18" doll dress

 

This is my new Designer Friend 18" doll so I've been busy adapting some of my other patterns to fit.  My first attempt is this top down dress, knit from the neck down in one piece, with a back seam, using straight needles throughout.  I added a back opening to make it easier to dress the doll.  The dress will fit most 18" dolls  

The pattern has been tested (thanks to my sister) but mistakes can easily slip by so if you find and errors or have problems with the pattern please leave a comment below

Actual measurements: Dress: Chest 14”, length from shoulder to hem 9”

You will need: 50g dk yarn, 4mm (US 6) and 3.25 (US 3) needles, 2 10mm buttons
Tension (Gauge):  24sts x 28 rows x 4” (10cm) using 4mm needles over stocking stitch
Abbreviations  
k: knit,     p: purl,    st(s): stitch(es),    tog: together,    yf: yarn forward       
gs: garter stitch - every row knit,    rs: right side facing,    ws: wrong side facing
slst:  slip stitch
ssk:  Slip next 2 stitches knitwise one at a time onto right hand needle, then knit through back loops together, or use slip 1, k1 pass slipped stitch over
kfb: increase by knitting into first loop then knit into back loop of same stitch

Using 3.25mm needles, cast on 51sts
Work 2 rows gs
Buttonhole row   k2tog, yf k to end
Next row   k3, (kfb, k5) 8 times,    59sts
Change to 4mm needles and stocking stitch, begin yoke shaping:
Row 1         k6 (yf, k2, yf, k12) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k9           67sts
Row 2         k1, purl to last 3sts, k3
Row 3         k7 (yf, k2, yf, k14) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k10        75sts
Row 4         k1, purl to last 3sts, k3
Row 5         k8 (yf, k2, yf, k16) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k11        83sts
Row 6         k1, purl to last 3sts, k3
Row 7         k9 (yf, k2, yf, k18) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k12        91sts
Row 8         k1, purl to last 3sts, k3                                          
Row 9         k10 (yf, k2, yf, k20) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k13      99sts                          
Row 10       k1, purl to last 3sts, k3
Row 11       Buttonhole row k2tog, yf, k9 (yf, k2, yf, k22) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k14 107sts
Row 12      k1, purl to last 3sts, k3
Row 13       k12 (yf, k2, yf, k24) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k15      115sts                        
Row 14       k1, purl to last 3sts, k3
Row 15       k13 (yf, k2, yf, k26) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k16      123sts                        
Row 16       cast off 3sts, purl to last 3sts, k3              120sts
Row 17       k14 (yf, k2, yf, k28) x 3, yf, k2, yf, k14      128sts                        
Row 18       (p16, k32, p16)  x 2
Row  19      (k16, cast off 32, k16) x 2
 
Change to 3.25 needles
Join backs and front:   ws facing, K15, slst, knit first stitch of front, psso,  knit across 30sts front, slst, knit first stitch of back, psso, k15           62sts
Work 4 rows in gs
Inc row  rs facing, k1, (kfb) x 11, k8,  (kfb) x 22, k8, (kfb) x 11, k1    106sts

Skirt
Change to 4mm needles
Next row    purl 
Begin skirt pattern
Row 1    k1, (k2tog, yf, k6) to last stitch, k1
Row 2    purl
Row 3    knit
Row 4    purl
Row 5    k5 (k2tog, yf, k6) to last 5sts, k2tog, yf, k3
Row 6   purl 
Row 7   knit
Row 8   purl
These 8 rows form the pattern.  Repeat 8 rows of pattern 2 times, then rows 1 to 6
 
Hem pattern
Row 1    k1, (k3, k2tog, yf, k1, yf, ssk)) rep to last stitch, k1
Row 2    purl
Row 3    k2, (k1, k2tog, yf, k3, yf, ssk) rep to end
Row 4    purl
Row 5    k1, (s1, k2tog, psso, yf, k5, yf) rep to last stitch, k1
Rows 6-8    knit 3 rows garter stitch
Cast off loosely
 
To Finish off
Sew back seam.  Sew placket of back opening on wrong side.  Sew on 2 buttons to match buttonhole.  Finish off all ends, block skirt to avoid hem curling up.