A soft, lacy dress with full skirt and cute lacy sleeves will turn your little girl into a princess. The feather pattern on the skirt smoothly turns into pleats that remain textured even when the dress gets washed.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Sizes: 1 (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) years to fit bust 18 (19.75, 22, 24.5, 26.75, 28.25)” [46 (50, 56, 62, 68, 72) cm]
Gauge: 18 sts and 23 rows = 4” [10 cm] square in St st with US size 8 (5 mm) needles, blocked;
TAKE TIME TO MAKE A SWATCH AND OBTAIN THE GAUGE
Materials
Yarn:
Valley Yarns Goshen (48% Peruvian Cotton, 46% Modal, 6% Silk; 92 yards [Y meters]/50 grams): color 17 Purple Haze, 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) balls
Needles: US size 8 (5 mm) and US size 6 (4 mm): 16” or longer circular.
Notions: Markers; tapestry needle;
Special Stitches
W&T: Bring working yarn to front of work, slip next st on RN, bring working yarn to back, “wrapping” this slipped stitch, slip stitch from RN back to LN, turn work
yo – yarn over
kfb – knit into the front loop of next st, then into the back loop of the same st (2 sts increased)
ssk – slip, slip, knit (1st decreased)
sssk – slip, slip, slip, knit (2 sts decreased)
k2tog – knit two sts together
sl1 – slip first stitch, with yarn to the back of work
Pattern Notes
The dress is worked bottom-up, in the round, feather pattern goes above waistline and ends just an inch or two below armholes. The upper body is worked in stockinette in the round to the armholes, and then front and back are worked separately to shoulders (the neckline is shaped on the go). The neckline binding is picked up along the neckline and worked in stockinette for 0.25’’. Sleeves are picked up along the armhole edges and shaped using short rows.
Pattern
Skirt
With larger needles and using the Cable Cast-On method, CO 168 (184, 200, 224, 248, 256) sts. Join to knit in rnd being extra careful not to twist sts. PM for beg rnd.
Work Chart A as follows:
Round 1: *K1, yo, k2, sssk, k2, yo; repeat from * around.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: *K2, yo, k1, sssk, k1, yo, k1; repeat from * around.
Round 4: Knit.
Round 5: *K3, yo, sssk, yo, k2; repeat from * around.
Round 6: Knit.
Remove marker, knit 4 sts, pm here (to indicate new beginning of the round).
Work Main Lace Pattern (Chart B) as follows:
Lace Round 1: *K1, yo, k2, sssk, k2, yo; repeat from * around.
Lace Round 2: Knit.
Repeat last 2 rounds until piece measures 9.5 (10.25, 11.75, 13.75, 15, 16.5)” [24 (26, 30, 35, 38, 42) cm] or desired length.
Rnd 1: *K3, sssk, k2; rep from * around.
Rnd 2: Knit.
You have 126 (138, 150, 168, 186, 192) sts on the needles.
Updated 6/13/2017
Switch to smaller needles.
Round 3: *K2, ssk, k1; repeat from * around.
Switch to larger needles.
Round 4: Knit.
You have 84 (92, 100, 112, 124, 128) sts on the needles.
Work in St st for 0.75 (1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.25, 3)” [2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 8) cm].
Armhole Shaping
Next Rnd: *BO 4 (4, 5, 6, 6, 7) sts, k37 (41, 45, 49, 55, 57); rep from * once more, remove marker.
Back
Turn work on WS.
** Purl 1 row.
Decrease Row: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.
Work in St st as est, AT THE SAME TIME rep Decrease Row every 2nd row 0 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times more, then every 4th row 0 (1, 1, 2, 2, 3) times, ending with WS row – 35 (36, 39, 41, 47, 47) sts on the needles.
Work 1 row. ***
Next Row (RS): K16 (17, 18, 19, 22, 22), BO 3 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts, k to end rnd.
Work Left and Right Upper Back separately in St st as est until armhole measures 3.75 (4, 4.75, 5, 5.5, 6.25)” [9.5 (10, 12, 12.5, 14, 15.5) cm]. Remember number of rows worked from armhole shaping row. Work Right Upper Back the same length.
BO all sts on RS.
Back Opening Binding
With smaller needles and RS facing, pick up (at a rate of 2 sts for every 3 rows) and knit along Back opening between right and left fronts 26 (26, 29, 26, 29, 29) sts.
BO knitwise on WS, pulling the sts very tightly ONLY at the curve (where left and right back have been divided). Cut thread.
Front
Rejoin yarn ready to work WS Row.
Work as for Back from ** to ***.
Work 8 (2, 2, 4, 4, 2) rows straight, ending with WS row.
Next Row (RS, neckline shaping): Mark central 11 (12, 11, 13, 13, 13) sts, k to marker, BO 11 (12, 11, 13, 13, 13) sts, k to end.
Work Left and Right Front separately, as follows:
Left front
Work 1 row.
Decrease Row (RS): BO 1 st, k to end.
Work 3 rows.
Work Dec Row – 10 (10, 12, 12, 15, 15) sts on the needles.
Work straight until armhole measures 3.75 (4, 4.75, 5, 5.5, 6.25)” [9.5 (10, 12, 12.5, 14, 15.5) cm], working the same number of rows as for Back.
BO all sts on RS.
Right Front
Rejoin yarn ready to work WS row.
Work 1 row.
Decrease Row (RS): K to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Work 3 rows.
Work Dec Row – 10 (10, 12, 12, 15, 15) sts on the needles.
Work straight until armhole measures 3.75 (4, 4.75, 5, 5.5, 6.25)” [9.5 (10, 12, 12.5, 14, 15.5) cm], working the same number of rows as for Left Front.
BO all sts on RS.
Neckline Binding
With larger needles, CO 2 sts.
Work i-cord as follows:
Row 1: K2, transfer 2 sts back to LN.
Rep last row until i-cord measures 9 (9, 10, 10, 10.5, 11)” [23 (23, 25, 25, 27, 28) cm].
Switch to smaller needles. Don’t cut thread.
With RS facing, beg at Left Back, pick up and k34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54) sts along the neckline, picking up every st and 2 sts every 3 rows at slopes – 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56) sts on the needles.
Next Row (WS): P to last 3 sts, p3tog
Next Row (RS): BO in knit until there are 2 sts left.
Switch to larger needles.
Work i-cord for 9 (9, 10, 10, 10.5, 11) [23 (23, 25, 25, 27, 28) cm].
BO.
Sleeves (make two)
With larger needles, beg at center underarm, pick up and knit 19 (22, 23, 25, 27, 29) sts along underarm to shoulder, pm, pick up and knit 19 (22, 23, 25, 27, 29) sts, pm for beg rnd.
Row 1 (RS): k to marker, SM, k4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts, W&T.
Row 2 (WS): P to marker, SM, p4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts, W&T.
Row 3 (RS): K to last wrapped st, k wrapped st tog with wrap, k3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4), W&T.
Row 4 (WS): P to last wrapped st, p wrapped st tog with wrap, p3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4), W&T.
Rep last 2 rows 4 (4, 5, 5, 7, 7) times total.
Next Row (RS): *K1, yo; repeat from * to last 7 (9, 7, 9, 7, 9) sts, k to end.
BO all sts in purl.
Finishing
Weave in the ends. wet-block to measurements.
So should the pattern read 105 stitches and not 84 on the small size dress? Is there a decrease of two stitches or one?
I am having issues with the neckline instructions. It does not address the shoulders. and where to start the pick up after making the first i cord. and how to connect the front and back neckline. The i cord should be in the back? Please help.
Thanks
Did anyone find the charts? I found that the “sssk” should be “ssk”, slipping two stitches and knitting the 3rd stitch then passover the two slipped stitches. Then the pattern works out.
Hi Linda! The charts are on the right hand side of the pattern page. I’ve pasted the links below as well:
https://www.ilikeknitting.com/wp-content/uploads/Lavender-Feather-Dress-Chart.png
https://www.ilikeknitting.com/wp-content/uploads/Lavender-Feather-Dress-Schematics.png
Hope that helps! – Nicola, Editor
I have never read such a poorly written pattern
Hi Ellen, please let us know how we can help! – Nicola, Editor
Where can I find Charts A & B?
Here are the charts: https://www.ilikeknitting.com/wp-content/uploads/Lavender-Feather-Dress-Chart.png
Is there any corrections to this pattern? I am stuck on the first decrease round after skirt. Round 1: *K3, sssk, k1; repeat from * around.
Round 2: Knit.
You have 105 (115, 125, 140, 155, 160) sts on the needles.
I’m working on second size. The first round I can not make the decreases ending with the 115 stitches need at end of round 1 of decrease row. Is this a mistake and needs a corrections?
I am making the smallest size (168 sts.) . After the first decrease, I have 118 sts. And not the 105 sts. , as noted. Any idea what I am doing wrong? Help please.
Hiya have a few g daughters that this little dress will look lovely ob