Gracie Apron Dress

A little more challenging to knit but so worth it. I really enjoyed knitting this dress and the colours work great together.

SIZES
To fit chest measurement
6 mos 17 ins [ 43 cm ]

TENSION
22 sts and 30 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.

MATERIALS
Baby Double knit type yarn
Main Colour (MC) (White)
2 balls
Contrast A (Dk Pink)
1 ball
Contrast B (Lt Pink)
1 ball
Contrast C (Green)
1 ball
Sizes 3.25 mm (U.S. 3) and 4 mm (U.S. 6) knitting needles. Sizes 3.25 mm (U.S. 3) and 4 mm (U.S. 6) circular knitting needles 24 ins [60 cm] long or sizes needed to obtain tension. St holder. Length of¾ inch [2 cm] wide elastic or twisted cord. 2 buttons.

ABBREVIATIONS
M1 = make one st by picking up horizontal loop lying before next st and knitting into back of loop.

INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Knit Rows - right side of work - read chart from right to left                         
Purl Rows - wrong side of work - read chart from left to right
When working from the chart, carry colours not in use loosely across WS of work. When colours must pass over more than 3 sts, weave them over and under center point of color in use. The colours are never twisted around one another.

APRON DRESS
SKIRT
With A and smaller circular needle, cast on 164 sts. Join in round, placing a marker on first st (center back) and proceed as follows:
1st rnd: Purl.
2nd rnd: *K2tog. yfwd. Rep from * around.
3rd rnd: Purl.
Change to larger circular needle.
4th and 5th rnds: With MC, knit.
6th rnd: *K13. M1. K14 M1. Rep from * 5 times more. K2 -176 sts.
Work Chart to end of chart reading rows from right to left, noting 22 st rep will be worked 8 times.

Next rnd: With MC, knit.
Next rnd: *K13. K2tog. K12 , K2tog. Rep from * 5 times more. K2 164 sts.
With MC, cont knitting in rnds until Skirt from beg measures 8¾ ins [22 cm].
Next rnd: *K1 . K2tog. K2. K2tog. Rep from * to last 3 sts. K3 118 sts. Break MC. Place a marker at end of last rnd.
Next rnd: With A, knit.
Next rnd: Purl.
Next rnd: *K2tog. yfwd. Rep from * around.
Next rnd: Purl.
With A, knit in rnds until work from marker measures 1 inch [2.5 cm].
Next rnd: (Fold line). Purl.
Knit in rnds until work from fold line measures 1 inch [2.5 cm]. Cast off loosely.

BIB
With A and larger straight needles, cast on 34 sts.
1st row: (RS). *With A, K2. With B, K2. Rep from * to last 2 sts. With A, K2.
2nd row: *With A, P2. With B, P2. Rep from * to last 2 sts. With A, P2.
3rd row: *With B, K2. With MC, K2. Rep from * to last 2 sts. With B, K2.
4th row: *With B, P2. With MC, P2. Rep from * to last 2 sts. With B, P2.
These 4 rows form check pat.
Cont in check pat until work from beg measures 5 ins [12.5 cm], ending on a 2nd or 4th row of pat.
Next row: (RS). With A, knit, dec 3 sts evenly across. 31 sts.
Change to smaller needles.
Next row: With A, knit.
Next row: With A, K1. *K2tog. yfwd. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2.
Next row: With A, knit.
Cast off knitwise.
Side Edging: With RS of work facing, A and smaller needles, pick up and knit 29 sts along side edge of Bib.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: K1. *K2tog. yfwd. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2.
Next row: Knit.

Cast off knitwise. Rep on opposite side of Bib.

STRAP (make 2)
With A and smaller straight needles, cast on 9 sts.
1st row: *K1. P1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
This row forms seed st pat.
Cont in seed st pat until Strap measures 8½ ins [21.5 cm].
Cast off in pat.

FINISHING

Fold waistband to WS along fold line and sew in position, leaving an opening at center back to insert twisted cord, attaching Bib to waistband stitching and sewing sides of Bib to waistband on WS. Sew Straps in position. Sew buttons on Straps using eyelet holes of Bib edging to form buttonholes and noting Straps cross at back.
If you need any further advice for knitting with colour please see Colourful Knitting a previous post on this blog.

Happy Knitting!

The Chart