Sizes: 3 (6) 9 months (1) 2-3 (4-5) years Circular needles: US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm) – 23.6’’ (60 cm)
Accessories: 4 buttons, stitch markers, a stitch holder and a sewing needle Gauge: 25 sts and 34-35 rows in stockinette stitch with needle US 4 (3.5 mm) = 4’’ (10 cm). 26 sts in rib (k2, p2), slightly stretched = 4’’ (10 cm). NB: Make a swatch to be sure to get the right gauge. Change to a larger or smaller needle size if necessary. It is also advisable to measure the gauge during the work.
Yarn: Rainbow Cotton 8/4 Light Lime (#017) – 2 (2) 3 (4) 5 (5) skeins ,
Bust circumference: approx. 19.3’’ (20.9’’) 21.7’’ (22.4’’) 24.8’’ (26.4’’) / 49 (53) 55 (57) 63 (67) cm
Length of dress: approx. 15.4’’ (17.3’’) 18.1’’ (19.3’’) 20.1’’ (21.3’’) / 39 (44) 46 (49) 51 (54) cm The upper part of the dress should have a positive ease of approx 2’’ (2.4’’) 2.4’’ (2.8’’) 3.1’’ (3.9’’) / 5 (6) 6 (7) 8 (10) cm compared to own measurements.
ELABORATIONS Edge stitch (edge st) = The first and last st on each side are knit on all rows. Stockinette stitch in the round = All sts are knit on all rounds. Single decrease (single dec) = At the beginning of the row: knit 2 together. At the end of the row: slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass over the loose st. Buttonhole: Bo 2 sts and co 2 new sts on the next row/round.
ABBREVIATIONS p = purl WS = wrong side row/rnd with dec = row/round with decreases st(s) = stitch(es) k = knit RS = right side circ needle = circular needle st st = stockinette stitch co = cast on bo = bind off rnd(s) = round(s) The dress is worked bottom up in the round on a circ needle until you reach the armhole. Then the work is divided, and each part is worked separately. Co 162 (168) 174 (180) 192 (198) sts on circ needle US 2.5 / 3 mm (23.6’’ / 60 cm) and k the first row. Place a marker at the beginning of the rnd = right-hand side. Change to circ needle US 4 / 3.5 mm (23.6’’ / 60 cm).
Work in the round on the circ needle. Place a marker after 81 (84) 87 (90) 96 (99) sts = left-hand side. Work pattern according to the chart. When the work measures approx 1.2’’ (1.6’’) 1.6’’ (1.9’’) 1.9’’ (1.9’’) / 3 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5) cm, make a single dec on each side of the markers. The number of sts is hereby reduced by 4 sts for each rnd with dec.
3 months: Make a single dec every 1.2’’ / 3 cm a total of 6 times and then every 0.8’’ / 2 cm a total of 4 times = 122 sts.
6 months: Make a single dec every 1.6’’ / 4 cm a total of 3 times and then every 1.2’’ / 3 cm a total of 6 times = 132 sts.
9 months: Make a single dec every 1.6’’ / 4 cm a total of 4 times and then every 1.2’’ / 3 cm a total of 5 times = 138 sts.
1 year: Make a single dec every 1.6’’ / 4 cm a total of 4 times and then every 1.2’’ / 3 cm a total of 5 times = 144 sts.
2-3 years: Make a single dec every 2’’ / 5 cm a total of 2 times and then every 1.6’’ / 4 cm a total of 6 times = 160 sts.
4-5 years: Make a single dec every 2.4’’ / 6 cm a total of 2 times and then every 2’’ / 5 cm a total of 5 times = 170 sts. When all dec on the sides are made, continue in st st, until the work measures 11.4’’ (13’’) 13.4’’ (14.2’’) 14.6’’ (15.4’’) / 29 (33) 34 (36) 37 (39) cm. On the last row, inc 6 (8) 6 (8) 4 (6) sts evenly = 128 (140) 144 (152) 164 (176) sts. Divide the work into front piece and back piece. Place the 64 (70) 72 (76) 82 (88) sts of the front piece on a stitch holder and continue with the back piece.
Back piece: Circular needle US 4 / 3.5 mm. Row 1 = RS. Read this section carefully before you continue.
Work in rib like this: Edge st, *k2, p2*, repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k2, edge st. From the first RS row, bo for the armhole like this: Bo 2 (3) 4 (4) 5 (6) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. On the next RS row, make a single dec on each side within the edge sts. Continue decreasing on every other row another 4 (5) 5 (7) 6 (7) times = 46 (52) 52 (52) 58 (60) sts. NB When the armhole measures 2’’ (2-2.4’’) 2.4’’ (2.4’’-2.8’’) 3.1’’ (3.1-3.5’’) / 5 (5-6) 6 (6-7) 8 (8-9) cm, the 26 (28) 28 (28) 30 (32) middle sts for the neck are bo, and each side is worked separately.
Left-hand side: (RS) Dec 1 st for the neck within the edge st. 11 (11) 11 (11) 13 (13) sts remain = strap. When the armhole and strap together measure approx 3.3’’ (3.7’’) 4.1’’ (4.5’’) 4.9’’ (5.3’’) / 8.5 (9.5) 10.5 (11.5) 12.5 (13.5) cm, make 2 buttonholes like this: RS: Edge st, work 1 st, bo 2 sts, work until 4 sts remain, bo 2 sts, edge st. WS: Purl all sts and co 2 new sts where sts were bo on the previous row.
Right-hand side: Same procedure as for the left-hand side, but with decreases for the neck from the WS. Front piece: Same procedure as for the back piece, but without buttonholes on the strap. Make the strap 2 rows longer than the straps of the back piece.
SEAMING Stretch the pieces into their stated measurements between some moist towels. Dry flat. Outer edge – strap and sleeve,
left-hand side: With circ needle US 2.5 / 3 mm (23.6’’ / 60 cm), begin at the outside of the strap of the back piece. From the RS, pick up sts in every st and for every row along the strap and armhole of the back piece and the strap of the front piece. Skip every 4th-5th row. K 1 rnd. Bo. Outer edge – strap and sleeve,
right-hand side: Same procedure as for the left-hand side, but begin at the top on the outside of the strap of the front piece. Inner edge – strap and neck (back piece): With circ needle US 2.5 / 3 mm (23.6’’ / 60 cm), begin at the top on the inside of the right-hand side strap. From the RS, pick up sts in every st and for every row along the right-hand side strap, the neck and the left-hand side strap. Skip every 4th-5th row. K 1 rnd. Bo. Inner edge – strap and neck (front piece): Same procedure as for the back piece. Begin at the left-hand side strap. Sew buttons onto the straps of the front piece.
