Ray of Sunshine Dress

This dress with it's laced yolk and hem will have your little girl looking radiant.

Materials: I used Anchor delux baby in a sunshine yellow shade 1 (2, 3, 4) 100g balls but any sport, baby yarn that knits to gauge.
Needles: 3.5mm circular 60cm
Buttons: four, small

Gauge : 24 sts x 31 rows = 10 cm (4ins) over stockinette stitch.

Measurements and Sizes

Sizes to fit (years): 9-18 months (2-3, 4-5, 6-7)
Chest (cm): 50 (55, 60, 65)
Actual chest (cm): 70.5 (81.5, 92.5, 103.5)
Back length (cm): 44 (50, 56, 62)

Abbreviations:

k – knit

P – purl

K2tog – knit 2 together

yfwd – yarn forward.

M1 – make one

skpo -slip a stitch, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over

sk2po - slip one, knit two stitches together, then pass the slipped stitch over

This dress is worked from the top down and includes wrap and turns to create short row shaping. This technique is used to create shaping in the middle of the knitted fabric and in this case, it’s used to create the armholes.

Body

NOTE: work from the top down in one piece Using 3.5mm circular needle cast on 54 (66, 78, 90) sts. Do NOT join in the rnd

K two rows Cont in lace pattern as folls
Row 1 (RS): k
Row 2 and all alt rows: k3, p to last three sts, k3
Row 3: k3, * k3, yfwd, k3, rep from * to last three sts, k1, yfwd, k2tog.
Row 5: k3, * k3, [yfwd, k1] twice, k2, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 7: k3, * k3, [yfwd, k1] four times, k2, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 9: k3, * skpo, k2, yfwd, k2tog, k1, skpo, yfwd, k2, k2tog, rep from * to last three sts, k1, yfwd, k2tog
Row 11: k3, * k2, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, skpo, yfwd, k2, yfwd, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 13: k3, * yfwd, skpo, k2, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, k2, k2tog, yfwd, k1, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 15: k3, * k1, yfwd, skpo, k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k2, rep from * to last three sts, k1, yfwd, k2tog
Row 17: k4, * k1, yfwd, skpo, k3, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, rep from * ending last rep, k1, yfwd, skpo, k3, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, k2tog, k3
Row 19: k3, * yfwd, k3, yfwd, skpo, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k3, yfwd, k1, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 21: k3, * [k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd] three times, k2, rep from * to last three sts, k1, yfwd, k2tog. 118 (146, 174, 202) sts
Row 22 (WS): k
Next row: k
Next row: cast off three sts, k to end. 115 (143, 171, 199) sts

Divide for armholes

Next row: k18 (21, 24, 29), cast off next 21 (28, 35, 41) sts pwise, k next 37 (45, 53, 59) sts, cast off next 21 (28, 35, 41) sts pwise, k rem 18 (21, 24, 29) sts
Break yarn and sl the last group of 18 (21, 24, 29) sts onto the opposite end of the needle
NOTE: these 36 (42, 48, 58) sts are for the back of the dress With RS facing rejoin yarn to these 36 (42, 48, 58) sts and work as folls:
Next row (RS): k2 (4, 6, 12) sts, then k twice in each st to last 2 (4, 6, 12) sts, k to end of row. 68 (76, 84, 92) sts.
Turn and work on these sts only as folls

Work shaping for armhole **

Next row: p twice into first st, p6 (8, 10, 12), w&t
Next row: k
Next row: p twice into first st, p12 (14, 16, 18), w&t
Next row: k to end
Next row: p twice into first st, p19 (21, 23, 25), w&t
Next row: k
Next row: cast on 2 (4, 6, 8) sts, p to end. 73 (83, 93, 103) sts
Next row: k twice into first st, k6 (8, 10, 12), w&t
Next row: p
Next row: k twice into first st, k12 (14, 16, 18), w&t
Next row: p
Next row: k twice into first st, k19 (21, 23, 25), w&t
Next row: p
Next row: cast on 2 (4, 6, 8) sts, k to end. 78 (90, 102, 114) sts **
Break yarn and rejoin to Front 37 (45, 53, 59) sts with RS facing
Next row (RS): k3 (7, 11, 13) sts, then k twice in each st to last 3 (7, 11, 13) sts, k to end of row, turn. 68 (76, 84, 92) sts
Work on these sts only as given from ** to **. 78 (90, 102, 114) sts
Place marker for beg/end of rnd and cont in st st (every rnd k) working in rnds across all the sts of the back and then the front. 156 (180, 204, 228) sts
Work 16 rnds in st st
Inc rnd: k19 (22, 25, 28), m1, k40 (46, 52, 58), m1, k38 (44, 50, 56), m1, k40 (46, 52, 58), m1, k19 (22, 25, 28). 160 (184, 208, 232) sts
Work 16 rnds in st st
Inc rnd: k19 (22, 25, 28), m1, k42 (48, 54, 60), m1, k38 (44, 50, 56), m1, k42 (48, 54, 60), m1, k19 (22, 25, 28). 164 (188, 212, 236) sts
Work 16 rnds in st st
Inc rnd: k20 (23, 26, 29), m1, k42 (48, 54, 60), m1, k40 (46, 52, 58) sts, m1, k42 (48, 54, 60), m1, k20 (23, 26, 29). 168 (192, 216, 240) sts
Work 16 rnds in st st

FIRST SIZE ONLY

Next rnd: k to end inc two sts evenly across rnd. 170 sts

SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH SIZE ONLY

Inc rnd: k23 (26, 29) sts, m1, k50 (56, 62) sts, m1, k46 (52, 58) sts, m1, k50 (56, 62) sts, m1, k23 (26, 29) sts. 196 (220, 244) sts
Work 16 rnds
Inc rnd: k24 (27, 30), m1, k50 (56, 62), m1, k48 (54, 60), m1, k50 (56, 62), m1, k24 (27, 30). 200 (224, 248) sts

THIRD SIZE ONLY

Inc rnd: k27, m1, k58, m1, k54, m1, k58, m1, k27. 228 sts
Next rnd: k to end inc two sts evenly across rnd. 230 sts

FOURTH SIZE ONLY

Next rnd: k to end inc two sts evenly across rnd. 250 sts
Work 11 rnds

ALL SIZES

Cont in lace st patt on these 170 (200, 230, 250) sts as folls:
Rnd 1 (RS): k
Rnd 2 and alt rows: k
Rnd 3: * k5, yfwd, k5, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 5: * k2tog, k3, [yfwd, k1] twice, k2, skpo, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 7: * k2tog, k2, [yfwd, k1] four times, k1, skpo, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 9: * k2tog, k2, yfwd, skpo, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k2, skpo, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 11: * k2, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, skpo, yfwd, k2, yfwd, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 13: * yfwd, skpo, k2, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, k2, k2tog, yfwd, k1, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 15: * k1, yfwd, skpo, k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k2, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 17: sl 1, * yfwd, k1, yfwd, skpo, k3, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, sk2po, rep from * to last rep, yfwd, k1, yfwd, skpo, k3, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, sl 2, remove marker, place second of these two sl sts back on to LH needle, k2tog, psso, replace marker
Rnd 19: * yfwd, k3, yfwd, skpo, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k3, yfwd, k1, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 21: * [k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd] three times, k2, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 22 and 23: k
Cast off loosely pwise.

Armhole edging

(alike) Working from the RS pick up and k 28 (32, 36, 38) sts around underarm
Cast off kwise

Finishing

Press lightly on WS or according to ball band instructions. Sew in all ends. Sew the three cast off sts at bottom of back opening to the inside of the work. Sew buttons into place to correspond with buttonholes.

The wrap and turn abbreviated w&t, is the most common way of creating short rows. By wrapping the yarn around an adjacent stitch, rather than simply turning a piece over and knitting back the other way, one can prevent holes from forming in the finished work. If you've never worked short rows don't let this put you off making this dress. Take a look at the free mini class at craftsy. Carol Feller, an expert knitwear designer, will show you four different short row methods: wrap and turn short rows, Japanese short rows, yarn over short rows and her own invisible short rows. You can watch each lesson on your schedule, as many times as you want, and ask Carol and your classmates questions along the way. Master short rows in no time - sign up for Short Rows today! Online Knitting Class