Free 12-inch Doll Dress Knitting Pattern

Welcome to this free and easy-to-follow knitting pattern for a 12-inch doll dress, the perfect weekend project to upgrade your doll's wardrobe! This charming dress features a quick top-down construction and an adjustable design. It makes a wonderful, heartfelt gift that will bring instant magic to any child's playtime. This project is a wonderful way to use up your leftover scrap yarn. Grab your needles and let's create a tiny wardrobe staple.

MATERIALS

ca 30 Schachenmayr Catania 50g/136 yrd, DK (11 wpi), circular and double pointed needles 3 mm, Velcro fastener, lace, yarn needle.

SKILL LEVEL

This is an intermediate level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are knitting, purling, increases, K2tog and K3tog decreases, making an i-cord and reading from a chart, and working both flat and in the round.

SIZE

12-14-inch doll

GAUGE

26 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

ABBREVIATIONS

ks = knit stitch

ps = purl stitch

k2tog = knit two stitches together

yo = yarn over

sl1 = slip one stitch

psso = pass the slipped stitch over

R = row

Rnd = round

SPECIAL STITCHES:

EDGE STITCHES

Slip the first stitch and purl the last stitch of every row.

INSTRUCTIONS

This pattern is really easy to follow; no matter if the only stitches you know are knit and purl. And there are many possibilities to customize it by adding new color for the top, using another stitch or knit in a different color.

This dress is worked from the top to bottom in rows.

NECKLINE

GARTER STITCH

Knit every row. Working in the round, purl one round and knit one round.

Cast on 32 stitches including edge stitches. Knit 3 rows in garter stitch (1 row in green, 2 rows in purple).

RAGLAN

STOCKING (STOCKINETTE) STITCH

Stockinette stitch is a basic knitting stitch pattern that creates a smooth, even fabric. It is made by knitting alternating rows of knit and purl stitches. Stockinette stitch works with any number of stitches per row, and you can use it on patterns that call for an odd or an even number of stitches. There are two ways to knit stockinette stitch: flat and in the round.

Row 1: Knit all stitches.

Row 2: Purl all stitches.

Repeat rows one and two until your piece measures the desired length.

Working in the rounds simply knit every round until your piece measures the desired length.

From here increasing starts. In every second row yarn over before and after raglan stitches:

Change the color

Row 1: ES, 3 garter stitches, 4 knit stitches (back), yarn over, 1 knit stitch (Raglan stitches), yarn over, 2 knit stitches (sleeve), yarn over, 1 knit stitch (Raglan stitches), yarn over, 8 knit stitches (front), yarn over, 1 knit stitch (Raglan stitches), yarn over, 2 knit stitches (sleeve), yarn over, 1 knit stitch (Raglan stitches), yarn over, 4 knit stitches (back), 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 2: ES, 3 garter stitches, 32 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Change the color

Row 3: ES, 3 garter stitches, 5 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 4 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 10 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 4 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 5 knit stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 4: ES, 3 garter stitches, 40 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Change the color

Row 5: ES, 3 garter stitches, 6 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 6 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 12 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 6 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 6 knit stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 6: ES, 3 garter stitches, 48 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Change the color

Row 7: ES, 3 garter stitches, 7 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 8 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 14 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 8 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 7 knit stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 8: ES, 3 garter stitches, 56 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Change the color

Row 9: ES, 3 garter stitches, 8 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 10 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 16 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 10 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 8 knit stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 10: ES, 3 garter stitches, 64 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 9: ES, 3 garter stitches, 8 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 10 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 16 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 10 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 8 knit stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 10: ES, 3 garter stitches, 64 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 11: ES, 3 garter stitches, 9 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 12 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 18 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 12 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 9 knit stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 12: ES, 3 garter stitches, 72 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Change the color

Row 13: ES, 3 garter stitches, 10 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 14 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 20 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 14 knit stitches, yarn over, 1 knit stitch, yarn over, 10 knit stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 14: ES, 3 garter stitches, 80 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Change the color

Knit across front and back stitches:

Row 15: ES, 3 garter stitches, 12 knit stitches (back), place 16 sleeve stitches on holder, 24 knit stitches (front), place 16 sleeve stitches on holder, 12 knit stitches (back), 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

Row 16: ES, 3 garter stitches, 48 purl stitches, 3 garter stitches, ES, turn the work.

1x1 RIB

is formed by alternating 1 knit stitch and 1 purl stitch. Care must be taken to purl the stitches which were knitted on the previous row and vice versa

Start and end every row with 3 garter stitches.

Row 17-26: work 10 rows in 1x1 rib (knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch), turn the work

Row 27: knit all stitches, increasing evenly 24 stitches (= 80 stitches), turn the work

Row 28: purl all stitches, turn the work

SKIRT

SK = (SLIP KNIT) slip the first stitch as if to knit, knit the second stitch, pass the slipped stitch over.

Change the color

Start and end every row with 3 garter stitches.

Work 10 rows in stocking stitch.

Knit rows 1-16 of the pattern using the chart below. Start and end every row with 3 garter stitches.

WS rows: purl all stitches.

PATTERN

Row 1: knit 3 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 3 stitches, turn the work.

Row 2: work stitches exactly as they appear on the needle (knit ks, purl ps, purl yo), turn the work

Row 3: knit 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 1 stitch, yarn over, slip knit, knit 1 stitch, turn the work.

Row 4: work stitches exactly as they appear on the needle (knit ks, purl ps, purl yo), turn the work

Row 5: knit 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 3 stitches, yarn over, slip knit, turn the work.

Row 6: work stitches exactly as they appear on the needle (knit ks, purl ps, purl yo), turn the work

Row 7: knit 4 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 2 stitches, turn the work.

Row 8: work stitches exactly as they appear on the needle (knit ks, purl ps, purl yo), turn the work

Row 9: yarn over, knit 6 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, turn the work.

Row 10: work stitches exactly as they appear on the needle (knit ks, purl ps, purl yo), turn the work

Row 11: knit 1 stitch, yarn over, slip knit, knit 3 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, turn the work.

Row 12: work stitches exactly as they appear on the needle (knit ks, purl ps, purl yo), turn the work

Row 13: knit 2 stitches, yarn over, slip knit, knit 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 1 stitch, turn the work.

Row 14: work stitches exactly as they appear on the needle (knit ks, purl ps, purl yo), turn the work

Row 15: knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 6 stitches, turn the work.

Row 16: work stitches exactly as they appear on the needle (knit ks, purl ps, purl yo), turn the work

Change the color

Work 2 rows in garter stitch. Cast off all stitches.

SLEEVE

Transfer 16 sleeve stitches to needles and divide them onto three needles. The round starts underarm where raglan stitches meet.

Work 9 rows in stocking stitch.

Change the color

Work 2 rows in garter stitch. Cast off all stitches.

Knit the second sleeve the same way.

FINISHING

Sew two little sleeve seams with yarn tails. Sew on fastener. Sew lace onto the dress. Weave in all ends.

Happy knitting!

I hope you enjoyed knitting the dress and found the pattern helpful. I would love to see your finished work, so share a picture here or on Instagram by tagging me @tansuluucrafthaus.

If you would like to share this pattern, please link to this page. Also, please credit me when using this pattern by tagging me @tansuluucrafthaus on Instagram.

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting and crochet pattern. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely day!