Free Toddler Dress Knitting Pattern
I knitted this dress for my granddaughter to wear for Christmas. Depending on the colors you pick, it can work for other occasions: flower girl dress for a wedding, christening dress, etc.
The top of the dress is worked in stockinette and garter stitch, and features a front closure. The skirt features a lace pattern, which I knitted in a contrast color. The dress is nice and cozy, which should be perfect for the Holiday season.
This dress is sized just right for an infant through to toddler.
Sizes: 12 (18, 24)
Shown in size 18 with 2 inches of positive ease.
Finished Measurements
Chest: 21 (22, 23) inches [53 (55, 58) cm]
Length: 12-16-20 inches [30, 40.5, 51 cm]
Skills Required/Techniques Used:
-Knit & purl, cast on & bind off
-Increasing: yarn over (YO), make 1 (m1)
-Decreasing: knit 2 together (k2tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk)
-Working lace patterns
-Picking up stitches
-Basic chrocheting (optional)
Knit Picks (affiliate link) Simply Cotton Organic Sport weight yarn (164 yards (150 meters) / 50 grams, 100% cotton), color white 3 (4, 5) balls .
Knit Picks (affiliate link) Simply Cotton Organic Sport weight yarn (164 yards (150 meters) / 50 grams, 100% cotton), color red 1 ball (all sizes)
Notions: yarn needle, stitch markers, 2 pieces of waste yarn. 3-4 small buttons
Needles: US#2 (2.75mm) circular needles OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE.
For the sleeves I use “magic loop” method and 32” circular needles. You can use either 16” circular needles or double pointed needles (dpn).
Gauge for stockinette: 26 sts x 38 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm)
Abbreviations:
k - knit
p - purl
k2tog - knit 2 together
k2tog tbl - knit 2 together through back loop
k3togtbl - knit 3 together through back loop
pu&k- pick up and knit
yo - yarn over
m1 - make 1 increase - I used the increase described by Elizabeth Zimmerman: make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit as a regular stitch.
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
Pattern Notes:
Stockinette in rows:
Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2 (WS): purl
Repeat 2 rows.
Reverse Stockinette in rounds:
All rounds purl
Garter stitch in rows: all rows knit.
Garter st in rounds:
Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl
Repeat 2 rounds
Lace pattern in rounds: multiple of 5
Round 1: *yo, k2togtbl, k1, k2tog, yo - rep from * to the end of the round
Rounds 2 and 4: knit
Round 3: *k1, yo, k3 togtbl, yo, k1 - rep from * to the end of the round
Repeat rounds 1-4
Selvedge/edge stitches are worked in the following way: knit the first stitch in a row, purl the last one.
Dress
The dress is worked top-down. The yoke is worked back and forth in stockinette stitch with raglan sleeves. Raglan increases are worked with yarn over before and after the marked raglan stitches in each right side (RS) row, thus the number of stitches in each RS row is increased by 8.
The skirt is worked in the round with lace pattern columns with reverse stockinette stitchea between them. The lace pattern is worked on 5 stitches, all increases for the skirt are made between lace pattern repeats.
Yoke
Please note that we begin with the same number of stitches for all 3 sizes!
With red yarn and circular needles cast on 63 stitches (61 + 2 selvedge). Work 2 foundation rows in garter stitch, both rows: k62, p1.
Check the stitches and place markers:
1 selvedge/edge - 11 left front - 1 raglan (place the first marker before this st) - 7 left sleeve
- 1 raglan (place the second marker before this st) - 21 back - 1 raglan (place the third marker before this st) - 7 right sleeve - 1 raglan (place the forth marker before this st) - 11 right front - 1 selvedge/edge
Row 1 (RS and all RS rows): *knit till marker, yo, sm, k1, yo - repeat from * 4 times, knit till last st, p1. In this way you increase the number of stitches in every RS row by 8.
Row 2 (WS and all WS rows): k1, purl across.
Work 34 (38, 42) rows as established = 199 (215, 231) sts
The number of sts after:
Row 1 = 71 sts
Row 3 = 79 sts
Row 5 = 87 sts
Row 7 = 95 sts
Row 9 = 103 sts
Row 11 = 111 sts
Row 13 = 119 sts
Row 15 = 127 sts
Row 17 = 135 sts
Row 19 = 143 sts
Row 21 = 151 sts
Row 23 = 159 sts
Row 25 = 167 sts
Row 27 = 175 sts
Row 29 183 sts
Row 31 = 191 sts
Row 33 = 199 sts
Row 35 = 207 sts
Row 37 = 215 sts
Row 39 = 223 sts
Row 41 = 231 sts
Divide for sleeves and bodice:
Row 35 (39, 43): knit 30 (32, 34) [1 selvedge + front sts +1 raglan st], transfer 41 (45, 49) sleeve sts to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 7 sts for underarm, knit 57 (61, 65) sts [1 raglan st + back sts + 1 raglan st], transfer 41 (45, 49) sleeve sts to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 7 sts for underarm, knit 30 (32, 34) [1 raglan st + front sts + 1 selvedge st], cast on 1 st. Join the work into round and continue to work in rounds. = 132 (140, 148) sts.
Bodice
Round 1: knit 33 (35, 37) sts, place marker, this will be the beginning of the round an it will start underarm. Knit to the end of the round.
Round 2 (eyelet or belt round):
For size 12: *k2tog, yo - repeat from * across the round. = 132 sts
For size 18: *(k1, yo) twice, (k2tog, yo) x 35 times, rpeat from * twice = 144 sts
For size 24: * k2, yo, (k2tog, yo) x 35 times, repeat from * twice. = 150 sts
Round 3: knit this round and carefully check the number of stitches: 132 (144, 150).
Skirt
Change to white yarn. Starting from round 4 work lace pattern. Lace pattern is worked on 5 sts, with reverse stokinette sts between the lace repeats. (see pattern notes). Lace pattern consists of 4 rounds. Below all instructions describe only skirt increases between 5-st lace pattern columns. The lace pattern has to be worked as established.
Round 4: * yo, k2togtbl, k1, k2 tog, yo, p1 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times
Round 5: *k5, p1 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times
Round 6: *k1, yo, k3togtbl, yo, k1, p1 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times
Round 7: repeat round 5.
Repeat rounds 4-7 one more time. Repeat rounds 4-6 one more time.
Round 15 (increase round): * k5, m1, p1, m1 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times. = 176 (192, 200) sts
Round 16: * yo, k2togtbl, k1m k2tog, yo, p3 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times
Round 17: *k5, p3 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times
Round 18: *k1, yo, k3togtbl, yo, k1, p3 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times
Round 19: repeat round 17.
Repeat rounds 16-19 3 (5, 7) more times. Repeat rounds 16-18 one more time.
Round 35 (43, 51) increase round: * k5, m1, p3, m1 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times. = 220 (240, 250) sts
Round 36 (44, 52): *yo, k2togtbl, k1, k2tog, yo, p5 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 37 (45, 53): *k5, p5 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 38 (46, 54): *k1, yo, k3togtbk, yo, k1, p5 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 39 (47, 55): repeat round 37 (45, 53).
Repeat rounds 36-39 (44-47, 52-55) 3 (5 , 7) more times. Repeat rounds 36-38 (44-46, 52-54) one more time.
Round 55 (71, 87) increase round :* k5 sts, m1, p5, m1 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times. = 264 (288, 300 ) sts
Round 56 (72, 88) : *yo, k2togtbl, k1, k2tog, yo, p7 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 57 (73, 89): *k5, p7 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 58 (74, 90): *k1, yo, k3togtbl, yo, k1, p7 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 59 (75, 91) repeat round 57 (73, 89).
Repeat rounds 56-59 (72-75, 88-91) 3 (5, 7) more times. Repeat rounds 56-58 (72-74, 88- 90) one more time.
Round 75 (99, 123) (increase round):* k5 sts, m1, p7, m1 - repeat across the round 22 (24, 25) times. = 308 (336, 350) sts
Round 76 (100, 124): * *yo, k2togtbl, k1, k2tog, yo, p9 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 77 (101, 125): *k5, p9 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 78 (102, 126): **k1, yo, k3togtbl, yo, k1, p7 - repeat from * across the round 22 (24, 25) times.
Round 79 (103, 127): repeat round 77 (101, 125).
Repeat rounds 76-79 (100-103, 124-127) 3 (5, 7) more times or to desired length.
Work 6 more rounds in garter sts (even rounds purl, odd rounds knit). Bind off.
Sleeve
Transfer 41 (45, 49) sts to circular needles.
Round 1: Starting with the 4th underarm stitch, pu&k 4 underarm sts, place marker before the first st for the beginning of the round, k41 (45, 49), pu&k 3 underarm sts. = 48 (52, 56) sts
Rounds 2-5: knit.
Round 6 (decrease round): k1, k2tog, k43 (47, 51), ssk. = 46 (50, 54) sts
For size 12: work 5 more rounds in garter stitch (odd rounds knit, even rounds purl). Bind off.
For size 18 and 24:
Round 7: knit
Round 8 (decrease round): k1, k2tog, k45 (49) , ssk. = 48 (52) sts
For size 18: work 5 more rounds in garter stitch (odd rounds knit, even rounds purl). Bind off.
For size 24:
Round 9: knit
Round 10 (decrease round): k1, k2tog, k47, ssk. = 50 sts
Work 5 more rounds in garter stitch (odd rounds knit, even rounds purl). Bind off.
Button Bands
Pu&k sts along the center front. Work 4 rows of garter st, bind off. On the right front pu7k the same number of sts, work 2 rows of garter st, in the 3rd row make buttonholes: *yo, k2tog - repeat from * 3 -4 times, evenly.
Row 4: knit. Bind off.
Alternatively, you can crochet the button bands.
Finishing
Weave in the yarn ends. Sew buttons to the left button band. Sew the lower ends of the button bands to the top of the skirt, overlapping them. Tread ribbon in the eyelet row.
Have fun!
Patterns: | Knit >> Baby Knit >> Dresses |
Difficulty Level: | 3-Intermediate |
Technique: | Eyelets In-the-round Lace Seamless Top-Down |
Yarn Weight: | Sport |
Yarn Brand: | Knit Picks |