Make a Charming Knitted Flared Two-Tier Skirt for 18‑inch Dolls — Top‑Down Pattern

This adorable two-tier flared skirt is worked top-down in the round for an 18‑inch doll. It uses sport‑weight cotton and simple techniques—knit and purl, make‑1 increases, and circular knitting—making it a quick, satisfying project for knitters comfortable with working in the round. Below are clear materials, abbreviations, and step‑by‑step directions to complete the skirt.

Knitted flared two-tier skirt shown on an 18‑inch doll.

Skills Required / Techniques Used

• Knit & purl, cast on & bind off
• Increasing: make 1 (m1)
• Working in the round on circular needles

Materials

• Patons Grace 100% cotton sport weight yarn, 136 yards (124 meters)/50 g, color 60104 - 1 ball (A)
• Patons Grace 100% cotton sport weight yarn, 136 yards (124 meters)/50 g, color 60903 - 1 ball (B)
• Notions: yarn needle, stitch marker, 10" long piece of 1/4" wide elastic
• Needles: circular #4 (3.50 mm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• Gauge for stockinette stitch: 22 sts x 28 rows = 4" x 4" (10 cm)

Abbreviations

• K – knit
• P – purl
• St, sts – stitch, stitches
• co – cast on
• m1 - make 1 increase - I used the increase described by Elizabeth Zimmerman: make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit it as a regular stitch.
• sm - slip marker

Pattern Notes

• Stockinette stitch in rounds: all rounds knit
• 1x1 Rib in rounds: all rounds *k1, p1 - repeat from * around.

Directions

The skirt is worked from the top in rounds without seams.

With yarn A cast on 58 sts, join and continue to work in rounds, mark the beginning of the round, slip marker while working.

Rounds 1-5 (work 1x1 rib): *k1, p1 - repeat from * around.

Round 6 (with yarn B): *k1, m1 - repeat from * across the round = 116 sts.

Rounds 7-14: knit

Rounds 15-19 (with yarn A): *k1, p1 - repeat from * around.

Round 20 (with yarn B): *k 2, m1 repeat from * across the round = 174 sts.

Rounds 21-34: knit

Rounds 35-39 (with yarn A): knit

Round 40 (eyelet round): *k2tog, yo - repeat from * around

Rounds 41-45: knit. Bind off. Cut yarn leaving a long tail.

Finishing

Fold the hem along the eyelet round and slipstitch in place using the yarn tail.

Cut a 10" long piece of elastic. Overlap and sew the ends to form a circle. Position elastic circle on the wrong side of the rib around the waist edge. Using a piece of the same yarn attach the band to the skirt.