Pinafores in Stylecraft Bambino DK - 9504 - Downloadable PDF

Pinafores in Stylecraft Bambino DK – Pattern 9504: Two Easy Knitted Baby Pinafore Designs

Pattern 9504 from Stylecraft is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern featuring two charming pinafore designs for babies and toddlers aged 0 to 3 years. Both designs are described as easy knit, making this pattern accessible to knitters with some basic experience, and it is listed at an intermediate difficulty level overall. The pinafores are worked in Stylecraft Bambino DK, a yarn specifically formulated for babywear, and are sized to fit chest measurements from 41 cm (16 in) up to 56 cm (22 in), covering ages 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months, and 2–3 years. Full lengths range from approximately 30 cm (11¾ in) to 43 cm (17 in) measured from the top of the bib, giving a lovely dress-length silhouette on little ones.

Design One: Frill Edge Pinafore

The first design is the Frill Edge Pinafore, a sweet and feminine baby pinafore featuring a decorative frill detail at the hem. This design is shown in Stylecraft Bambino DK in Soft Pink (shade 7113).

Construction and Techniques

The pinafore is constructed in separate pieces, beginning with the back skirt section. Stitches are cast on using the thumb method, a popular and straightforward cast-on technique that creates a neat, slightly stretchy edge — ideal for baby garments. The skirt begins with a 1x1 rib waistband section worked over 9 rows to provide elasticity and a tidy finish at the top of the skirt.

Following the ribbing, stitches are decreased across a set-up row to reduce the stitch count before the main body of the skirt is worked. The skirt itself is then knitted in stocking stitch (alternating knit and purl rows), with further shaping achieved through regular decrease rows worked at each end of the fabric at intervals that vary by size, creating a gently tapered silhouette from hem to waist. This combination of ribbing, stocking stitch, and structured decreasing gives the garment a clean, professional finish.

Stitches Used

• 1x1 rib – alternating knit one, purl one for the waistband
• Stocking stitch – knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows, for the main skirt body
• Decrease shaping – worked at each end of specified rows to shape the skirt
• Frill edging – a decorative frill detail at the hem of the pinafore

Materials Required

• Stylecraft Bambino DK, 100g balls: 1 ball for 0–6 months, 2 balls for 6–12 months and 12–24 months, 3 balls for 2–3 years
• Colour shown: Soft Pink 7113
• 3¼ mm knitting needles – used for the ribbed waistband section
• 4 mm knitting needles – used for the main stocking stitch body of the skirt

Design Two: Stocking Stitch Pinafore

The second design in this pattern is the Stocking Stitch Pinafore, a classic and unfussy baby pinafore with a clean, smooth fabric throughout. This design is shown in Stylecraft Bambino DK in Sage (shade 7117), offering a fresh, contemporary alternative to the pink colourway of the first design.

Construction and Techniques

As its name suggests, the Stocking Stitch Pinafore relies on the timeless simplicity of stocking stitch for its main fabric, producing a smooth, flat surface that is both practical and elegant for a baby garment. Like the Frill Edge Pinaf