Bonita Baby Dress

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 6 (12, 18, 24) months to fit chest 18 (20, 22, 24)”

Length from shoulder to hem: 13 (14, 14, 15)”

Sample shown in size 12 month.

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.

Materials

Yarn:

 Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% Wool; 420 yards [384 meters]/100grams): Posy, 1 (1, 2, 2) skeins.

Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm): 16″ and 24” circular; US size 4 (3.5 mm): a set of 4 DPNs; US size 5 (3.75 mm): 24″ circular (only for skirt hem lace pattern B)

Notions: Stitch markers (1 of different color to mark beginning of round); removable markers (as needed for skirt flower pattern); stitch holders; tapestry needle; three ½” (12 mm) buttons.

Abbreviations

BOR: beg-of-round.
CO: cast on
cdd: centered double decrease (slip 2 sts knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped sts over)
K: knit
K2tog: knit 2 sts together
P: purl
m: marker
Kfb: Knit front and back into the same stitch (inc 1 st)
Rnd: round
sm: slip marker
ssk: slip 2 sts individually as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loops
St st: stockinette stitch
st(s): stitches
sl3wyif: slip 3 stitches with yarn in front of work
Yo: yarn over

Special Stitches

Make 9 sts from 3 sts: [K3tog, (yo, k3tog) 4 times] all in the same 3 sts – 3 sts inc’d to 9 sts.

Sk2p: Slip1, k2tog, pass the slip stitch over – 2 sts dec’d.
K3tog: Knit 3 stitches together.

Estonian Flower Chart A (worked over a multiple of 12 sts over 8-rnds repeat)

Rnd 1 (Inc): *Make 9 sts from 3 sts, sk2p, k3, k3tog; rep from * to end.
Rnds 2, 4, and 6: Knit to end.
Rnd 3: *(K3, yo) twice, k3, ssk, k1, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Rnd 5 (Dec): *Sk2p, yo, k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3tog, cdd; rep from * to end.
Rnd 7: *K4, yo, cdd, yo, k5*; rep from * to end.
Rnd 8: Knit to end.

Rep Rnds 1-8 for patt.

Lace Pattern Chart B (Skirt hem lace)

Rnds 1 and 5: *(Yo, ssk) twice, yo, cdd, (yo, k2tog) twice, yo, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnds 2, 4, and 6: K to end.
Rnds 3 and 7: *K1, (yo, ssk) twice, k1, (k2tog, yo) twice, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 8: K to end.
Rnd 9: Remove m, k1, replace m and go to Set-up Rnd for Crochet Chain Bind-Off.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked flat in rows then in the round from the top down.

Pattern

With smaller 16″ circular needle, CO 56 (62, 68, 72) sts, do not join for working in the round. Working back and forth, knit 3 rows, slip first stitch of every row with yarn in front purlwise.

Next Row RS (First Buttonhole Row): Sl1, k1, yo, k2tog, k to end.

Next Row (WS): Sl1, k10 (11, 12, 13), pm, k6 (7, 8, 8), pm, k22 (24, 26, 28), pm, k6 (7, 8, 8), pm, k11 (12, 13, 14).

Begin Raglan Shaping

Next Row 1 (RS): Sl1, *k to 1 st before next m, kfb, sm, kfb; rep from * 3 more times, k to end – 8 sts inc’d; 64 (70, 76, 80) sts.

Row 2 (WS): Sl1, k3, p to last 4 sts slipping the markers, k4.

Rep Rows 1-2, 3 (3, 4, 4) more times – 88 (94, 108, 112) sts.

Next Row RS (Second Buttonhole Row): Sl1, k1, yo, k2tog, *k to 1 st before next m, kfb, sm, kfb; rep from * 3 more times to last 4 sts, k4 – 8 sts inc’d; 96 (102, 116, 120) sts.

Next Row (WS): Sl1, k3, p to last 4 sts slipping the markers, k4.

Rep Rows 1-2, 4 (4, 4, 5) more times – 128 (134, 148, 160) sts.

Next Row RS (Third Buttonhole Row): Sl1, k1, yo, k2tog, *k to 1 st before next m, kfb, sm, kfb; rep from * 3 more times to last 4 sts, k4 – 8 sts inc’d; 136 (142, 156, 168) sts.

Next Row (WS): Sl1, k3, p to last 4 sts slipping the markers, k4.

Next Row (RS): Sl1, *k to 1 st before next m, kfb, sm, kfb; rep from * 3 more times to last 4 sts, k4 – 8 sts inc’d; 144 (150, 164, 176) sts.

Next Row (WS): Sl1, k3, p to last 4 sts slipping the markers, k4.

Join to work in the round

Next Rnd: With RS of work facing you, slip last 4 sts from left hand needle onto a DPN, hold it behind the first 4 sts on the right-hand needle, *knit the stitch on the needle together with the first stitch on the DPN, rep from * for next 3 sts, pm in different color than raglan markers, this marker will indicate the new beginning of the rnd. The garment is joined and will now be worked in rounds – 4 sts dec’d; 140 (146, 160, 172) sts.

Rnd 1: *K to 1 st before next m, kfb, sm, kfb; rep from * 3 more times – 8 sts inc’d; 148 (154, 168, 180) sts.
Rnd 2: K to end.

Size 6 month only

Sl BOR m and removing other markers as you come to them, k23, CO 6 sts with backward loop method, place next 30 sts on waste yarn for sleeve, k46, CO 6 sts with backward loop method, place next 30 sts on waste yarn for sleeve, k to end – 100 sts.

Work 6 rnds in Garter St (knit 1 rnd, purl 1 rnd).

Go to Skirt Inc.

Sizes – (12, 18, 24) months only

Rep Rnds 1-2, – (2, 2, 1) more times – – (170, 184, 188) total sts on needle; – (48, 52, 54) for Back, – (35, 38, 38) for each Sleeve, – (52, 56, 58) for Front.

Separate Sleeves: Sl BOR m and removing other markers as you come to them, k- (25, 28, 29), CO- (7, 8, 8) sts with backward loop method, place next – (35, 38, 38) sts on waste yarn for sleeve, k- (48, 52, 54) front sts, CO- (7, 8, 8) sts with backward loop method, place next – (35, 38, 38) sts on waste yarn for sleeve, k to end – (114, 124, 128) sts.

Next Rnd: Evenly Inc – (6, 8, 16) sts – – (120, 132, 144) sts.

Work 6 rnds in Garter St (knit 1 rnd, purl 1 rnd).

Go to Skirt Inc.

Skirt Inc

All Sizes: 15 (15, 16, 18) rep of 12-st patt

Size 6 month: *Kfb, kfb, kfb, kfb, k1; rep from * to end – 180 sts.
Size 12 month: *K1, kfb; rep from * to end – 180 sts.
Size 18 month: *K1, kfb; rep * from to last 12 sts, k12 – 192 sts.
Size 24 months: *K1, kfb; rep from * to end – 216 sts.

Knit 1 rnd.

Next Rnd: Starting with Rnd 1 of Estonian Flower Chart A, work the 12-st rep over all sts.

Cont as est until 7 rnds of Estonian Flower Chart A have been completed. (You can choose to put different color marker than BOR m after each set of 12 sts)

Work Rnd 8 of Estonian Flower Chart A to 2 sts from end. Sl2 sts from left hand needle to right hand needle, remove BOR m, sl2 sts back to left needle and place BOR m. This will be the new position for BOR m for the start of new round for chart A.

Next Rnd: Work Estonian Flower Chart A over all sts.

Cont as est to the end of Rnd 8 for the next 6 (7, 8, 9)”, then work Lace Pattern Chart B for the skirt hem.

Next Rnd: Using needle one size larger and starting with Rnd 1 of Lace Pattern Chart B, work the 12-st rep over all sts.

Cont as est to the end of Rnd 8 of Lace Chart B to end.

Remove BOR m, k1, replace BOR m and go to Set-up Rnd for Crochet Chain Bind-Off.

Crochet Chain Bind Off

Set-up Rnd: Sl next 3 sts from LH needle onto a crochet hook.

Pull the loop of yarn through all 3 sts that were on the crochet hook. This forms the first st of your crochet chain.

Pull the yarn loop through the st on the hook 5 times to create a crochet chain.

Crochet loop repeat: *Sl next 3 sts from your needle onto the crochet hook, remember you also have one more st (the end of your crochet chain) on the hook also.

Pull the yarn through all 3 sts. There are now 2 loops of yarn on the crochet hook.

Pull yarn through both sts on the needle, this forms the first st of your crochet chain. You can also see now that the first crochet chain you made forms a crocheted loop at the start of your work.

Pull the yarn loop through the st on your hook 5 more times to complete the crochet chain.**

Repeat from * to ** until you reach the last sts to be bind off.

At the end, you have a crochet chain of 5, break yarn and pull the yarn tail through the final st on your hook.

Thread the yarn tail on tapestry needle and use the yarn tail to join the first and the last st of the BO so the BO edge appears continuous.

Sleeve

Each Sleeve is worked in the round from the underarm on a set of US size 4 (3.5 mm) DPNs.

Place sts from the holder for Sleeve evenly onto the DPNs.

With RS facing, beginning in the center of the underarm, pm to indicate beginning of rnd, pick up and k3 (4, 4, 4) sts, pick up and k1 st at the gap between the under arm and sleeve sts, k the rem Sleeve sts to the end of the rnd, pick up and k1 st at the gap between the under arm and sleeve sts, pick up and k3 (3, 4, 4) sts – 38 (44, 48, 48) sts on needles, join to work in the rnd.

Next Rnd (Dec): K2 (3, 3, 3), k2tog, k to last 4 (4, 5, 5), ssk, k to end of rnd – 2 sts dec’d; 36 (42, 46, 46) sts.

Next Rnd: Knit.

Next Rnd (Dec): K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 – 2 sts dec’d; 34 (40, 44, 44) sts.

Knit next 2 rnds.

Next Rnd (Dec): *K6 (4, 4, 4), k2tog; rep from * to 2 (4, 8, 8) sts from end, k to end – 30 (34, 38, 38) sts.

Knit next rnd.

Work in Garter St (knit 1 rnd, purl 1 rnd) for the next 6 rnds.

BO all sts, being careful not to bind off too tightly.

Repeat for second sleeve.

Finishing

Weave in all loose ends and block the pullover gently.