Two Tennis Dresses for 18-inch Dolls

Free Doll Dress Knitting Pattern

Summer is tennis season, and these outfits are perfect for a day on the court.

Both dresses are constructed similarly, with slight differences in styling. The choice of colors is up to you. You can go with all white for the traditional Wimbledon look, or choose any combination you like!

The dresses fit 18-inch dolls such as American Girl, Our Generation, My Life As and others with the same dimensions.

Skills Required/Techniques Used:
-Knit & purl, cast on & bind off
-Increasing: yarn over (yo), knit front and back (kfr&b), knit front - back - front (kfr&b&fr), make 1 (m1).
-Working in the round on double pointed needles
-Picking up stitches

Materials: Grace by Paton (affiliate link)s sport weight yarn (100% Mercerized Cotton), 125m (136 yds)/50 gr, color - Azure - 1 skein.
Grace by Paton (affiliate link)s sport weight yarn (100% Mercerized Cotton), 125m (136 yds)/50 gr, color - Snow - 1 skein.

Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) circular needles and double pointed needles (dpn) of the same size OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Gauge: 24 sts x 36 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm) in stockinette st

Notions:
- Stitch marker
- Stitch holders or 2 pieces 10” long of contrasting color waste yarn to hold stitches
- Yarn needle
- 5-6 sew-on snaps
- Sewing needle and thread of color matching the yarn for attaching the snaps

Abbreviations:
dpn – double pointed needles
K – knit
P – purl
St, sts – stitch, stitches
pu&k - pick up and knit
co – cast on
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
kfr&b&fr - knit front, back and front (3 sts out of 1)
bb – button band
sm - slip marker


Pattern Notes:

Garter stitch in rows: all rows knit

Garter stitch in rounds:
Round 1 : knit
Round 2 : purl
Repeat 2 rounds.

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

Stockinette in rounds: all rounds knit

2x3 rib in rounds: all rounds *p2, k3 -repeat from * around.

The selvedge/edge stitches are worked here as follows: knit the first stitch and purl the last one.


Dresses - Short Overview:

Both dresses are worked top down in one piece with a round yoke. The bodice is worked in stockinette stitch, back and forth, with the opening on the back. The button bands are worked together with the bodice of the dress in garter stitch. The skirts are worked in rounds. I offer 2 different skirt styles - one in 2x3 rib, which imitates pleats and the other in stockinette stitch.


Dress with Pleated Skirt.

Yoke

With blue yarn, cast on 53 sts.

Work 2 rows (Rows 1-2) in garter stitch - both rows knit, purl the last st in a row.

Change to white yarn:

Row 3 (RS): k52, p1

Row 4 (WS): k4, p45, k3, p1.

Rows 5-6 repeat rows 3-4.

Row 7 (RS, increase row): k4, *m1, k2 - rep 22 times, m1, k1, m1, k3, p1 = 77 sts

Row 8: k4, p69, k3, p1.

Row 9 (RS): k76, p1.

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

Row 13 (RS, increase row) : k4, *m1, k2 - rep 34 times, m1, k1, m1, k3, p1 = 113 sts

Row 14: k4, p105, k3, p1.

Row 15: k112, p1.

Repeat rows 14-15 one more time, repeat row 14 one more time. Rows 17-18 work in blue yarn.


Divide for sleeves and bodice:

Change to white yarn.

Row 19 (RS): k20, transfer the next 22 sts to a piece of waste yarn, co 5, k29, transfer the next 22 sts to a piece of waste yarn, co 5, k19, p1. = 79 sts

Row 20: k4, p71, k3, p1.

Row 21: k78, p1.

Repeat rows 20-21 13 more times, repeat row 20 one more time.


Skirt

Change to blue yarn:

Row 49/round 1: knit to last 4 sts, transfer the last 4 sts (left button band) to a spare needle, position it over the beginning 4 sts (right button band), left and spare needle in left hand. Insert the right (working) needle in the first stitch on the spare needle, then in the first stitch on the left needle and knit both sts together. Repeat with the remaining 3 sts. = 75 sts

Place a marker between the sts of the button band - leave 2 sts in the end of the round and 2 sts in the beginning of the round.

Round 2: *p2, kfr&b&fr - repeat from * across (25 repeats) = 125 sts

Round 3: *p2, k3 - repeat from * across.

Repeat round 3 twelve more times or to desired length. Bind off.



Dress with Full Skirt:

Yoke

With blue yarn, cast on 54 sts.

Work 2 rows (Rows 1-2) in garter stitch - both rows knit, purl the last st in a row.

Change to white yarn:

Row 3 (RS): k53, p1

Row 4 (WS): k4, p46, k3, p1.

Rows 5-6 repeat rows 3-4.

Row 7 (RS, increase row): k4, *yo, k2 - rep 23 times, yo, k3, p1 = 78 sts

Row 8: k4, p70, k3, p1.

Row 9 (RS): k77, p1.

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

Row 13 (RS, increase row) : k4, *yo, k2 - repeat from * 35 times, yo, k3, p1 = 114 sts

Row 14: k4, p106, k3, p1.

Row 15: k113, p1.

Repeat rows 14-15 one more time, repeat row 14 one more time.


Divide for sleeves and bodice:

Row 19 (RS): k20, transfer the next 22 sts to a piece of waste yarn, co 5, k30, transfer the next 22 sts to a piece of waste yarn, co 5, k19, p1. = 80 sts


Skirt

Row 49/round 1: knit to last 4 sts, transfer the last 4 sts (left button band) to a spare needle, position it over the beginning 4 sts (right button band), left and spare needle in left hand. Insert the right (working) needle in the first stitch on the spare needle, then in the first stitch on the left needle and knit both sts together. Repeat with the remaining 3 sts. = 76 sts

Place a marker between the sts of the button band - leave 2 sts in the end of the round and 2 sts in the beginning of the round.

Round 2 (increase round): *k2, yo- repeat from * across = 114 sts

Round 3 (increase round): *k2, kfr&b - repeat from * across = 152 sts

Rounds 4-20: knit

Round 21: purl

Round 22: knit

Round 23: purl. Bind off.

Row 20: k4, p71, k3, p1.

Row 21: k78, p1.

Repeat rows 20-21 13 more times, repeat row 20 one more time.


Sleeves

The sleeves of both dresses are worked the same, with blue yarn.

Transfer 22 sts from waste yarn to dpn, distribute evenly. Pu&k 5 underarm sts over 5 cast on sts. Place a marker before the middle underarm stitch to mark the beginning of the round.

Round 1: knit

Round 2: purl

Repeat rounds 1-2 one more time. Bind off.


Finishing

Weave in all yarn ends. Block the working piece.

Sew 5-6 sew-on snaps onto the button bands.

Have fun!