This is the first knitted dress pattern I made for Barbie, although it has been updated a few times. 
The first style is in two colours and knit in one piece with a centre back seam
I couldn't resist adding a crochet collar as they were very popular at the time. The collar is made using 4ply cotton yarn and because a bit closer fit around the neckline I included a back
opening for an easy fit.
Double knitting yarns can vary in thickness which can make a big difference to sizing in a small garment such as these knitted dresses. Budget yarns tend to be thicker than better quality yarns and although would not give such a close fit, will work well.
I used King Cole Comfort double knitting. If you want a looser fit use a no 9 needle throughout (after checking your tension) The key is to keep fitting the dress against the doll as you knit, and as they are so quick to knit, can easily be redone.
When finishing the dress I sew a few securing stitches at each side of the armholes as sharp Barbie fingers can easily snag knitted garments.
Both dresses can easily be made in the round, noting that the round begins at centre back. You will need to change to rows for the back opening if making the dress with collar.
To fit: 12” Barbie (latest model) and most 12" fashion dolls
Materials:
Two
colour dress
Approx 50g double knitting yarn in main and 25g contrast
Needles size 3.25 (US 3)
Dress
with crochet collar
50g double knitting yarn in main, Small amount of 4ply
cotton yarn
needles size 3.25 (US 3), no 2 crochet hook, small button
Tension: 28sts and 32 rows over 4 in (stocking
stitch) using 3.25 needles
Abbreviations:
beg: beginning, sts:
stitches, yf: yarn forward, rep: repeat, ss: stocking stitch, sl st, slip stitch, m1: pick up loop between sts
and knit into back, tog: together, k: knit, p: purl, dec: decrease, ch: chain
Dress Two Colour Dress
(for plain dress use main colour only)
Using main colour cast on 28sts,
Work 2 rows k1 p1 rib
Work 10 rows ss (lengthen here if required)
Next row: K7, m1,k14,m1 k to end (30sts)
Work 9 rows ss
Next row: k2, (k2tog,k4) 4 times, k2tog, k2 (25
sts)
Work 3 rows stocking stitch
Join contrast and work 2 rows ss*
Next row: K10, m1,k1,m1,k3,m1,k1,m1,k 10 (29sts)
Work 3 rows ss
Armhole
shaping
Next row: k6, cast off 2, k13, cast off 2, k to end
Next row: p6, cast on 7sts, p13, cast on 7sts, p6
Next row: k4, k2tog, k7, k2tog,k4, k2tog, k3, k2tog,
k7, k2tog, k4 (34sts)
Next row: purl.
Cast off
To Finish Sew centre back seam using
mattress stitch. finish all ends
Dress with crochet collar
Work as two colour dress to * (if knitting plain dress use
main colour yarn only)
Next row: cast on 2sts, K12, m1, k1, m1, k3,
m1,k1,m1,k10 (31sts)
Work 3 rows ss
Armhole
shaping
Next row: k8, cast off 2, k13, cast off 2, k to end
Next row: k2, p4, cast on 7sts, p13, cast on 7sts,
p6, k2
Next row: k6, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k3, k2tog,
k7, k2tog, k4 (36sts)
Next row: (buttonhole row) k2, purl to last 2sts,
yf, k2tog
Cast off
Collar
Using no 2 crochet hook and 4 ply cotton (or other 4ply
yarn) make 31ch
Next row: work 1 dc in 2nd ch from hook. Dc in each ch to end
(30dc) turn
Next row: 1ch, *(1dc, 1htr, 1tr, 1htr, 1dc) in next
dc, miss 2dc,** rep from * to ** to end
(10 clusters) break off yarn, leaving a tail for sewing.
Slip stitch collar around neck edge, right side facing.
(beg after gs right back edging and end at gs left edging)
To finish
Sew centre back seam to back opening, using mattress
stitch. Sl st bottom of gs edge in place. sew on small button to correspond
with buttonhole.
