Seaside Sundial Striped Baby Dress Free Pattern – Knit a Coastal Heirloom

There's something magical about knitting for a little one—especially when the finished piece feels like it was plucked straight from a sun-drenched shoreline. The Seaside Sundial Striped Baby Dress is exactly that kind of project. With its soft, sun-bleached stripes in oatmeal cream, seafoam green, and warm sand, this dress captures the breezy, carefree spirit of a day at the coast. The delicate scalloped hem and matching button back give it that heirloom quality you'll want to pass down for generations. Best of all, this pattern is beginner-friendly, worked top-down in one piece, and completely free. Let's dive in and knit a little piece of seaside magic.

Materials Needed

Before you cast on, gather these simple supplies. The beauty of this pattern is that it uses readily available, affordable materials—perfect for a weekend project.

• Yarn: DK weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn (e.g., Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton) in 3 colors:
  • Main Color (MC) – Oatmeal
  • Color A – Seafoam
  • Color B – Sand
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) circular knitting needles, 16-inch length, and a set of double-pointed needles for sleeves (optional)
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, after blocking
• Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, two small wooden buttons, and a satin ribbon (optional, for the waist tie)

Step-by-Step Instructions

This dress is worked from the top down, so you'll start at the yoke and knit your way to the scalloped hem. The instructions below are for three sizes: 0-3 months (3-6 months, 6-12 months). Finished chest circumference: 16 (18, 20) inches. Finished length (shoulder to hem): 12 (14, 16) inches.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• K: knit
• P: purl
• K2tog: knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• YO: yarn over
• St(s): stitch(es)
• MC, A, B: colors as specified

Pattern Notes

• The dress is worked top-down in one piece, with short-row shaping for the back neckline.
• Stripes are worked in a simple 4-row repeat: 2 rows MC, 2 rows A, 2 rows MC, 2 rows B.
• All increases are worked on right-side rows unless noted.

Yoke

With MC, CO 56 (60, 64) sts. Work back and forth in garter stitch (knit every row) for 4 rows.

Row 1 (RS): K1, YO, K8 (9, 10), YO, K1 (raglan marker), YO, K8 (9, 10), YO, K1 (marker), YO, K20 (22, 24), YO, K1 (marker), YO, K8 (9, 10), YO, K1 (marker), YO, K8 (9, 10), YO, K1. (Total sts: 72 (76, 80))

Row 2 (WS): Purl all sts.

Row 3: K1, YO, K to marker, YO, slip marker, K1, YO, K to marker, YO, slip marker, K1, YO, K to marker, YO, slip marker, K1, YO, K to marker, YO, slip marker, K1, YO, K to last st, YO, K1. (8 increases)

Row 4: Purl all sts.

Repeat Rows 3-4 until you have worked a total of 12 (14, 16) increase rows from the beginning. You will have 152 (172, 192) sts. End with a WS row.

Separate Sleeves

Knit across the first 22 (25, 28) sts (front), place next 32 (36, 40) sts on a holder (sleeve), knit across the next 44 (50, 56) sts (back), place next 32 (36, 40) sts on a holder (sleeve), knit across the last 22 (25, 28) sts (front). You now have 88 (100, 112) sts for the body.

Body

Continue in stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS) and begin stripe pattern: 2 rows MC, 2 rows A, 2 rows MC, 2 rows B. Repeat this 8-row stripe sequence throughout the body.

Work even until the body measures 5 (6, 7) inches from the underarm, ending with a WS row.

Skirt Increases

Next RS row: *K2, K2tog, YO, K2, K2tog, YO* repeat from * to * across, ending with K2 (or as needed to maintain pattern). This creates eyelet holes for a ribbon.

Continue in stockinette stitch, but increase 1 st at each end of every 4th row (by knitting into the front and back of the first and last st) until the skirt measures 4 (5, 6) inches from the eyelet row. You will have approximately 120 (140, 160) sts.

Scalloped Hem

Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 2 rows.

Scallop pattern (multiple of 6 sts):

Row 1 (RS): *K2tog, YO, K2tog, YO, K2tog, YO* repeat across.

Row 2: Purl all sts.

Row 3: *K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, YO* repeat across (each group of 3 sts becomes 6 sts).

Row 4: Purl all sts.

Row 5: *K2tog, K2tog, K2tog* repeat across (each group of 6 sts becomes 3 sts).

Row 6: Purl all sts.

Bind off loosely.

Sleeves (Optional)

Transfer sleeve sts from holder to double-pointed needles. With MC, pick up and knit 2 sts at underarm to avoid holes. Work in stockinette stitch in the round, following the same stripe pattern as the body, for 2 (2.5, 3) inches. Then work 2 rows of garter stitch (knit one round, purl one round) and bind off loosely.

Finishing

Weave in all ends. Block the dress to measurements. Sew two small buttons on the back yoke, using the eyelet holes as buttonholes (or create a small i-cord loop at the neck edge). Thread a satin ribbon through the eyelet row at the waist, if desired.

And there you have it—a gorgeous, coastal-inspired heirloom dress that's as delightful to knit as it is to gift. The soft stripes, delicate scallops, and breathable cotton make it a summer staple your little one will love (and you'll be proud to say you made it yourself). Happy knitting!