Every woman wants a dress that fits and flatters to perfection. By pairing a vintage silhouette with a seeded rib stitch, the Vintage Ribbed Dress can achieve the fit that every woman is after. It’s perfect for date night or an office party, but comfortable enough to wear at home. The dress is fitted through the bust, waist and hips. It features a slight bell sleeve that stops at the elbow. The dress also features a pencil skirt with a vent in the back for ease of movement.
Skill Level: Easy
Size: Finished Bust Size 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)” to fit bust 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)”
2” negative ease recommended.
Shown in size 36”
Gauge: 8 sts and 12 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick (82% Acrylic, 10% Wool, 8% Rayon; 106 yards [97 meters]/170 grams): 156 Grey Marble, 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) balls.
Needles: US size 13 (9 mm): 24” circular
Notions: Markers; stitch holders; tapestry needle; 24” #10 Brass Zipper
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up.
Pattern
CO 71 (77, 86, 92, 101) sts.
*Alt: Knit first 3 rows, then:
Row 1: K19 (21, 23, 26, 27), place marker, k36 (38, 43, 43, 50), place marker, k to end.
Rows 2-4: K all sts.
Row 5 WS): K3, p2, *k1, p2; rep from * until the last 3 sts, k3.
Row 6 (RS): K all sts.
Rep Rows 5-6 until piece meas 9” from CO, ending on WS.
Shape Vent and Hips
Row 1: BO 3 sts, k to 1 st before 1st marker, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k to 1 st before 2nd marker, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k to end – 72 (78, 87, 93, 102) sts.
Cont in est patt until piece meas 15” from CO, ending on WS.
Shape Waist
Row 1 (RS): K to 3 sts before 1st marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before 2nd marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, k to end – 4 sts dec’d.
Row 2 (WS): Work in est patt.
Row 3: K all sts.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Rep Rows 1-4 a total of 6 times – 48 (54, 63, 69, 78) sts.
Work in est patt until piece meas 24”, ending on WS.
Shape Chest
Row 1 (RS): K to 1 st before 1st marker, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k to 1 st before 2nd marker, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k to end – 4 sts inc’d
Row 2 (WS): Work in est patt.
Row 3: K all sts.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Size XS only
Rows 5-10: Rep Rows 3-4.
Sizes S and M only
Rows 5-8: Rep Rows 3-4.
Size L and XL only
Rows 5-6: Rep Rows 3-4.
All Sizes
Repeat these rows a total of 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) times – 60 (70, 79, 89, 98) sts.
Work in est patt until piece meas 35”, ending on WS.
Split/Shape Arms
Row 1: K to 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) sts before 1st marker, BO 4 (6, 6, 6, 6) sts, k to 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) sts before 2nd marker, BO 4 (6, 6, 6, 6), k to end – 52 (58, 67, 77, 86) sts remain.
Right Back
Row 2 (WS): Work in est patt.
Row 3 (RS): BO 1, k to end – 1 st dec’d.
Row 4: Work in est patt.
Work in est patt for 6½ (7½, 8½, 8½, 9)”.
At the beginning of a WS row, BO 6 sts – 7 (7, 9, 10, 10) sts.
Work in est patt for 1”.
BO all sts.
Left Back
Row 2 (WS): Work in est patt.
Row 3 (RS): K to last 2 sts, k2tog – 1 st dec’d.
Row 4: Work in est patt.
Work in est patt for 6½ (7½, 8½, 8½, 9)”.
At the beginning of a RS row, BO 6 sts – 7 (7, 9, 10, 10) sts.
Work in patt for 1”.
BO all sts.
Front
Row 1 (WS): Work in est patt.
Row 2 (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 2 sts dec’d.
Work in est patt for 3”.
Next Row (RS): K8 (8, 10, 11, 11), BO 8 (12, 13, 19, 25), k to end.
On the next RS row, BO 1 st at each neck side.
Work in est patt until Armhole meas 7½ (8½, 9½, 9½, 10)”.
BO all sts.
Collar
Using mattress stitch, seam front shoulders to back shoulders.
With RS facing and starting at back left, PU 64 (70, 79, 85, 94) sts evenly around.
Work in Garter St back and forth in rows for 1”.
BO all sts.
Sleeves (make 2)
CO 32 sts.
Work in Garter St for 1”.
Row 1 (RS): K all sts.
Row 2: P2, *k1, p2; rep from * to end.
Sizes 32 (36, 40, 44) only
Dec Row (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 30 sts.
All Sizes
Dec at the beginning and end of each RS row every 4 (4, 6, 10, 0) rows until 22 (24, 26, 28, 32) sts remain.
Work in est patt until piece meas 9”.
BO 3 (3, 3, 3, 3) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows – 16 (18, 20, 22, 26) sts remain.
Work 2 rows even.
Rep Dec Row every 1 (2, 1, 1, 1) rows until 12 sts remain.
Cont in est patt until piece meas 11 (12, 13, 14)” from CO.
At the beginning of the next 2 rows, BO 3 sts on each side.
BO 6 sts.
Finishing
Block each piece and weave in ends. Insert zipper into the back and sew into the seam. Cont to seam the 2 back pieces until you get to the vent. Overlap the right back onto the vent/left back and seam.
Set sleeves into armholes. Sew sleeves.
What does BO stand for please
Hi Kathleen, BO means “bind off” – Nicola, Editor