply worsted weight yarn and my size G/4mm and H/5mm crochet hooks. I have also used some scrap yarn in white and gold and some crochet thread in red, white and blue for the top tassel. To make the top square of the cap rigid, I have used a piece of plastic mesh, but you can also use cardboard.
Okay, for the bottom “hat” of the Cap:
With your size H hook, Chain 2 and make 8hdc in the 2nd chain from the hook. I work in the continuous spiral for almost all of my work, so please feel free to work in the spiral, or join each round and chain up 1 if that is how you prefer to make your hats. The second round gets 2hdc in each hdc for 16hdc. The third round gets (hdc, 2hdc) *around for 24 hdc and the last increase round gets (hdc, hdc, 2hdc)* for 32 hdc around. *this is where I stopped increasing for the hat portion of my cap, but if this size is too big or too small you may need to adjust by taking out the last increase row or adding more by increasing in multiples of 8 -so, if you need a larger hat, round 5 would be (hdc, hdc, hdc, 2hdc)* around for 40 hdc. etc.
But, I ended my increases at 32 hdc and worked without increases for 6 more rounds. You may need more or less depending on your doll – just try on and see what needs adjusting. On this hat part you do want a snug fit to hold up the upper “square” part.
Once you are done with your increases and straight rounds, do one last round in sc around. (for me that was 32 sc around) – weave in your end.
The top “square” portion is simply 2 squares with a rigid center crocheted together.
For my size dolls, the square that looked best was about 6″. So, with my G/4mm hook I chained 23 and worked 22sc in the chain and then worked in rows with a chain 1 and turn at the end of each row until my square was 6″ by 6″. Measure after your first row to make sure you are also about 6″ for an 18-inch doll or alter for the right size to fit your doll.
Make two squares -don’t finish off after the second square is complete, but place the two squares together and single crochet around 3 sides, insert your rigid plastic or cardboard and then finish crocheting the squares together on the 4th side. I used a black button on the top center. Use matching yarn and a large needle and attach button to the top middle of the square and then pull through the center of the hat. Tie/sew together.
The tassel is made from size 10 cotton thread and secured over the button with a long loop. Trim to length desired.
Okay, now onto the Gown.
This is going to be more of a “formula” with photos. Your doll may be a different size and require different numbers, so I have a lot of photos to help with this next part.
I have used my H/5mm hook. I began with a chain of 34 and hdc 33 down the chain. You may also choose to make this in sc. The fit that you want for your doll is for the ends to wrap around and meet in the front just like a graduation gown. I did a chain 1 and turn on each row and worked in rows to just above the waist. See photos:
Once my rows were just above the waist, it was time to start to decrease. HDC decrease one on each side and one in the middle of the row for your 1st decrease row.
On the second decrease row, hdc decrease on each side.
On the third decrease row, repeat as for the first: hdc dec on each side and once in the middle.
The 4th decrease row repeats the second: hdc dec on each side only.
Work in this manner until your reach the upper back like in my photo above.
Wrap the gown around and under arm so that you can mark where the arm holes need to start.
Mark on each side the arm holes and make sure they are even. For example, you don’t want one arm hole to start with 3 stitches on one side and the other with 5. After your places are marked, hdc in each stitch including the marked stitches, but chain 6 and skip the stitches between the marked ones to make the hole for the arms. *chain 6 with 2 skipped stitches is what was right for my doll, but you may need to adjust this. *this photo below shows where I have marked my stitches with pins, but I think the pins look like holes in this photo – they are not.
The next round is this:
Hdc in each hdc and hdc 6 in the chain 6 space. *size on your doll and make sure it fits.
The next round for my example, was hdc dec across the entire row. *I had an even number and this worked perfect for me, but if you have an odd number just make one hdc in the center of the row with no decrease.
Chain 1 and turn and evenly sc along the top (neck) and down the side, along the bottom, back up the other side and finish when you get back to where your began. Finish off and weave in the end.
Attach yarn to the under side of the arm holes and sc evenly around in rows until the length desired is obtained. I had 6 rows for my example. Weave in all ends.
The very last step – in my opinion – is one of the most important – STEAM !!! I steam all of my doll clothes and most of my work with my iron or steamer. Please research how to do this if you have never done it before. It creates this beautiful, soft fabric with a nice drape from even the roughest yarn. It helps your doll clothes soften up and hang better rather than looking stiff. I have an article on steaming HERE – although this is for a curtain.
Now, Jazzy is ready for her graduation! She borrowed a dress from her friend, Andi April and her shoes are from Melodie March – because one of the nice things wtih all these dolls is that most can share clothes and shoes and accessories so the more pattern you have the more you can create your own fabulous wardrobe!
Thank you for stopping by to visit me. I’d love to connect with you over on IG @theburgundybasket
XOXO, Kristi
Hi,
About how big is the circumference of the bottom of the grad hat?
thanks!
Hi there. I’ll have to measure and get back to you later. I’ll try to get that by tomorrow. Thank you
Mine is about 13” around with my gauge.
Perfect—thanks so much!
You are welcome