This comfy dress is the perfect transitional winter-to-fall piece. Belting it at the natural waist adds a fashionable flair for a spring brunch with friends. Paired with a cardigan, tights and booties, this dress is the perfect winter sweater dress. The simple cables on the back are worked without purl relief, creating a fitted look and smooth feel.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Bust Size 32.5 (36, 40.5, 44.75, 49, 53.25)” / [82.5 (92.75, 102.75, 113.5, 124.5, 135.25) cm].
0.5” negative ease recommended.
Shown in size 40.5”.
Gauge: 23 sts and 32 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Silk (85% Superwash wool, 15% Mulberry Silk; 475 yards [400 meters]/100 grams): 5718 Gossamer Pink (4 (5, 6, 6 ,7, 8) skeins).
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) 24” circular; US size 4 (3.5 mm) DPNs.
Notions: Markers, stitch holders, tapestry needle, own belt.
Abbreviations
Ssp – Slip, slip, purl
Special Stitch
13-st LC Rib – Sl 7 sts to cn and hold in front, (k1tbl, p1) 3 times, k1tbl, cont in rib from cn, (p1, k1tbl) 3 times.
13-st RC Rib – Sl 6 sts to cn and hold in back, (k1tbl, p1) 3 times, k1tbl, cont in rib from cn, (p1, k1tbl) 3 times.
Pattern Notes
Front and back are worked separately for the first several inches then joined and worked in the round. Waist shaping is worked at the sides and in between the cables, causing the cables to veer in for the waist and flair back out for the bust and shoulders.
Pattern
Front
CO 106 (112, 124, 136, 148, 162) sts.
Work 4 rows in St st.
Eyelet Row (RS): *K2tog, yo; rep from * to 2 sts from end, k2tog. (105 (111, 123, 135, 147, 161) sts) Work 4 rows in St st.
Next Row (WS): Knit.
Next Row (RS): Purl.
Work in St st until piece meas 4” [10 cm] from purl row, ending on a WS row. Place sts on holder. DO NOT break yarn.
Back
With a second skein of yarn, CO 106 (112, 124, 136, 148, 162) sts.
Work 4 rows in St st.
Eyelet Row (RS): *K2tog, yo; rep from * to 2 sts from end, k2tog. (105 (111, 123, 135, 147, 161) sts) Work 4 rows in St st.
Next Row (WS): Knit.
Next Row (RS): Purl.
Next Row (WS): Knit.
Next Row (RS): K18 (21, 27, 33, 39, 46), work Column Right Cable Chart over next 13 sts, pm, k43, pm, work Column Left Cable Chart over next 13 sts, k to end.
Cont in patt until piece meas 4” [10 cm] from purl row, ending of a WS row. Break yarn and place on holder.
Join Front and Back
With RS facing, return 105 (111, 123, 135, 147, 161) Front sts to left needle.
Next Rnd: K105 (111, 123, 135, 147, 161), pm for side, with RS facing return 105 (111, 123, 135, 147, 161) Back sts to left needle, work in patt to end. Pm and join for working in the round. (210 (222, 246, 270, 294, 322) sts)
Cont working in patt until piece meas 14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)” / [35.5 (38, 40.5, 43.25, 45.75, 48.25) cm] from purl rnd.
Dec Rnd: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts from m, k2tog, k1, sm, work in patt to m, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts from m, ssk, k1, work in patt to end of rnd. (4 sts dec’d; 206 (218, 242, 266, 290, 318) sts)
Rep Dec Rnd every 6th rnd 8 (7, 6, 6, 6, 7) more times. (174 (190, 218, 242, 266, 290) sts)
Work even in patt until piece meas 22 (23, 23, 24, 25, 26)” / [55.75 (58.5, 58.5, 61, 63.5, 66) cm] from purl row.
Inc Rnd: K1, M1L, k to 1 st from m, M1R, k1, sm, work in patt to m, sm, k1, M1R, k to 1 st from m, M1L, work in patt to end. (4 sts inc’d; 178 (194, 222, 246, 270, 294) sts)
Rep Inc Rnd every 8th rnd 2 (4, 3, 3, 3, 3) times. (186 (210, 234, 258, 282, 306) sts)
Work even in patt until piece meas 29 (29, 30, 30, 31, 32)” / [73.5 (73.5, 76.25, 76.25, 78.5, 81.25) cm] from purl rnd, ending on an even rnd of chart.
Divide for Fronts and Back
Next Row: K47 (53, 59, 65, 71, 77) for Left Front, place next 46 (52, 58, 64, 70, 76) sts on holder for Right Front and last 93 (105, 117, 129, 141, 153) sts on holder for Back. (47 (53, 59, 65, 71, 77) sts rem for Left Front)
Left Front
Setup Row (WS): P1, p2tog, p to end. (1 st dec’d; 46 (52, 58, 64, 70, 76) sts)
Shape Underarm
Next Row (RS): BO 2 (4, 5, 6, 8, 9), k to end. (44 (48, 53, 58, 62, 67) sts)
Next Row (WS): Purl.
Next Row (RS): BO 1 (3, 4, 5, 7, 8), k to end. (43 (45, 49, 53, 55, 59) sts)
Purl 1 WS Row.
Arm and Neck
Dec Row (RS): Sl 3 sts pwise wyib, k1, ssk, k to 3 sts from end, k2tog, k1. (2 sts dec’d; 41 (43, 47, 51, 53, 57) sts)
Rep Dec Row every RS row 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) more times. 37 (37, 39, 41, 41, 43) sts)
Purl 1 WS Row.
Neck Dec Row (RS): Sl 3 sts pwise wyib, k to 3 sts from end, k2tog, k1. (1 sts dec’d; 36 (36, 38, 40, 40, 42) sts)
Rep Neck Dec Row every RS row 13 (12, 12, 13, 11, 11) more times. (23 (24, 26, 27, 29, 31) sts)
Work even in patt until piece meas 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5)” / [19.5 (20.5, 22, 23, 24.25, 25.5) cm] from Underarm, ending on a WS row.
Break yarn leaving a long tail and place sts on holder.
Right Front
With RS facing, rejoin yarn and k across. (46 (52, 58, 64, 70, 76) sts)
Shape Underarm
BO2 (4, 5, 6, 8, 9), p to end. (44 (48, 53, 58, 62, 67) sts)
Next Row (RS): Knit.
Next Row (WS): BO1 (3, 4, 5, 7, 8), k to end. (43 (45, 49, 53, 55, 59) sts)
Arm and Neck
Dec Row (RS): K1, ssk, k to 6 sts from end, k2tog, k to end. (2 sts dec’d; 41 (43, 47, 51, 53, 57) sts)
Work all WS rows as foll: Sl 3 sts pwise wyif, p to end.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) times. 37 (37, 39, 41, 41, 43) sts)
Purl 1 WS Row.
Neck Dec Row (RS): K1, ssk, k to end. (1 sts dec’d; 36 (36, 38, 40, 40, 42) sts)
Rep Neck Dec Row every RS row 13 (12, 12, 13, 11, 11) more times. (23 (24, 26, 27, 29, 31) sts)
Work evenly is patt until piece meas 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5)” / [19.5 (20.5, 22, 23, 24.25, 25.5) cm] from Underarm, ending on a WS row.
Break yarn leaving a long tail and place sts on holder.
Back
With RS facing, rejoin yarn. (93 (105, 117, 129, 141, 153) sts)
Shape underarm
BO2 (4, 5, 6, 8, 9) at beg of next 2 rows. (89 (97, 107, 117, 125, 135) sts
BO1 (3, 4, 5, 7, 8) at beg of next 2 rows. (87 (91, 99, 107, 111, 119) sts)
Armhole Dec Row (RS): Sl 3 pwise wyib, k1, ssk, work in patt to last 6 sts, k2tog, k to end. (2 sts dec’d; 85 (89, 97, 105, 109, 117) sts)
Work all WS rows as foll: Sl 3 sts pwise wyif, p to end.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 2 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) more times. (81 (83, 89, 95, 97, 103) sts)
Work even in patt until piece meas 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5)” / [12.75 (14, 15.25, 16.5, 17.75, 19) cm] from Underarm, ending on a WS row.
Break yarn leaving a long tail.
Join shoulders
Carefully return Right Shoulder sts to needle. Using Kitchener Method, join 23 (24, 26, 27, 29, 31) Right Shoulder sts with 23 (24, 26, 27, 29, 31) Back sts from the Right side.
BO 35 (35, 37, 41, 39, 41) Back sts.
Carefully return Left Shoulder sts to needle. Using Kitchener Method, join 23 (24, 26, 27, 29, 31) Left Shoulder sts with 23 (24, 26, 27, 29, 31) Back sts from the Left side.
Cowl
CO 4 sts.
Knit 1 row.
Row 1 (RS): K1, M1L, k to 1 st from end, M1L, k1. (2 sts inc’d; 6 sts)
Row 2 (WS): P1, M1L pwise, p to 1 st from end, M1L pwise, p1. (2 sts inc’d; 8 sts)
Rep Rows 1-2, 16 (16, 17, 19, 18, 19) more times. (72 (72, 76, 84, 80, 84) sts)
Next Row (RS): *K1, M1; rep from * to 1 st from end, k1. (143 (143, 151, 167, 159, 167) sts)
Work in Rev St st until piece meas 3” / [7.5 cm], ending on a WS row.
Next Row (WS): Purl.
BO loosely.
Finishing
Weave in ends.
Block to schematic measurements.
Fold Eyelet Row inward with RS together and sew closed to create the picot hem.
With WS of Cowl facing RS of Body, sew Cowl into neckline.