Make a Charming Knitted Faux-Pleat Skirt for 18‑Inch Dolls — Free Top‑Down Pattern

This easy-to-follow top-down pattern creates a sweet knitted faux-pleat skirt sized for 18-inch dolls (fits American Girl, Our Generation and similar dolls). Worked seamlessly in the round on double-pointed needles, the skirt uses reversed stockinette with evenly spaced knit columns to create the illusion of pleats. Suitable for knitters comfortable with basic stitches, increases, and working in the round.

The Knitted Faux-Pleat Skirt for 18-inch dolls is an adorable addition to any doll's wardrobe! This charming skirt features a unique design that mimics pleats, adding a touch of sophistication to your doll's outfit. With its cozy knitted fabric and stylish flair, this skirt is perfect for dressing up your doll for any occasion. Get ready to showcase your doll's fashion sense with this delightful Knitted Faux-Pleat Skirt!

Finished knitted faux-pleat skirt shown on an 18-inch doll for scale.

Skills Required/Techniques Used:

- Knit & purl, cast on & bind off

- Increasing: make 1 (m1)

- Working in the round on double pointed needles

Size: fits 18-inch dolls like American Girl, Our Generation and other dolls with similar body.

Materials: Knit Picks Telemark sport weight yarn (100% wool), 50 g/ 103 yds (94m) – 1 ball

Needles: double pointed needles (dpn) US #3 (3.25 mm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Gauge for stockinette st: 20 sts x 30 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm)

Notions:

yarn needle

Abbreviations:

• k - knit
• p - purl
• m1 - make 1 increase - I make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit as a regular stitch.
• RS - right side
• WS - wrong side
• sm - slip marker
• pm - place marker
• rm - remove marker

Pattern Notes:

Reversed stockinette in rounds:

All rounds purl

1 x 1 Rib in rounds:

All rounds *k1, p1 - repeat from * around

Short Overview of the Pattern:

The skirt is worked top-down, seamlessly, in rounds, on double pointed needles. The belt and hem are worked in 1 x 1 rib, the main part of the skirt is worked in reversed stockinette, with knit stitches spaced evenly to make the illusion of pleats. The A-shape of the skirt is achieved by increasing the number of stitches between the knit stitches.

Skirt

Cast on 60 stitches, distribute them evenly on 4 dpn (15 sts per needle), join in to round, place a marker at the beginning of the round, slip marker while working.

Work 4 rounds in 1x1 rib : *k1, p1 - repeat from * around.

Round 5:* p4, k1 - repeat from * 12 times

Repeat round 5 four (4) more times

Round 10 (increase round): *m1, p4, k1 - repeat from * 12 times. = 72 sts

Round 11: *p5, k1 - repeat from * 12 times.

Repeat round 11 seven more times.

Round 19 (increase round): *p5, m1, k1 - repeat from * 12 times = 84 sts

Round 20: *p6, k1 - repeat from * 12 times

Repeat round 20 nine more times.

Round 30 (increase round): *m1, p6, k1 - repeat from * 12 times = 96 sts

Round 31: * p7, k1 - repeat from * 12 times

Repeat round 31 nine more times

Work 2 more rounds in 1 x 1 rib: "k1, p1 - repeat from * around.

Bind off.

Finishing:

Weave in all yarn ends.

Tips:

• If your gauge differs, change needle size to obtain the stated gauge so the skirt fits properly.
• To adjust the skirt length, add or remove repeats of the rounds between increase sections while keeping the increase rounds as written.

Have fun!