Sweater for an 8" teddy bear or dragon. (Or a doll if you must!)

Meet Eldritch:

He's extremely proud of his lovely new jumper. If you need to knit a jumper /sweater for an 8" plush friend here's how:

Using 3mm needles (old number 11s) and two-ply wool. Choose your needle size to  make the right size of jumper. Knit a small 10 stitch by 10 row square first to test your yarn and needles. This will need to go a third of the way across your pal's tummy!

Front
Cast on 30 stitches
Work two rows in K1 P1 rib.
Work 18 rows in knit a row, purl a row (stocking stitch)
Continue for 14 more rows, decreasing 1 stitch at each end of  the knit rows until you have 16 stitches left. End on a knit row. Cast off.

Back
Start as for front until the end of the straight section. (row 20) Start the first decreasing row until 15 stitches have been completed. Leave the second half of the row on the needle. Turn in mid row and continue to work half of the side, decreasing at the start of the knit rows until you have 8 stitches. Cast off.
Continue with the second half of the abandoned row and, starting with a knit row, work 14 rows, decreasing 1 at the end of each knit row.
Cast off.

Sleeves (Knit 2)
Cast on 25 stitches
Work two rows K1 P1 rib
Work 20 rows stocking stitch
Cast off.

Press each piece and sew together from the inside.
Sew a buttonhole loop at the neck and sew on a nice button to fasten it.