A new cute baby dress knitting pattern free, the Livia Dress, is now a free knitting pattern for baby dresses here on the blog. More than just a baby dress, this dress is sized 3 months to 16 years making it an adorable kid & toddler dress knitting pattern too. Read all about the knitted dress pattern construction
No time right now? Pin this adorable free baby dress knitting pattern for later!
*This post contains affiliate links (only for products I love, use and spend my own money on obviously). This means I earn some yarn money if you make a purchase through one of these links (of course at no extra cost for you!), which I promise to use to create more awesome patterns like this one. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.
Elevate your little one’s wardrobe with timeless charm and handmade love ! Crafted with care and adorned with delicate details, this free girl and baby dress knitting pattern is your ticket to creating adorable garments.
Whether you’re a seasoned knitter or just starting your crafting journey, the Livia dress pattern uses simple stitches and offers clear instructions. Choose any of the 12 sizes from 3m to 16yo to suit your needs. Each dress you create will be a testament to your skill and affection.
Perfect for special occasions, or thoughtful gifts, this knit dress is as versatile as it is charming. Let your creativity flourish as you customize colors and infuse your unique touch into every stitch.
Indulge in the joy of crafting and the magic of childhood with this girl and baby dress knitting pattern. Start stitching today and watch as your creation becomes a treasured heirloom for years to come!
Kid, Toddler and Baby Dress Knitting Pattern Construction
The top part of the dress has a top-down raglan sweater construction: stitches for the neck are cast on and joined in the round. You then work the yoke down in the round increasing until you reach the point to separate for the sleeves. Leaving the sleeve stitches on the side, you’ll work down the body before going back to finish off the sleeves.
You will then pick up stitches for the skirt section and increase in the first few rounds then work straight down in the round. You’ll finish the skirt with the same lace detail as the collar and cuffs.
Downloadable Livia Dress Knitting Pattern for Babies, Toddlers and Girls
Grab the printable PDF of the Livia baby dress knitting pattern now in my Etsy shop or on Ravelry.
More Baby Makes
Before you Start your Baby Dress Knitting Pattern Free
Materials
- 4.5 mm/ US 7 circular knitting needles*
- Katia Essential Alpaca (worsted weight 4, 70% alpaca, 30% virgin wool, 80m/87yd, 50g/1.75oz): 3 (3.5, 4, 5, 6) (9, 11, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25) skeins in color Turquoise (87)
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends
- 4 Stitch markers
- 2 stitch holders (you can use interchangeable needle cables or pieces of scrap yarn to hold the sleeve stitches while you work on the body)
*You can choose to either use short circular needles, work the magic loop method or use DPN instead.
Size
The baby and kid dress knitting pattern is available in the following sizes: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years, 10 years, 12 years, 14 years and 16 years. Sizes are noted throughout the pattern in the following way: 3 (6, 12, 18, 24) months (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) years. The pictures illustrate the 24 months sizes.
Final garment measurements are:
- Bust circumference: 42 (45.5, 47.5, 50, 52) (60, 65.5, 69, 73.5, 78, 82, 84.5) cm / 16.5 (18, 18.75, 19.5, 20.5) (23.5, 25.75, 27, 29, 30.5, 32.5, 33.25)”
- Upper arm circumference: 13 (15, 16, 17, 18) (18.5, 20, 21, 21, 22, 23.5, 24.5) cm / 5 (6, 6.25, 6.75, 7) (7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.5)”
- Skirt length: 17.5 (18.5, 19, 23.5, 28) (35, 42.5, 47.5, 53.5, 61.5, 69.5, 78.5) cm / 7 (7.25, 7.5, 9.25, 11) (13.75, 16.75, 18.75, 21, 24.25, 27.25. 31)”
The dress is designed with a normal fit 0 – 5cm / 0 – 2” at the bust.
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern, in stockinette stitch, is 18 st by 21 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).
Abbreviations & Instructions
- st = stitch
- k = knit
- p = purl
- M1R = make one right; single right-leaning knit increase
- M1L = make one left; single left-leaning knit increase
Repeat instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the round/row.
The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the round/row between < >.
Special Stitches and Techniques
- M1R: Insert your left needle from back to front, under the bar between the stitches (thus lifting it onto the left needle). Knit this bar through the front loop (this twists it into a nice little tight loop).
- M1L: Insert the left needle from front to back, under the bar between the stitches (thus lifting it onto the left needle). Knit this bar through the back loop (this twists it into a nice little tight loop).
If you are not familiar with this increase technique, I find this video tutorial very helpful.
- I recommend using a stretchy cast on method for the baby sizes so the neck is nice and stretchy and easy to pull over baby’s head. I personally used the first technique in this tutorial.
- Magic loop. If you’re not familiar with this technique, this tutorial will help you. Alternatively, you can choose to work with double pointed needles instead.
- Stockinette stitch: knit all rounds.
Repeated Patterns
Lace Detail Repeat:
- Purl 1 round.
- Knit 1 round.
- [k1, yo, k2tog] around.Knit 1 round.
- Purl 1 round.
The Actual Free Knitting Pattern for Baby Dress and Kids.
With your 4.5mm / US 7 needles, cast on 50 (48, 48, 48, 54) (54, 54, 56, 56, 60, 64, 64) st and join in the round.
Tip: Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Start with one lace detail repeat (refer to Repeated Patterns section)
Dress Yoke
From now on you will start making increases to shape the shoulders of your knit dress.
Tip: Place stitch markers in the next round to help you know where to increase on the following rounds without counting.
- 3 month: k5, add marker, k20, add marker, k5, add marker, k20
- 6 month: k5, add marker, k19, add marker, k5, add marker, k19
- 12 month: k5, add marker, k19, add marker, k5, add marker, k19
- 18 month: k5, add marker, k19, add marker, k5, add marker, k19
- 24 month: k6, add marker, k21, add marker, k6, add marker, k21
- 4 year: k3, add marker, k24, add marker, k3, add marker, k24
- 6 year: k2, add marker, k25, add marker, k2, add marker, k25
- 8 year: k2, add marker, k26, add marker, k2, add marker, k26
- 10 year: k0, add marker, k28, add marker, k0, add marker, k28
- 12 year: k0, add marker, k30, add marker, k0, add marker, k30
- 14 year: k0, add marker, k32, add marker, k0, add marker, k32
- 16 year: k0, add marker, k32, add marker, k0, add marker, k32
You now have 4 st markers.
For sizes 10 years to 16 years only:
Increase Round: [M1L, knit until next marker, M1R] around. < X (X, X, X, X) (X, X, 64, 64, 68, 72, 72)
Knit 1 round in stockinette stitch.
For all sizes
*Increase Round: [k1, M1L, knit until last st before marker, M1R, k1] around.
Knit 1 round in stockinette stitch. Repeat from * 8 (10, 11, 12, 12) (14, 16, 17, 17, 18, 19, 20) times. <122 (136, 144, 152, 158) (174, 190, 200, 208, 220, 232, 240)>
Knit 8 (5, 5, 4, 5) (6, 4, 4, 6, 7, 7, 8) rounds in stockinette stitch.
Split for sleeves: Place stitches on holder until first st marker, knit until next marker, place st on holder until next marker, knit until end of round.
You should have 23 (27, 29, 31, 32) (33, 36, 38, 38, 40, 42, 44) st for each sleeve and 76 (82, 86, 90, 94) (108, 118, 124, 132, 140, 148, 152) st for the body.
Body Rounds: Knit the body stitches remaining on your needles in stockinette until you reach 4 (5.5, 6, 7, 8) (8, 9.5, 13.5, 15.5, 16.5, 17.5, 16) cm / 1.5 (2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3.25) (3.25, 3.75, 5.25, 6, 6.5, 6.75. 6.25)” from sleeve separation.
Cast off but don’t cut off the yarn. You’ll use it to pick up stitches for the skirt.
Skirt Section
Pick up 75 (81, 87, 90, 93) (108, 117, 123, 132, 141, 147, 153) st around the waistline.
Note: You’re picking up the stitches you just cast off on purpose. This is giving structure to the dress and will help keep the waistline definition with wear.
[k2, kfb] around. <100 (108, 116, 120, 124) (144, 156, 164, 176, 188, 196, 204) >
Knit one round.
[k3, kfb] around. <125 (135, 145, 150, 155) (180, 195, 205, 220, 235, 245, 255) >
Knit one round.
[k4, kfb] around. <150 (162, 174, 180, 186) (216, 234, 246, 264, 282, 294, 306) >
For all sizes:
Continue knitting in stockinette stitch until skirt section is 17.5 (18.5, 19, 23.5, 28) (35, 42.5, 47.5, 53.5, 61.5, 69.5, 78.5) cm / 7 (7.25, 7.5, 9.25, 11) (13.75, 16.75, 18.75, 21, 24.25, 27.25. 31)” long.
Work one Lace Detail Repeat.
Cast off knitwise.
Sleeves
Go back to the stitches for one sleeve. <23 (27, 29, 31, 32) (33, 36, 38, 38, 40, 42, 44) st>
With your 4.5mm / US 7 needles join yarn and knit in the round.
Tip: Leave a tail when joining that you can use to sew up the small gap that always forms at the armpit.
Knit until length from armpit is 13 (14, 16.5, 18, 19) (24, 26.5, 29, 32, 35.5, 38, 39.5) cm / 5.25 (5.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5) (9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 14, 15, 15.5)”.
[k2, k2tog] around, k3 (3, 1, 3, 0) (1, 0, 2, 2, 0, 2, 0). <18 (21, 22, 24, 24) (25, 27, 29, 29, 30, 32, 33) st>
For sizes 12 months and above:
[k4, k2tog] around, kX (X, X, 0, 0) (1, 3, 5, 5, 0, 2, 3). <X (X, X, 20, 20) (21, 23, 25, 25, 25, 27, 28) st>
Work one Lace Detail Repeat.
Cast off knitwise.
Repeat for the other sleeve.
Blocking
You are done with the knitting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your dress even prettier and help even your stitches wet block your project. Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help
