Who could resist smiling in this cheerful polka dot frock? You will be able to knit this up seamlessly from the top down, and your little one will be excited to wear it as she twirls through the last days of summer.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Sizes: 3-6 mo (12-18 mo, 2 yr, 3 yr, 4 yr)
Finished Measurements: 17 (18½, 20, 21½, 23)” chest, 13 (14, 14½, 15, 15½)” length
Shown in size 3 yr.
Gauge: 24 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Polka Dot Stranded patt after wet blocking using larger needle
Materials
Yarn:
Universal Yarn Uptown Baby Sport (100% Anti-pilling Acrylic; 361 yards [330 meters]/100 grams): 216 Fern (MC), 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) balls; 201 White (CC), 1 ball
Needle: US size 4 (3.5 mm): set of DPNs and 24” circular; US Size 3 (3.25 mm): set of DPNs and 24” circular
Notions: Tapestry needle; removable stitch markers; stitch holders; three 3/8” buttons
Pattern Notes
This dress is worked from the top down. When there are too many sts to fit on DPNs, switch to circular needles. Color changes in the Polka Dot Stranded patt are achieved through fair isle knitting. On rounds where more than one color is used, carry both colors throughout the round.
Pattern
With MC and smaller DPNs, CO 72 (80, 80, 88, 88) sts, pm and join to work in the rnd being careful not to twist sts.
(Purl 1 rnd, knit 1 rnd) 3 times.
Switch to larger needles.
Set-up Rnd: *K19 (23, 23, 27, 27), pm, k1, pm, k15, pm, k1, pm; rep from * once more.
Inc Rnd: *M1, work in Polka Dot Stranded patt to m, m1, sm, k1 with MC, sm; rep from * to end – 8 sts inc’d; 80 (88, 88, 96, 96) sts.
Work Inc Rnd every rnd 5 (3, 5, 3, 5) more times, then work Inc Rnd every other rnd 5 (7, 7, 9, 9) times – 102 (102, 118, 118, 134) sts; 37 (37, 41, 41, 45) sts each Sleeve, 41 (45, 49, 53, 57) sts each Front/Back, 4 raglan sts, 1 separating each quadrant.
Next Rnd: Work even to last st.
Separate Front, Back, and Sleeves
Inc Row (RS): K1, sm, m1, work over Front sts to m, m1, sm, k1, place next 37 (37, 41, 41, 45) Sleeve sts on holder, place next 41 (45, 49, 53, 57) Back sts on separate holder, place last 37 (37, 41, 41, 45) Sleeve sts on holder.
Work back and forth on Front sts only now – 43 (47, 51, 55, 59) sts for Front.
Next Row (WS): Work even to end.
Next Row: K1, sm, m1, work in patt to m, m1, sm, k1 – 2 sts inc’d; 45 (49, 53, 57, 61) sts.
Next Row: Work even to end.
Rep last 2 rows, 3 more times – 51 (55, 59, 63, 67) sts.
Place Front sts on holder. Return Back sts to needles.
Inc Row (RS): K1, sm, m1, work in patt to m, m1, sm, k1 – 2 sts inc’d; 43 (47, 51, 55, 59) sts.
Next row: Work even to end.
Rep last 2 rows, 4 more times – 51 (55, 59, 63, 67) sts.
Rejoin Front and Back for Body
Rnd 1: Work in patt across Back sts, CO 3 sts, work in patt across Front sts, CO 3 sts, join to work in the rnd – 108 (116, 124, 132, 140) sts.
Work even in patt for 4 rnds.
Belt
Switch to CC only and smaller circular needles.
(K1 rnd, p1 rnd) 8 times.
Break yarn.
Skirt
Sl 13 (14, 15, 16, 17) sts and pm (this is the new beg of rnd).
Switch to larger needles.
Work in Polka Dot Stranded patt for 4 rnds.
Increase Section
Set-up Rnd: *Work in patt over 27 (29, 31, 33, 35) sts, pm; rep from * to end.
Inc Rnd: *M1, work in patt to 1 st before m, m1, work 1 st, sm; rep from * to end – 8 sts inc’d; 116 (124, 132, 140, 148) sts.
Work 2 rnds even in patt.
Cont to work Inc Rnd every 3 rnds, 13 (14, 15, 16, 17) more times – 220 (236, 252, 268, 284) sts; 55 (59, 63, 67, 71) sts each section.
Work even, if necessary until piece meas 8¾ (9½, 9¾, 10, 10¼)” from underarm, ending with Rnd 1 of Polka Dots Stranded patt.
Break CC, cont in MC only.
Switch to smaller needles.
(K1 rnd, p1 rnd) 4 times.
K1 rnd.
BO all sts pwise.
Finishing
Block piece to finished measurements.
Rosettes (make 3)
With larger needles and MC, CO 32 sts.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2 (RS): Knit.
Rows 3-5: Cont in St st.
Row 6 (RS): *K2tog: rep from * to end – 16 sts.
Row 7: *P2tog; rep from * to end – 8 sts.
Row 8: *K2tog; rep from * to end – 4 sts.
Row 9: *P2tog; rep from * to end – 2 sts.
Row 10: K2tog. Fasten off last st, leaving 10” tail.
Sew Rosettes to Belt using photo as a guide. Sew a button to the center of each Rosette.
Sleeve Edging
Place held Sleeve sts on smaller DPNs. With MC, beg at center of underarm, pick up and knit 2 sts along CO edge, 10 sts along side of armhole, knit across held Sleeve sts, pick up and knit 10 sts along other side of armhole, pick up and knit 1 st from other side of bind-off edge. Join to work in the rnd – 60 (60, 64, 64, 68) sts.
(P1 rnd, k1 rnd) 3 times.
BO all sts pwise.