Sunflower Dress for 14-inch Doll

Free Doll Dress Knitting Pattern

Welcome to the Sunflower Dress knitting pattern for a 14-inch doll, designed to create a charming dress from the top down. This pattern guides you through knitting the dress seamlessly, working back and forth to shape the bodice and skirt. You’ll add a sunflower detail and tiered layers to give it a playful look. The instructions suit both new and experienced knitters, offering clear steps to complete the project. Finish with a tied waist to enhance the doll’s style.

Skills Required/Techniques Used:
---Knit & purl, cast on & bind off
---Increasing: yarn over (YO), make 1 (m1), knit front and back (kfr&b)
---Decreasing: knit 2 together (k2tog)
---Picking up stitches

Size: fits 14-inch dolls like American Girl Wellie Wishers, Ruby Red Fashion Friends, Glitter Girls and other dolls of similar size.

Materials: Simply Cotton Sport by Knit Picks (affiliate link) sport weight yarn, (100% cotton) 164 yards (150 m) / 50grams, color yellow or pink – 1 ball (MC)
Simply Cotton Sport by Knit Picks (affiliate link) sport weight yarn, (100% cotton) 164 yards (150 m) / 50grams, color white – 0.5 ball (CC)

Needles: circular and double pointed needles (dpn) US # 1 (2.25mm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Crochet hook 2.5 mm optional

Gauge: 32 sts x 40 rows = 4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Notions:
yarn needle, sew-on snaps, sewing needle and thread of matching color, a piece of ribbon for a belt if you do not want to crochet one, small embellishments of your choice (optional).

Abbreviations:
k - knit
p - purl
pu&k- pick up and knit
yo - yarn over
m1 - make 1 increase - 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
pm - place marker
sm - slip marker
rm - remove marker
k2tog - knit 2 together
kfr&b - knit front and back


Pattern Notes:

Stockinette in rows:
Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2: purl
Repeat 2 rows.

Garter st in rows: all rows knit

1x1 Rib in rows:
Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1 – repeat from *
Row 2: *p1, k1 – repeat from *
Repeat 2 rows.

The selvedge/edge stitches are worked as follows: knit the first stitch and purl the last one.

Button Bands (bb) are worked in garter stitch on 3 stitches in the beginning and in the end of each row.


Short Overview of the Pattern:

The dress is worked top-down, seamlessly, back and forth. The 1x1 rib, stockinette and garter stitches are used on the round yoke. The yoke is worked with yarn over (yo) increases.
The bodice and the skirt are worked in stockinette with 2 garter stitch strips in contrast colors. To widen the skirt, the increases are made with make1 method.

Dress

With CC cast on 39 sts.
Row 1 (RS): k4, *k1, p1 – repeat from * till last 5 sts, k4, p1

Row 2 (WS): k4, *p1, k1 – repeat from * till last 5 sts, p1, k3, p1.

Repeat rows 1-2 one more time. Cut white yarn, continue in MC.

Row 5 (RS, increase row): k4, *yo, k2 – repeat from * till last 5 sts, k1, yo, k3, p1 = 55 sts

Row 6: k4, purl to last 4 sts, k3, p1

Row 7: knit till last st, p1

Row 8: k4, purl till last 4, k3, p1

Row 9 (RS, increase row): k4, *yo, k2 – repeat from * till last 5 sts, k1, yo, k3, p1 = 80 sts

Row 10: k4, purl till last 4 sts, k3, p1.

Cut MC yarn, work the next 4 rows with CC yarn.

Row 11 (RS), 12 (WS), 13 (RS) and 14 (WS): knit till last st, p1.

Divide for sleeves and bodice:

Continue with MC yarn:
Row 15 (RS): k14, bind off the next 16 sts, knit 20, bind off the next 16 sts, k13, p1 = 48 sts

Row 16 (WS): k4, p10, cast on 2, p21, cast on 2, p10, k3, p1. =52 sts

Row 17 (RS): knit till the last st, p1

Row 18 (WS): k4, purl till last 4, k3, p1

Repeat rows 17-18 three more times

Row 25 (RS, belt row): k4, *yo, k2tog, -repeat from * till last 4 sts, yo, k3, p1 = 53 sts

Row 26: k4, purl to last 4 sts, k3, p1.

Row 27 (RS, increase row): k4, *k1, kfr&b – repeat till last 5 sts, k4, p1 = 76 sts

Row 28 (WS and all WS rows): k4, purl till last 4, k3, p1.

Row 29 (RS): k till last 1 st, p1.

Repeat rows 29 and 28 five more times.

Rows 39-42 with CC yarn : knit till last st, p1.

Row 43 (RS, with MC yarn, increase row): k4, *kfr&b, k1 – repeat from * till last 5, kfr&b, k3, p1 = 111 sts

Row 44 (WS and all WS rows) like row 28.

Row 45 (RS and all RS rows) like row 29.

Repeat rows 45 and 44 five more times.

Rows 57-60 with CC yarn : knit till last st, p1.

Row 61 (RS, with MC yarn, increase row): k4, *kfr&b, k1 – repeat from * till last 5 sts, kfr&b, k3, p1 = 163 sts

Row 62 (WS and all WS rows) like row 28.

Row 63 (RS and all RS rows) like row 29.

Repeat rows 63 and 62 three more times.

Work the last 4 rows (rows 69-72) in garter stitch: knit to last st, p1.

Bind off. Cut yarn.

Belt

With white yarn make a chain of desired length for a belt.

Finishing

Weave in all yarn ends. Sew snaps on the button bands.

Insert the crocheted belt or a ribbon into the belt row, sew on any embellishments of your choice.

Have fun!