Teddy Bear Dress

A beginner top-down raglan dress for babies and children

A soft, seamless A-line dress worked from the neck down in worsted weight yarn. Short sleeves, a stretchy crew neck, and plush garter borders give it a cuddly teddy-bear look. Optional knitted ears and a simple embroidered face turn it into a character dress; leave them off for an everyday honey-colored frock.

The stretchy 1×1 rib neck is designed to slip over a baby’s or child’s head—no seams, no placket, no fussy dressing. Choose a superwash wool, cotton, or acrylic blend so parents can machine-wash it.

Skill level: Beginner
Skills used: Long-tail cast-on, knit, purl, kfb, working in the round, bind off, basic seaming (optional ears)

Sizes

0–3 mo (3–6 mo, 6–12 mo, 12–18 mo, 18–24 mo, 2T, 4T, 6)

Shown in size order throughout. To fit chest: 16 (18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26)" / 40.5 (45.5, 51, 53.5, 56, 58.5, 63.5, 66) cm.

Positive ease: about 2¾–3½" (7–9 cm) at the chest for diapers and growing room.

Finished Measurements

Chest circumference: 18¾ (21¼, 23, 24, 24¾, 25¾, 28½, 29¼)" / 47.5 (54, 58.5, 61, 63, 65.5, 72.5, 74.5) cm
Hem circumference: 23 (26¾, 29¼, 31, 32¾, 34¾, 37¼, 39)" / 58.5 (68, 74.5, 79, 83, 88, 94.5, 99) cm
Length (center back neck to hem): 13 (14¾, 16¾, 18½, 20, 21¾, 24¼, 26½)" / 33 (37.5, 42.5, 47, 51, 55, 61.5, 67.5) cm
Yoke depth (cast-on to underarm): 4½ (4¾, 5¼, 5½, 5½, 5¾, 6¼, 6½)" / 11.5 (12, 13.5, 14, 14, 14.5, 16, 16.5) cm
Short sleeve length (underarm to cuff edge): 1½ (1¾, 2, 2, 2¼, 2½, 2¾, 3)" / 4 (4.5, 5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5) cm
Neck circumference (unstretched): 10¾ (11½, 12½, 12½, 13¼, 13¼, 14¼, 14¼)" / 27.5 (29, 32, 32, 33.5, 33.5, 36, 36) cm

Yarn

Worsted weight (CYC 4), soft and machine-washable. Superwash wool, cotton, cotton-blend, or acrylic-blend recommended.

280 (350, 420, 480, 550, 625, 750, 850) yd / 255 (320, 385, 440, 505, 570, 685, 775) m

At 220 yd (201 m) per 100 g skein, purchase 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins.

Teddy-bear color ideas: honey, caramel, oatmeal, toffee, or chocolate. A heathered tan looks especially plush.

Leave extra yardage if you add the optional ears.

Needles

• US 7 / 4.5 mm: 16" (40 cm) circular, for neck rib
• US 8 / 5 mm: 16" (40 cm) circular for the yoke, 24" or 32" (60–80 cm) circular for the body, and DPNs or a long circular for magic-loop sleeves

Use the needle sizes needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

• 4 stitch markers (one unique for beginning of round)
• Waste yarn or 2 stitch holders
• Tapestry needle
• Optional: small amount of dark brown yarn for the face; ½" (1.5 cm) grosgrain ribbon bow to sew at the chest (do not use a tied drawstring on baby sizes)

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rounds = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch in the round on US 8 / 5 mm, blocked.

(4.5 sts = 1" / 2.5 cm; 6 rounds = 1" / 2.5 cm)

Check gauge. A too-small gauge makes a stiff, undersized dress; a too-large gauge makes a floppy, oversized one.

Abbreviations (US)

BO — bind off
BOR — beginning of round
CO — cast on
k — knit
k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
kfb — knit into the front and back of the same stitch (1 stitch increased)
p — purl
pm — place marker
rnd(s) — round(s)
RS — right side
sm — slip marker
st(s) — stitch(es)
St st — Stockinette stitch (knit every round in the round)
WS — wrong side

Pattern Notes

• The dress is worked top down in the round, seamless.
• Four raglan lines are increased with kfb at both edges of each section (8 stitches every increase round).
• The neck is 1×1 rib so it stretches over the head. No back placket is used; this keeps the pattern truly beginner-friendly.
• Garter stitch in the round: Round 1 knit, Round 2 purl; repeat. This is the “plush” teddy border at hem and cuffs.
• Change to a longer circular when the yoke no longer fits the 16" needle.
• Length is easy to customize: add or subtract even rounds before the hem, and before the sleeve cuff.
• Weave in ends as you go if you like; otherwise leave 6" (15 cm) tails.

Dress

Neck

With smaller circular needle and long-tail cast-on, CO 48 (52, 56, 56, 60, 60, 64, 64) sts. Place unique marker for BOR and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rib rnd: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

Repeat Rib rnd until neck measures 1" (2.5 cm) from CO.

Yoke

Change to larger 16" (40 cm) circular needle.

Setup rnd: K 16 (18, 20, 20, 22, 22, 24, 24) (Front), pm, k 8 (Right Sleeve), pm, k 16 (18, 20, 20, 22, 22, 24, 24) (Back), pm, k 8 (Left Sleeve) to BOR.
(Four sections; BOR marker + 3 section markers. 16+8+16+8 = 48, 18+8+18+8 = 52, 20+8+20+8 = 56, 20+8+20+8 = 56, 22+8+22+8 = 60, 22+8+22+8 = 60, 24+8+24+8 = 64, 24+8+24+8 = 64 ✓)

Inc rnd: *Kfb, knit to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm; rep from * to end — 8 sts increased.

Knit rnd: Knit all sts, slipping markers.

Repeat Inc rnd followed by Knit rnd 9 (10, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 15) more times.

You have now worked the Inc rnd a total of 10 (11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16) times.

Stitch count: 128 (140, 152, 160, 164, 172, 184, 192) sts.
(10 (11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16) inc rnds × 8 = 80 (88, 96, 104, 104, 112, 120, 128); 48+80=128, 52+88=140, 56+96=152, 56+104=160, 60+104=164, 60+112=172, 64+120=184, 64+128=192 ✓)

Section counts:

• Front / Back: 36 (40, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56) sts each
  (16+2×10=36, 18+22=40, 20+24=44, 20+26=46, 22+26=48, 22+28=50, 24+30=54, 24+32=56 ✓)
• Each sleeve: 28 (30, 32, 34, 34, 36, 38, 40) sts
  (8+2×10=28, 8+22=30, 8+24=32, 8+26=34, 8+26=34, 8+28=36, 8+30=38, 8+32=40 ✓)

Yoke should measure approximately 4½ (4¾, 5¼, 5½, 5½, 5¾, 6¼, 6½)" / 11.5 (12, 13.5, 14, 14, 14.5, 16, 16.5) cm from CO. If it is a little short, work even knit rounds to that length. A little extra depth is comfortable on a dress.

Divide body and sleeves

Next rnd: Knit 36 (40, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56) Front sts; place next 28 (30, 32, 34, 34, 36, 38, 40) Right Sleeve sts on waste yarn; using backward-loop (or knitted) cast-on, CO 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts, pm (right side), CO 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts; knit 36 (40, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56) Back sts; place next 28 (30, 32, 34, 34, 36, 38, 40) Left Sleeve sts on waste yarn; CO 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts, pm (left side / new BOR), CO 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts.

Body stitch count: 84 (96, 104, 108, 112, 116, 128, 132) sts.
(Front + Back + 2 underarms: 36+36+6+6=84, 40+40+8+8=96, 44+44+8+8=104, 46+46+8+8=108, 48+48+8+8=112, 50+50+8+8=116, 54+54+10+10=128, 56+56+10+10=132 ✓)
(Finished chest: 84÷4.5=18.67", 96÷4.5=21.33", 104÷4.5=23.11", 108÷4.5=24", 112÷4.5=24.89", 116÷4.5=25.78", 128÷4.5=28.44", 132÷4.5=29.33" ✓)

The two new markers sit at the underarm “side seams.” The unique marker at the left underarm is BOR. Remove the old raglan markers.

Body (A-line skirt)

Work even in St st (knit every rnd) for 7 rnds.

A-line Inc rnd: *Kfb, knit to 1 st before side marker, kfb, sm; rep from * once more — 4 sts increased.

Work 7 even knit rnds, then 1 A-line Inc rnd.

Repeat the last 8 rnds 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10) more times.

You have now worked the A-line Inc rnd a total of 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) times.

Hem stitch count: 104 (120, 132, 140, 148, 156, 168, 176) sts.
(5×4=20, 6×4=24, 7×4=28, 8×4=32, 9×4=36, 10×4=40, 10×4=40, 11×4=44; 84+20=104, 96+24=120, 104+28=132, 108+32=140, 112+36=148, 116+40=156, 128+40=168, 132+44=176 ✓)

Continue even in St st until body measures 7 (8½, 10, 11½, 13, 14½, 16½, 18½)" / 18 (21.5, 25.5, 29, 33, 37, 42, 47) cm from the underarm divide, or 1½" (4 cm) less than total desired dress length from underarm.

Garter hem

Garter rnd 1: Knit.
Garter rnd 2: Purl.

Repeat these 2 rnds until hem measures 1½" (4 cm), ending after a knit rnd.

Bind off loosely knitwise. (If the hem feels tight, bind off with a needle one size larger.)

Body from underarm, including hem, measures 8½ (10, 11½, 13, 14½, 16, 18, 20)" / 21.5 (25.5, 29, 33, 37, 40.5, 45.5, 51) cm.

Short sleeves

Work both sleeves the same.

Return 28 (30, 32, 34, 34, 36, 38, 40) held sleeve sts to larger DPNs or a long circular for magic loop. With RS facing, beginning at the center of the underarm cast-on, pick up and knit 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts along the first half of the underarm, knit the sleeve sts, pick up and knit 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts along the second half of the underarm. Pick up 1 extra st in each underarm corner gap (2 extra sts). Place BOR marker at center underarm.

Sts on needle before closing gaps: 36 (40, 42, 44, 44, 46, 50, 52).
(28+6+2=36, 30+8+2=40, 32+8+2=40+2=42, 34+8+2=44, 34+8+2=44, 36+8+2=46, 38+10+2=50, 40+10+2=52 ✓)

Next rnd (close gaps): Knit, working k2tog at each of the two corner extra sts.

Sleeve stitch count: 34 (38, 40, 42, 42, 44, 48, 50) sts.
(28+6=34, 30+8=38, 32+8=40, 34+8=42, 34+8=42, 36+8=44, 38+10=48, 40+10=50 ✓)

Work even in St st until sleeve measures ½ (¾, 1, 1, 1¼, 1½, 1¾, 2)" / 1.5 (2, 2.5, 2.5, 3, 4, 4.5, 5) cm from the underarm.

Garter cuff:
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Purl.
Repeat these 2 rnds until cuff measures 1" (2.5 cm), ending after a knit rnd.

Bind off loosely knitwise.

Total short sleeve length: 1½ (1¾, 2, 2, 2¼, 2½, 2¾, 3)" / 4 (4.5, 5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5) cm.

Optional Teddy Ears (make 2)

With larger needles, CO 10 sts. Work flat in garter stitch (knit every row) for 8 rows (4 ridges).

Next row: *K2tog; rep from * to end — 5 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: K1, k2tog, k2tog — 3 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Bind off remaining 3 sts, leaving a 12" (30 cm) tail.

Fold each ear slightly so it cups forward. Using the tail, sew one ear to each side of the neck, just in front of the raglan line, with the bound-off (narrow) edge at the top. Weave in ends securely on the WS.

Finishing

Weave in all remaining ends on the WS.

Wet block: Soak in lukewarm water with a little wool wash, press out water in a towel (do not wring), and lay flat to the finished measurements. Smooth the A-line skirt and short sleeves. Let dry completely.

Optional teddy face: With dark brown yarn and a tapestry needle, embroider a small face on the upper Front, centered, about 1–1½" (2.5–4 cm) below the neck rib. Keep it simple: two small satin-stitch or duplicate-stitch eyes, a triangular nose, and a short curved smile. Do not use beads or plastic eyes on a child’s garment.

Optional bow: Sew a small ribbon bow at center Front below the neck. Do not use a waist drawstring on baby sizes.

Trim all tails. Machine-wash on gentle and lay flat to dry, following your yarn’s label.

Schematic (key dimensions)

Customizing

• Longer dress: Work extra even rounds before the garter hem.
• Long sleeves: After picking up the sleeve, decrease 2 sts every 6th (6th, 6th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th) round until the cuff fits, then work 1½–2" (4–5 cm) garter or 1×1 rib.
• No ears / no face: The dress is complete without them.
• Yarn care: Always choose a fiber parents can machine-wash. Softness next to the skin matters more than stitch definition on this dress.