Size
18 months [2T, 3T, 4T]
Size shown: 18 months
Finished Measurements
Chest: 20 [21, 22, 23] inches
Length:17½ [18¼, 20½, 22¾] inches
Materials
Cascade Yarns Venezia Worsted [70% merino wool, 30% silk; 219 yards/199 meters per 3.5 ounce/100 gram hank];
#8400 Charcoal Heather (MC); 2 [2, 3, 3] hanks
#129 Lavender (CC); 1 hank for all sizes
Scrap yarn in worsted weight for provisional cast-on and to hold sleeve stitches.
Recommended needle sizes
US #6/4.0 mm 24 inch circular needle
US #6/4.0 mm dpns
US F/3.5 mm crochet hook
Notions
5 stitch markers, one unique
Safety pins
One ¾ inch diameter button
Thread to match dress color
Sewing needle
Tapestry needle
Gauge
22 sts and 28 rnds = 4 inches in St st (Please note that your gauge knitting in the rnd may differ from knitting back and forth)
Pattern Notes
The sweater dress is worked from the bottom up in one piece. The sleeves must be completed and attached before moving on to the yoke of the dress.
Skills Required
Crochet provisional cast-on, knitting on double pointed needles, basic crochet (chain and single crochet), short-rows (detailed instructions in pattern)
INSTRUCTIONS
Body
Using crochet provisional cast on and scrap yarn for chain and CC for sts, cast on 144 [152, 156, 164] sts on circular needles.
Place unique marker to designate end of rnd. Being careful not to twist sts, join in the rnd.
Rounds 1-5: Knit around.
Round 6: * K2tog, yo; repeat from * around.
Rounds 7-11: Knit around.
Fold work along yarn over rnd, so that wrong sides are touching each other.
Round 12: * Carefully expose 1 live st from provisional cast-on, mount live st on left needle, k2tog; repeat from * for each cast on st and working st. This results in a clean hem that does not need to be sewn together later.
Rounds 13 and 14: Knit around.
Round 15: With MC, knit 36 [38, 39, 41] sts, pm, knit 72 [76, 78, 82] sts, pm, knit to end of rnd.
Round 16: Pick up st directly underneath first st with right needle (will be in CC) and mount it correctly (right “leg” of loop in front) on left needle, knit first two sts on left needle tog. This makes the yarn color change nearly invisible.
Continuing with MC, knit to end of rnd.
Knit 0 [1, 2, 7] rnd(s), slipping all markers.
Decrease Round: Knit to 3 sts before first marker, ssk, k2, k2tog, knit to 3 sts before second marker, ssk, k2, k2tog, knit to end of rnd.
Stockinette Rounds: Knit 9 [9, 10, 11] rnds.
Repeat Decrease and Stockinette Rounds, 8 more times: 108 [116, 120, 128] sts.
Work even until piece measures 14 [14½, 16, 18] inches from bottom hem.
Divide for Arms: * Knit to 6 sts before marker, bind off next 12 sts; repeat from * once more; knit to end of rnd.
Set Body aside until sleeves are complete.
Sleeve (make 2)
Using provisional cast-on and scrap yarn for chain and CC for sts, cast on 32 [32, 36, 36] sts evenly onto 4 dpns.
Place unique marker to designate end of rnd. Being careful not to twist sts, join in the rnd.
Work Rounds 1-14 as for Dress Body.
Round 15: With MC, * k2, m1, repeat from * to end of rnd. 48 [48, 54, 54] sts.
Round 16: Work as for Dress Body.
Cont in St st in the rnd until sleeve measures 5¼ [6¼, 7¼, 7½] inches from cuff.
Next Round: Knit to 6 sts before the end of rnd, bind off next 12 sts; break yarn, leaving tail long enough to sew up underarm. Place rem sts on scrap yarn.
Attach Sleeves
Working with body again, knit to the first set of bound off sts. Match bound off sts from one sleeve to corresponding sts on the body. Place sleeve sts on left needle. If sts are too tight to place all on circular needle, place some sts on a dpn. Knit across the sleeve sts, knit to second set of bound off sts and repeat above process to attach second sleeve, knit to end of rnd: 156 [164, 180, 188] sts.
Yoke
Round 1: Knit 21 [23, 24, 26] sts, pm, knit 36 [36, 42, 42] sts, pm, knit 42 [46, 48, 52] sts, pm, knit 36 [36, 42, 42] sts, pm, knit to end of rnd.
Round 2 (decrease round): * Knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk; repeat from * 3 more times, knit to end of rnd: 148 [156, 172, 180] sts.
Round 3: Knit around.
Repeat last two rnds 1 [1, 2, 2] more time(s): 140 [148, 156, 164] sts.
Next Round: Repeat Round 2. 132 [140, 148, 156] sts.
Turn work. Begin working back and forth on circular needles.
Row 1 (WS): Slip first st pwise, purl to end of row.
Row 2 (decrease row - RS): Slip first st pwise, * knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, repeat from * 3 more times, knit to last st, purl last st: 124 [132, 140, 148] sts.
Short Row Shaping
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, purl to 14 [14, 16, 16] sts past first marker, turn work to RS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn (going around yarn, not through it), knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit to last st, purl last st.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, purl to 11 [11, 14, 14] sts past first marker, turn work to RS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn (going around yarn, not through it), knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit to last st, purl last st.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, purl to 8 [8, 12, 12] sts past first marker, turn work to RS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn (going around yarn, not through it), knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit to last st, purl last st.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, purl to 5 [5, 10, 10] sts past first marker, turn work to RS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn (going around yarn, not through it), knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit to last st, purl last st.
Sizes 3T and 4T Only:
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, purl to - [-, 8 , 8] sts past first marker, turn work to RS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn (going around yarn, not through it), knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit to last st, purl last st.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, purl to - [-, 6, 6] sts past first marker, turn work to RS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn (going around yarn, not through it), knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit to last st, purl last st.
All Sizes:
Next Row (closing the gaps): Slip first st pwise, * purl to gap (pin will be under the right needle), slip first st on left needle pwise to right needle, pull pin and mount loop on left needle (right “leg” of loop in front) slip first st on right needle to left needle, p2tog (purl the st tog with the pin’s loop), remove pin; Repeat from * for all gaps, purl to end of row.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit 11 [11, 13, 13] sts, turn work to WS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn, purl to end of row.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit 8 [8, 11, 11] sts, turn work to WS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn, purl to end of row.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit 5 [5, 9, 9] sts, turn work to WS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn, purl to end of row.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit 2 [2, 7, 7] sts, turn work to WS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn, purl to end of row.
Sizes 3T and 4T Only:
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit - [-, 5, 5] sts, turn work to WS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn, purl to end of row.
Next Row (short row): Slip first st pwise, knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit - [-, 3, 3] sts, turn work to WS, slip next st pwise, attach safety pin to working yarn, purl to end of row.
All Sizes:
Next Row (closing the gaps): Slip first st pwise, knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, * knit to gap (pin will be attached to loop behind right needle), from RS, pull pin and mount loop on left needle (right “leg” of loop in front), k2tog (knit the pin’s loop tog with next st), remove pin; repeat from * for all gaps, ** knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk; Repeat from ** 2 more times, knit to last st, purl last st: 100 [108, 108, 116] sts.
Next Row (WS): Work as Row 2.
Next Row (RS): Work as Row 1.
Repeat the last two rows 0 [1, 1, 2] more time(s).
Next Row: Work as Row 2. 84 [84, 84, 84] sts.
Next Row: Slip first st pwise, knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2, ssk, k2tog, ssk, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k7, ssk, k2tog, ssk, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2, ssk, k2tog, ssk, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, ssk, knit to last st, purl last st. 64 sts.
Bind off all sts pwise. Break yarn, leaving 12 inch tail. Slip last st onto crochet hook, chain 10, pull tail through last chain. Loop back to same edge and secure end.
Ruffle
Using CC, cast on 128 sts on circular needle.
Rows 1-5: Slip first st pwise, knit to last st, purl last st.
Row 6 (WS): Slip first st pwise, purl to end of row.
Row 7 (RS): Slip first st pwise, knit to last st, purl last st.
Repeat last two rows 2 more times.
Next Row: Work as Row 6.
Next Row: * Ssk, k2tog; Repeat from * to end of row.
Bind off all sts pwise. Break yarn, leaving 30 inch tail. Pull tail through last st.
Attaching Ruffle
Match bound off edges of dress neck and ruffle with ruffle on top and WS of Ruffle facing RS of Yoke. Using crochet hook and CC yarn tail from ruffle and working through both layers, sc in each st across.
FINISHING
With tapestry needle, seam underarms using yarn tail from each sleeve. Using sewing needle and thread, sew button on back neck of dress (underneath ruffle) on opposite side from the loop. Weave in all ends. Block lightly.
