Doll Knit Dress Tutorial
In this step-by-step knitting tutorial, Madeline from Knitting House Square shows how to knit a 1:6 scale Barbie dress! This pink dress is knit in the round from the bottom up.
Size: One Size
• Length 5.5”
• Bottom of skirt width 4.5”
• Across top front 1.5”
Gauge: 13 sts x 19 rds = 2” x 2” stockinette in the round
Materials
• 40 yds (37 m) Fingering (#1) weight yarn
• US 2 (2.75 mm) Circular Knitting Needle 32” (or longer) Amazon
• Tapestry Needles Amazon
• Scissors
• Ruler
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Written Pattern
The original downloadable pattern remains available above. Follow the size, yarn, and needle options that match your project.
Pattern directions - page 1
Doll Dress
YouTube Tutorial: https://youtu.be/i60xrSLVy2A
Materials (Video Time 1:51)
• US 2 (2.75 mm) Circular knitting needle (24” cord or longer) https://amzn.to/3Q43RNl
• 40 yds (37 m) fingering weight yarn (also called sock weight or labeled #1)
• Tapestry Needle https://amzn.to/44RpMeB
• Scissors
• Ruler
Finished Measurements
• Length: 5.5”
• Bottom of skirt Width: 4.5”
• Across Top Front: 1.5”
Gauge
• 13 stitches x 19 rows = 2” x 2” stockinette knit in the round
Abbreviations
• SSK (Slip, slip, knit): Slip 2 stitches individually from the left to right needle as if to knit,
pass the two stitches back over to the left knitting needle, knit the two stitches together
through the back loop
• K2T (Knit two together): knit the next two stitches on the left knitting needle together
Cast-On & Bottom Border (Video Time 2:55)
Cast-on 60 stitches using your preferred cast-on method and join in the round to begin
magic loop. You will want 30 stitches on each knitting needle.
Round 1: Purl
Round 2: Knit
Round 3: Purl
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: Purl
Knit Rounds & Decreases (Video Time 09:58)
Round 6: Knit
Round 7: Knit
Round 8: Knit
Round 9: Knit
Round 10: Knit
Round 11: Knit
KNITTING HOUSE SQUARE 1
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Pattern directions - page 2
Decrease Repeat
Decrease Repeat Round 1:
1st half of the stitches (1st knitting needle): Knit 4, SSK, knit until 6
stitches remain, K2T, knit 4
2nd half of the stitches (2nd knitting needle): Knit 4, SSK, knit until 6
stitches remain, K2T, knit 4
Decrease Repeat Round 2: Knit
Decrease Repeat Round 3: Knit
Decrease Repeat Round 4: Knit
Work the Decrease Repeat a total of 7 times (28 rounds total). When finished,
you should have 32 stitches remaining, 16 on each knitting needle.
Once the decrease repeats are complete, knit 4 rounds.
Underarm Cast-Off (Video Time 15:41)
Cast Off Round
1st half of the stitches (1st knitting needle): Knit until 2 stitches remain, cast-off 2
stitches
2nd half of the stitches (2nd knitting needle): cast-off 2 stitches, knit until 2
stitches remain, cast-off 2 stitches
1st half of the stitches (1st knitting needle): cast-off 2 stitches à continue to Top
Front
Top Front (Video Time 20:02)
*Note for the Top Front you are knitting flat (not in the round) across the 12 stitches
remaining on the first knitting needle
Top Front Row 1: Knit
Top Front Row 2: Slip the first stitch purlwise, purl across
Top Front Row 3: Slip the first stitch purlwise, knit across
Top Front Row 4: Slip the first stitch purlwise, purl across
Top Front Row 5: Slip the first stitch purlwise, knit across
Top Front Row 6: Slip the first stitch purlwise, purl across
Top Front Row 7: Cast-off the 12 stitches. When the cast-off is complete, cut your yarn
leaving a long tail (1 yd) to use to create the shoulder strap.
Top Back (Video Time 23:35)
Turn the dress over so the back side (half of the stitches that have not yet been worked)
are facing up. Thread the knitting needle back over to the stitches so that the knitting
needle holding the stitches is pointed towards the right.
KNITTING HOUSE SQUARE 2
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Pattern directions - page 3
*Note for the Top Back you are knitting flat (not in the round) across the 12 remaining
stitches
Top Back Row 1: Knit
Top Back Row 2: Slip the first stitch purlwise, purl across
Top Back Row 3: Slip the first stitch purlwise, knit across
Top Back Row 4: Slip the first stitch purlwise, purl across
Top Front Row 5: Cast-off the 12 stitches. When the cast-off is complete, cut your yarn
leaving a long tail (1 yd) to use to create the shoulder strap.
Shoulder Straps (Video Time 26:08)
Use each yarn tail to create a shoulder strap.
In the video, I show a method where I pick up 1 edge stitch, cast on 1 stitch, then pick up
a second edge stitch and use these 3 stitches to work an I-Cord for 1”. On the last row of
the I-Cord, I work a K2T, then cast-off the two remaining I-Cord stitches. I then sew the
I-Cord to the opposite side of the dress to create the strap.
KNITTING HOUSE SQUARE 3
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