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I love my house of boys but there are some times I wish I had a little girl model. I love making these dresses, baby booties and hats for little girls! There are only so many things you can make for boys, and I’ve spent a lot of the past month crocheting sweaters for all these boys of mine.
I noticed when I put all my patterns together on one page that I had waaaaaay more crochet patterns than knitting patterns, so one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to have one knitting and one crochet project going at all times. I’m trying not to have any other wip’s than that, though, and to focus my attention on the two projects at hand. I’m hoping to get more done this way! I can still switch back and forth between two projects and I can switch from crochet to knitting as I please.
I’m also trying to use up my stash, which isn’t as daunting a task as it sounds. Last year I went through my stash and got rid of four copy paper boxes full of yarn that I knew I wasn’t going to use. I donated it to a local school to use with their kiddos. I know, I know, I should have found a fellow knitter or crocheter, but I really don’t know hardly anyone in real life who uses yarn like I do! (Sad, but true!)
Anyways, to get back to our project here I created a simple dress in Stockinette Stitch with a garter stitch border. The dress itself could be made without the hearts to be worn any time of year or you can add the felt heart pockets for a V-Day outfit. My youngest son’s best friend is a little girl – just look how adorable she is wearing this!! (At least I have friends who will let their daughters model for me :D)
This was the second project I used Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn for and it was great. Simple, inexpensive, and it showed the stitch definition of Stockinette really well. It was super easy to knit up and I think these colors really work well together. I hope you like them as much as I do!
While shooting the pictures with my friend’s daughter I tried to get some of my son in his matching pants – but he wasn’t having any of it. He has just learned to walk and is all over the place. It was so adorable to watch this little lady crawl after him. She’s three months younger and so close to walking herself. They are best buddies. I can’t help but love this picture. Gotta love babies, right? 😀
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What You’ll Need
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (100% Acrylic; 170 yards [156 meters]/100 grams): #177 Sage (CC, 1 skein), #099 Linen (MC, 1 skein)
Needles: US size 9 (5.5 mm) straight
Notions: Tapestry needle, two ½” heart-shaped buttons, 1 sheet red felt, matching thread, sewing needle
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Chest Size 16.5 (17, 18, 19, 20)” for infant size 3 (6, 12, 18, 24) months
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Find the matching leggings here!
PATTERN
Back
With CC, CO 42 (46, 48, 52, 54) sts.
Border
Work in Garter Stitch for 4 (4, 6, 6, 8) rows.
Body
Change to MC and Stockinette St.
Decrease 1 st each side on next row and every 14th row twice. (36 (40, 42, 46, 48) sts)
Work 0 (0, 2, 8, 10) rows even in St st.
Sizes 12 (18, 24) months Only
Decrease 1 st each side. (40 (44, 46) sts)
All Sizes
Work in St st for 16 (18, 18, 18, 20) rows.
Armhole
BO 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (30 (34, 34, 36, 38) sts)
Work even in St st for 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) rows.
Decrease 1 st each side. (28 (32, 32, 34, 36) sts)
Work even in St st for 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) rows.
Decrease 1 st each side. (26 (30, 30, 32, 34) sts)
Work in Stockinette Stitch for 14 (16, 16, 18, 18) rows.
Neck Shaping
Work 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) sts in est patt, sl next 16 (18, 18, 20, 20) to holder, join other end of yarn, work 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) sts in est patt.
Dec 1 st at Neck Edge. (4 (5, 5, 5, 6) sts)
Work even in Stockinette Stitch for 7 (7, 8, 8, 9) rows.
Size 3 months Only
Change to CC.
Work in Garter Stitch for 3 rows.
BO sts.
Sizes 6 (12, 18, 24) months Only
Dec 1 st at each end. (3 (3, 3, 4) sts)
Change to CC.
Work in Garter Stitch for 3 rows.
BO sts.
Front
Work same as Back to Armhole.
Armhole
BO 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows. (30 (34, 34, 36, 38) sts)
Work even in St st for 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) rows.
Decrease 1 st each side. (28 (32, 32, 34, 36) sts)
Work even in St st for 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) rows.
Decrease 1 st each side. (26 (30, 30, 32, 34) sts)
Work in St st for 6 (8, 8, 10, 10) rows.
Neck Shaping
Work 9 (10, 10, 10, 11) sts, sl next 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) to holder, join other end of yarn, work 9 (10, 10, 10, 11) sts.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge every row 5 times. (4 (5, 5, 5, 6) sts)
Work even in St st for 2 rows.
Change to CC.
Work in Garter Stitch for 3 rows.
BO Sts.
Finishing
Block pieces.
Sew Front to Back at side seams.
Front Collar
With CC and RS facing, pick up and k8 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts from left front neck edge, 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts from holder, 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts from right front neck edge. (24 (30, 30, 36, 36) sts)
Work in Garter Stitch for 3 rows.
BO sts.
Armholes
With CC and RS facing, pick up and k26 (30, 30, 34, 34) sts evenly around armhole.
Work in Garter Stitch for 3 rows.
BO sts.
Back Collar
With CC and RS facing, pick up and k6 (7, 7, 8, 8) sts below Garter Stitch border of right back neck edge, 16 (18, 18, 20, 20) sts from holder, 6 (7, 7, 8, 8) sts from left back neck edge, ending just before Garter Stitch border. (28 (32, 32, 36, 36) sts)
Work in Garter Stitch for 3 rows.
BO sts.
Finishing
Sew Garter Stitch borders together at tops of front and back neck edges.
Cut heart-shaped pockets from red felt and attach.
Overlap straps by bringing back straps to front. Attach heart-shaped buttons.
Weave in ends.
That’s it! I hope you enjoy this free pattern. Be on the lookout for the baby pants pattern, too! Be sure to check out my library of free knitting patterns.
Want even more baby dress knitting patterns? Check out our collection here!
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
I am a little confused as to how many rows are required for the body of the pattern…beginner knitter as a I am.
Hi! That depends on what size you are making – the larger the size, the more rows there are going to be. What size are you wanting to make?
My granddaughter is 3 months but my daughter wants size 12 months. I have reached the neck portion but it seems too long.
I am knitting the 18 month old version. I am confused about the armhole though. Pattern says to work in garter stitch but photo looks like stockinette stitch (I am working main color). The contrasting color looks like garter but not the main color. Please help!!
You are right!! Only the contrasting color should be garter stitch. My tech editor and I both missed that one. Sorry about that!
I am at neck shaping stage I’m a bit confused you say knit 5 slip 16 on holder knit5
Do I knit the two side separate whilst decreasing at neck edge
I’m glad I read your comment because I couldn’t seen that garter stitch was used but as you explained it was a mistake only I to couldn’t see it on the finished garment hope you can help
Hi Linda!
Yes, these two will be knit separately. Use another ball of yarn or the other end of your yarn (which can be tricky but I’ve done it several times) to knit both sides at the same time but separately. Or, if you like you can knit one side and then repeat for the second side (but keep in mind the neckline and armhole edges are opposite on the other side). 🙂
I’m currently trying to knit the back body of the dress but the pattern does not clearly indicate how many rows once the MC is introduced. It speaks of decreasing every 14th row but does not specify how many rows. I am knitting for 12 months.
Can you please clarify?
Hi Laura!
You will decrease one stitch each side every 14th row twice (so 28 rows), then work 2 rows even, then decrease one stitch on each side, then work in St st for 18 rows. Hope this helps. 🙂
In the instructions at the beginning of the pattern you list the linen as being the CC, and the sage as being MC, but according to the pictures it appears to be the other way around? Since the pattern appears to be bottom up, it says to use the CC, linen to cast on and knit the border, but the pictures are the opposite? Some clarification on the color order, please?
Hi Lisa! You are right, the colors somehow got switched up. This pattern has been tech edited but there were a few minor things like this that I have gone back in and fixed. 🙂
When we make the color change after the six rows of garter stitch, are we also changing to stocking stitch and how long of we do that for each size?
Yes!! I added that to the directions. You will work in St st for the rest of the dress and add the CC border after it’s assembled.