A Knitted Dress for 8″ Caring for Baby

Here is Susie showing off a new warm dress for autumn and winter. We tried to get her to put on her shoes before getting her photo taken, but she was so excited, she all out refused! Well, as you probably know, there is no arguing with a baby once she has made up her mind…

Susie’s dress is made from fingering weight yarn, and is knit from the neck down. It features eyelets at the waist to allow a waist tie, and a row of reverse single crochet at the skirt hem.

If someone at your home would like to make this little dress, here is the pattern:

Knitted Dress for 8” AG Caring for Baby

Materials: 

2.75 mm knitting needles (UK – 12, US – 2)

2.75 mm crochet hook (UK – 12, US – 2)

Fingering yarn – 1 ball (I used Hobbii Happy Toes Superwash Wool, a self-striping sock yarn, fingering weight)

Stitch holders or spare pieces of yarn

3 Small snap fasteners

Tension:

7 stitches per 1”/2.5 cm, in stockinette stitch

Stitches Used:

Garter Stitch: Knit every row

Stockinette Stitch: 1) Knit.

                              2) K 1, Purl to last stitch, K 1.

                              These two rows form pattern.

Abbreviations:

K – knit

P – purl

P 2 tog – purl the next 2 stitches together: decrease made

M 1 – pick up loop between stitch just worked and next stitch and place on left hand needle; working into the back of the loop, knit – inc made

Rev sc – reverse single crochet – Work a sc in each stitch, but working backwards across row instead of forward, as would be usual.

YO – yarn over

Sts – stitches

Knitted Dress for 8” AG Caring for Baby

Beginning at neck edge, cast on 25 stitches.

1. Knit.
2. K 5, (m 1, k 1) 3 times, m 1, k 7, (m 1, k 1) 3 times, m 1, k 7 (33 sts).
3. K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.
4. K 6, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 3, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 9, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 3, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 8 (41 sts).
5. K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.
6. K 7, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 5, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 11, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 5, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 9 (49 sts).
7. K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.
8. K 8, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 7, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 13, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 7, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 10 (57 sts).
9. K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.
10. K 9, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 9, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 15, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 9, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 11 (65 sts).
11. K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.
12. K 10, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 11, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 17, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 11, (m 1, k 1, m 1), k 12 (73 sts).
13. K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.

Begin first sleeve:

14) K 26, turn.

15) K 1, p 13, k 1, turn.

16) K 15.

17) K 1, p 13, k 1, turn.

18) Knit.

19) Knit.

Cast off.

Begin second sleeve:

Rejoin yarn to stitches on left hand needle.

14) K 34, turn.

15) K 1, p 13, k 1, turn.

16) K 15.

17) K 1, p 13, k 1, turn.

18) Knit.

19) Knit.

Cast off.

Finish bodice:

Rejoin yarn to stitches on left hand needle.

14) Knit to end of row.

15) K 3, p 9, p 2 tog (this joins back and front together), p 17, p 2 tog (this joins back and front together), p 9, k 1 (41 sts).

16 Knit.

17) K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.

Increase for skirt and create waist eyelets:

18) K 4, *yo, k 1, m 1, k 1,* repeat from star to star to last 3 stitches, k 3 (75 sts).

19) K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.

20) Knit.

21) K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.

22) Knit.

23) K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.

24) *K 7, m 1,* repeat from star to star to last 5 stitches, k 5 (85 sts).

25) K 3, purl to last stitch, k 1.

Repeat rows 20 and 21, 3 times more.

32) Cast off 3 stitches for bottom edge of under placket.  Knit to end of row.

33) K 1, purl to last stitch, k 1.

34) Knit.

35) K 1, purl to last stitch, k 1.

Knit 3 rows even in garter stitch.

Cast off.

Waist tie:

Using yarn doubled, crochet 85 chains.  End off.

Finishing:

Sew underarm and sleeve seams.  Sew back skirt seam up to under placket bottom edge.  Tack under placket bottom in place on wrong side of garment.  Work one row of reverse single crochet around lower edge of dress.  Darn in all loose yarn ends.

Sew 3 small snap fasteners to close dress back opening.  Thread waist tie through waist eyelets.  (I have my waist tie, tying in the front of the dress, but you could alternately choose to tie it at the back.)

Copyright 2023 Cynthia’s Designs

Please enjoy this pattern, but do not reprint without permission.  If selling items made from this pattern, please credit Cynthia’s Designs for the pattern.