Ivey's Autumn Dress

Download pattern as .pdf

I wrote this pattern after finding a cute little toddler dress on Lion Brand that was way more complicated than necessary. I adapted the basic shape of the dress into an easy but pretty little dress and made it for my good friend Jenny's baby shower. This is Ivey's Autumn Dress.

Paired with a cute pair of leggings and a long-sleeve undershirt, this will keep your little one nice and toasty on a chilly autumn day. A cool cotton yarn (I highly recommend Lion Brand's Nature's Choice Organic Cotton) can be used instead of the warm wool; just be sure to match your gauge

SIZE:12 mos, 24 months (2 yrs), Child 4
Finished Chest 19 (22, 25) in.
Finished Length14 (15 1/2, 17) in. 
Note: Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Yarn:

Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted. I used the Autumn Forrest colourway.

I used about 2.5 skeins=525 yards or (480m)

Needles:

Circular US5 – 3.75mm

Circular US10 – 6mm

Gauge:

18 sts + 24 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in St st with larger needles

Special terms:

SKP: Slip 1 stitch purlwise, knit 1 stitch, pass slipped stitch over

Extra supplies:

Stitch marker

Stitch holder

Tapestry needle

Ribbon

Dress

With larger needles, cast on 126 (148, 166) sts. Join, being careful not to twist. PM.

Rnd 1: K1, p1 across

Rnd 2: P1, k1 across

Repeat Rnd 1 and 2 twice for a total of 6 rnds.

Change to knit and work until piece measures about 9.5 (10, 11) in. from beginning.

Decrease row: K3 (2, 2), *k2tog, k1* 20 (24, 27) times.

Repeat 1 time. 86 (100, 112) sts remain at end.

The next row, the Ribbon Row, is optional. It creates eyelets for threading ribbon through for an extra touch. If you wish to leave it out, skip to the bind off.

Ribbon Row: *K1, yo, k2tog, k3, skp, yo, k1* 6 times. k1, yo, k2tog, k8, skp, yo, k1. *k1, yo, k2tog, k3, skp, yo, k1* until end

Bind off. (Note: If you bind off very tightly, you may want to move up a needle size or two to allow for a flexible binding. I also find it far easier to go ahead and slip your smaller needle into the bound off stitches as you're binding them off. That way they are spaced evenly and it saves the headache of trying to pick them up.)

Pick up (or have them already on the smaller needle) and knit 86 (100, 112) sts.

Knit 1 row.

Increase Row: K2 (3, 3), *K into front and then into back of next st [making an increase of 1 st], k1* 20 (22, 25) times. K1. Repeat 1 time. 126 (148, 166) sts.

Knit every row until piece measures 10 (10.5, 12) in. from beg.

Shape Armholes

Bind off 7 (8,9) sts at beg of row. Knit 49 (58, 65) sts.

Bind off 14 (16, 18) sts. Knit 49 (58, 65) sts. Bind off 7 (8, 9) sts. 98 (116, 130) remain

Your knitting will now be in two pieces. You can either put one side on a holder or you can keep both pieces on your circular needle and work each of them in turn. If you work

them in turn, you'll need a second ball of yarn. Take care to keep them from getting tangled, because it is annoying.

Front:

Next (Dec) Row (RS): K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 47 (56, 63) sts rem at the end of this row.

Next (Dec) Row (WS): P1, p2tog, p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 45 (54, 61) sts rem at the end of this row.

Rep last 2 rows until 43 (50, 55) sts rem.

Work even in St st until piece measures about 11 1/4 (12 1/4, 13 3/4) in. (28.5 (31, 35) cm) from beg, end with WS row.

Shape Neck

Next Row (RS): K12 sts and slip to a holder, bind off next 19 (26, 31) sts, then k to end of row.

Continue on these 12 sts only for right shoulder.

Purl one row.

Next Row (RS): K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 11 sts rem.

Next Row (WS): P1, p2tog, p to end of row. 10 sts rem.

Rep last 2 rows until 7 sts rem. Work even on these 7 sts until Front measures 14 (15 1/2, 17) in. from beg. Place sts on holder for later seaming.

For the left shoulder:

Slip 12 sts from holder back onto smaller needle, ready to work a WS row.

Rejoin yarn and purl one row.

Next Row (RS): K1, k2tog, k to end of row. 11 sts rem.

Next Row (WS): P to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 10 sts rem.

Rep last 2 rows until 7 sts rem. Work even on these 7 sts until same length as right shoulder. Hold sts for later seaming.

Work Back same as Front

Finishing:

Take held sts and join front and back of each shoulder together using kitchner stitch.

Weave in all ends

Block.

When dry, add a ribbon and tie into a pretty bow.

If you like this pattern, please consider clicking on one of the ads on this page.