American Girl Doll's Little Red Coat

So, this is how I occupied my time today. My sister-in-law asked me to make some clothes for her significant other's grand daughter's new doll. I used Charlene Schafer's "Complete Wardrobe for American Girl Dolls". There are some cute items in it. I have to say, though, that Charlene could use a proof reader. The book contains some funny little typos, like the instruction to make 3 button holes and sew on 4 buttons. Not so funny, giving two different tensions for the same operation. She has you making a full needle rib hems, which inevitably flip up. Much fiddling with less than good results, in my opinion. I thought it would be better to do a hung hem, just stockinette. If you did the outside at a slightly larger tension or with one more row than the inside of the hem, it would look good. The sleeves aren't supposed to flare out in the pattern, but changing from fnr to 2 x 2 rib makes them look ruffled. Cute, but I don't think the picture of the completed coat looks the same. I'll have to double check that.

What I do like is the bodice. Red is hard to photograph, but changing to 2 x 2 rib makes it pull in for a more fitted look. A little beret matches the coat, which I haven't knit yet. Well, I hope she likes it. Here are some more views:

Maybe I'll make her a 2 x 2 ribbed scarf. That would be easy enough to do.