Design Story and Inspiration for this Knitted Dress Pattern

I grew up in Tennessee and still live near the area. My family’s favorite vacation spot is most definitely the Smoky Mountains (you can see our adventures here!).

I love making baby clothes and was inspired by the Smokies to create this baby dress pattern that uses both intarsia and fair isle techniques to create a wonderful heirloom you’ll be proud to pass down to a little one.

Yarn Options for this Baby Knitting Pattern

For this dress pattern I used one of my favorite worsted weight acrylic yarns – Berroco Comfort. This yarn is affordable and it really doesn’t even feel like acrylic!

You can substitute any worsted weight yarn that gets gauge. Gauge is very important here since this cute dress needs to actually fit! So make sure you take the time to check your gauge, especially if you are substituting the yarn.

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Baby Pattern Details

This dress is knit on straight needles and the front and back are seamed.

The sleeves are picked up and worked down from the armhole edge.

You will need to be familiar with knit colorwork for this project.

How to Customize this Free Knitting Pattern

You can easily leave off the colorwork as desired. Make it all in one color or just leave off the chart. It’s totally up to you!

You can also make this as a sweater if desired. Just shorten the length and do not add shaping to the bottom.

More Free Knit Baby Patterns

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What You’ll Need

Yarn: Berroco Comfort (50% Acrylic, 50% Nylon; 210 yards [193 meters]/100 grams): #9771 Driftwood Heather (MC, 1 (1, 2, 2, 3) skeins, #9760 Beet Root (CC1, 1 skein), #9807 Military Mix (CC2, 1 skein), #9734 Licorice (CC3, 1 skein)

Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) straight, 8 (5.0mm) straight

Notions: Tapestry needle, 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) ½” buttons, matching thread, sewing needle

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Finished Chest Size 16 (17, 18, 19, 20)” for infant size 3m (6m, 12m, 18m, 24m)

Gauge: 20 sts and 26 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in St st

Stitch Abbreviations

Knit Stitch (k)

Purl Stitch (p)

Stockinette Stitch (St st)

Pattern Notes

For size 3m, omit Rows 1 and 22 of chart. Work Rows 2-21 for a total of 20 rows of chart.

Sleeves are grafted in after front and back of dress are worked.

Knit Baby Dress Pattern

Back

With CC1 and smaller needles, CO 48 (50, 52, 54, 58) sts.

Ribbing

Work in K1, P1 Rib for 4 (4, 6, 6, 8) rows.

Body

Change to larger needles and with MC, knit 1 row.

Working in St st, dec 1 st each side next row and every 10th row 3 times. (40 (42, 44, 46, 50) sts)

Work 0 (0, 4, 8, 12) rows even in St st.

All Sizes

Work Band Chart in St st for next 3 rows.

Change to CC2.

Cont in St st for 13 (15, 17, 19, 21) rows.

_________________

Armhole

Row 1: BO 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) sts, work in St st for 16 (17, 18, 18, 20) sts, join other end of yarn ball, BO 4 sts, work in St st to end.

Row 2: BO 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) sts, work in St st to end (work both sides at same time). (16 (17, 18, 18, 20) sts each side).

Work even in CC2 and St st for 5 rows.

Work Band Chart in St st for next 3 rows.

Work even in MC and St st for 3 (4, 4, 6, 6) rows.

Neck Shaping

Work both sides at same time.

Sl 4 sts from neck edge to waste yarn or holder. (12 (13, 14, 14, 16) sts)

Dec 1 st at neck edge every row 5 times. (7 (8, 9, 9, 11) sts)

Work even in St st 2 (3, 3, 5, 5) rows.

BO all sts.

Front

With CC1 and smaller needles, CO 48 (50, 52, 54, 58) sts.

Ribbing

Work in K1, P1 Rib for 4 (4, 6, 6, 8) rows.

Body

Change to larger needles and MC, knit 1 row.

Working in St st, dec 1 st each side next row and every 10th row 3 times. (40 (42, 44, 46, 50) sts)

Work 0 (0, 4, 8, 12) rows even in St st.

All Sizes

Work Band Chart in St st for next 3 rows.

Change to CC2.

Cont in St st, work 0 (1, 2, 3, 5) sts in CC2, work across Band Chart, work 0 (1, 2, 3, 5) sts in CC2 for 13 (15, 17, 19, 21) rows.

Armhole

Row 1: BO 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) sts, work Band Chart as est in St st to end. (38 (40, 42, 43, 47) sts)

Row 2: Rep Row 1. (36 (38, 40, 40, 44) sts)

Work even in Band Chart as est in St st for 5 rows.

Work Band Chart in St st for next 3 rows.

Work even in MC and St st for 3 (4, 4, 6, 6) rows.

Neck Shaping

Work 12 (13, 14, 14, 16) sts, sl next 12 sts to holder or waste yarn, join other end of yarn ball, work 12 (13, 14, 14, 16) sts, working both sides at same time.

Dec 1 st at neck edge every row 5 times. (7 (8, 9, 9, 11) sts)

Work even in St st for 2 (3, 3, 5, 5) rows.

Block pieces.

Sew Front to Back at shoulder seams.

Sleeves

With RS facing, MC, and larger needles, pick up and k34 (36, 36, 42, 42) sts between armhole BO sts. (34 (36, 36, 42, 42) sts)

Work even in St st 0 (3, 6, 9, 12) rows.

Dec 1 st each side every 6th row 5 times. (24 (26, 26, 32, 32) sts)

Change to CC2 and smaller needles.

Work in K1, P1 Rib for 3 (3, 5, 5, 7) rows.

BO all sts in rib.

Collar

With CC2 and RS facing, pick up and k4 sts from Left Back Neck holder, 4 (5, 5, 7, 7) sts across Left Back Neck edge, 4 (5, 5, 7, 7) sts across Left Front Neck edge, 12 sts from Front Neck holder, 4 (5, 5, 7, 7) sts from Right Front Neck edge, 4 (5, 5, 7, 7) from Right Back Neck edge, 4 sts from Right Back Neck holder. (36 (40, 40, 48, 48) sts)

Work in K1, P1 Rib for 3 (3, 5, 5, 7) rows.

BO all sts in rib.

Button Band

With RS facing, smaller needles and CC2, pick up and k10 (12, 12, 14, 14) sts across Right Back placket.

Work in K1, P1 Rib for 3 rows.

BO all sts in rib.

Buttonhole Band

With RS facing, smaller needles and CC2, pick up and k10 (12, 12, 14, 14) sts across Left Back placket.

Row 1: Work in K1P1 rib.

Sizes 3m (6m, 12m, -, -) Only

Row 2: Cont in est rib patt, work 2 (3, 3, -, -) sts, BO next st, work next 4 (5, 5) sts, BO next st, work last 2 sts.

Row 3: Cont in est rib patt, work first 2 sts, CO 1 st, work next 4 (5, 5) sts, CO 1 st, work last 2 (3, 3) sts.

BO all sts in rib.

Sizes – (-, -, 18m, 24m) Only

Row 2: Cont in est rib patt, work 3 sts, BO next st, work next 3 sts, BO next st, work 3 sts, BO next st, work last 2 sts.

Row 3: Cont in est rib patt, work 2 sts, CO 1 st, work next 3 sts, CO 1 st, work next 3 sts, CO 1 st, work last 3 sts.

BO all sts in rib.

Finishing

Seam sleeve and side seams.

Weave in ends.

Sew buttons opposite buttonholes.