Caramel Popcorn Summer Dress for 18-inch Doll

Free Doll Dress Knitting Pattern

Welcome to the Caramel Popcorn Summer Dress knitting pattern for 18 inch dolls! This beautiful dress is perfect for any doll's summer wardrobe, and is designed to be worked seamlessly from the top-down. The pattern features a classic design with a twist, as it includes alternating light peach and darker cinnamon-colored stripes, resembling the delicious caramel popcorn treat.

The dress is knitted first back and forth, and then in the round, ensuring that there are no seams to sew at the end. The light peach yarn provides a soft and delicate texture, while the darker cinnamon stripes add a touch of warmth and depth to the overall look. The dress is designed to fit 18 inch dolls, making it perfect for American Girl dolls or other dolls of similar size.

With clear instructions and photos of the stages, this pattern is suitable for intermediate knitters who are comfortable with basic knitting techniques, such as increasing, decreasing, and knitting in the round. So grab your needles and yarn, and get ready to create a stunning summer dress for your favorite doll!

Skills Required/Techniques Used:

-Knit & purl, cast on & bind off

-Increasing:yarn over (YO), knit front and back (kfr&b)

-Basic chrocheting

Materials: Sinfonia by Omega (affiliate link) sport weight yarn (100% cotton), 218 yards (199 meters) / 100 gr, color 806 Light Gold – 0.5 skein (A)
Sinfonia by Omega (affiliate link) sport weight yarn (100% cotton), 218 yards (199 meters) / 100 gr, color 843 Dark Cinnamon – 0.25 skein (B)


Needles: US 2 (2.75mm)
Crochet hook: 2.5 mm

Gauge for stockinette st: 28 sts x 36 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm)

Notions:

- Stitch marker

- Yarn needle

- 5 small buttons

- Sewing needle and thread of color matching the yarn for attaching the buttons

Pattern Notes

1x1 Rib in rows:
Row 1: * knit 1, purl 1 – repeat from *
Row 2: * purl 1, knit 1 – repeat from *

Repeat 2 rows.

Stockinette Stitch in rows
Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2 (WS): purl

Repeat 2 rows

Stockinette Stitch in Rounds
All rounds: knit

Garter Stitch in Rows:
All rows: knit

Garter Stitch in Rounds:
Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl

Repeat 2 rounds

Selvedge/edge Stitches: Knit the first stitch and purl the last stitch.


Abbreviations:
k – knit
p - purl
kfr&b - knit into front and back
yo - yarn over
RS - right side
WS - wrong side

sc - single crochet

ch - chain


Dress

The dress is worked top-down, seamlessly, first back and forth, then in the round. The button band is crocheted along the right edge of the back opening.

With color B yarn, cast on 46 stitches. Work 1x1 rib 4 rows.

Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1 - repeat from * 23 times. (=46 sts)

Repeat row 1 three more times.
Row 5 (RS): k45, p1.
Row 6 (WS): k1, p45.
Row 7 (RS, with color A): k3, *yo, k2 - repeat from * 21 times, p 1 = 67 sts
Row 8 (WS): k1, p66

Row 9 (RS): k66, p1.

Repeat rows 8-9 one more time. Repeat row 8 one more time.

Row 13 (RS): k3, *yo, k2 - repeat from * 30 times, yo, k3, p1. (= 98 sts)
Row 14 (WS): k1, p97

Change to color B.
Row 15: k97, p1. Repeat row 15 three more times.

Divide for sleeves and bodice:

Row 19 (RS): k16, bind off 18 sts, knit 30, bind off 18 sts, knit 15, p 1.
Row 20 (WS): k16, cast on 5, k 30, cast on 5, k15, p 1 = 72 sts

Bodice:

Change to color A:
Row 21 (RS): k71, p1.

Row 22 (WS): k1, p71.

Repeat row 21-22 four more times.
Row 31 (RS, belt row): k2, * yo, k2tog - rep to last 2 sts, k 1, p 1
Row 32 (WS): k1, purl all sts and yos.
Row 33 (RS): k1, * k2, kfr&b - rep to last 2 sts, k1, p1 = 95 sts
Row 34 (WS): k1, p94.

Row 35 (RS): k94, p1.

Repeat rows 34-35 one more time, repeat row 34 one more time.
Row 39/round 1: knit all sts, join into round and continue to work in rounds. Place a marker in the beginning of the round. Slip marker while working. Knit all rounds until otherwise directed.
Work rounds 2-7 in color A.
Work rounds 8-9 in color B.
Round 9: *k2, yo - repeat from to the end of the round. = 142 sts
Continue in color A: knit rounds 10-28
The next 2 rounds work in color B:
Round 29: knit,
Round 30: *k2, yo - repeat from * to the end of the round = 213 sts.
Work in color A to the end of the work. Rounds 31-40 knit.
Work 4 more rounds in garter stitch: rounds 41 and 43 knit, rounds 42 and 44 purl. Bind off.

Button Band: is crocheted along the right edge of the back opening. Fasten yarn to the top of the right back , sc in the next 2 selvedge sts, *ch 2, skip the next 2 selvedge sts, sc 3 in the next 3 selvedge sts – repeat 5 times. Tie off.

Belt:

With yarn B chain a string 20”-22" long. Turn, sc in each chain. Turn, and work sc in each sc. Tie off.
You can also knit the belt: cast on 3 sts and knit them until you have a string about 20” long. Bind off.

Finishing:

Weave in all yarn ends. Sew 5 buttons to the left edge of the back opening. Thread the belt through the eyelets of the 31st row.

Enjoy!