The dandelion stitch across the chest of this dress really makes it unique. Perfect for Easter Sunday, pair this pink and white dress with a cardigan for cooler Easter mornings. A simple purled edge to the neck and arms give this dress just the right amount of comfort and class.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Size 2T to fit 15.5” bust.
Gauge: 19 sts and 26 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: I Love This Yarn (100% Acrylic; 355 yards [325 meters]/199 grams): 100 Pink (MC, 1 ball), 10 White (CC, 1 ball)
Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) circular or DPNs
Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle
Abbreviations
mD = Make dandelion
Special Stitches
Make Dandelion
When arrived at location to md, count two stitches to the left and three stitches down. Insert needle though the middle of that stitch and out the back. Wrap working yarn around the needle that was inserted through the stitch. Pull needle and yarn back through the front. This is the first petal. Knit two stitches, repeat petal process through the same hole as before. Knit two stitches and repeat petal process again through the same hole as before for 3 total petals. Ensure you do not pull the petal stitches too tightly. Petal stitches will be decreased during the next round or row according to the pattern.
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up until the beginning of the arm holes, where it is then separated into front and back pieces and knit flat.
The tops of the shoulders are seamed together using Kitchener stitch.
Pattern
Skirt
Using MC, CO 136 sts. PM and join in the rnd.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Purl.
Rnds 3-4: Rep Rnds 1-2.
Rnds 5: K68, PM, k68.
Rnds 6-8: Knit.
Switch to CC.
Rnd 9: *K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, SM; rep from *. (4 sts dec’d; 132 sts)
Rnds 10-12: Knit.
Switch to MC.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: Rep Rnd 9. (128 sts)
Rnds 15-16: Knit.
Switch to CC.
Rnds 17-18: Knit.
Rnd 19: Rep Rnd 9. (124 sts)
Rnd 20: Knit.
Switch to MC.
Rnds 21-23: Knit.
Rnd 24: Rep Rnd 9. (120 sts)
Rnds 25-28: Knit.
Rnd 29: Rep Rnd 9. (116 sts)
Rnds 30-39: Rep Rnds 25-29 twice. (108 sts)
Rnds 40-44: Knit.
Rnd 45: Rep Rnd 9. (104 sts)
Rnds 46-51: Rep Rnds 40-45. (100 sts)
Rnds 52-55: Knit.
Rnd 56: Rep Rnd 9. (96 sts)
Rnd 57: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, SM, k to end. (2 sts dec’d; 94 sts)
Rnds 58-62: Knit.
Rnd 63: Rep Rnd 57. (92 sts)
Rnds 64-65: Purl.
Switch to CC.
Rnds 60-65: Knit.
Rnd 66: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1 (2 sts dec’d), SM, k6, mD, *k4, mD; rep from * to last 6 sts, k6.
Rnd 67: K to marker, SM, k5, (k2tog, k1) twice, k2tog, *k3, (k2tog, k1) twice, k2tog; rep from * to last 6 sts, k6.
Rnds 68-73: Knit.
Rnd 74: K to marker, SM, k10, *mD, k4; rep from * to last 10 sts, k10.
Rnd 75: K to marker, SM, k9, (k2tog, k1) twice, k2tog, *k7, (k2tog, k1) twice, k2tog; rep from * to last 10 sts, k10.
Rnds 76-80: Knit.
Rnd 81: K to last 3 sts, BO 3 sts.
Rnd 82: Cont to BO 2 st, k to 2 sts before marker, BO 2 sts, remove marker, BO 3 sts. (80 sts)
Work Front and Back flat separately. Place 40 sts for Back on holder or scrap yarn.
Front
Row 1: K3, mD, *k4, mD; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 2: P3, *(p2tog, p1) twice, p2tog, p3; rep from * to end.
Row 3: BO 1, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. (38 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: BO 1, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. (36 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Knit.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K5, mD, *k4, mD rep from * to last 5 sts, k5.
Row 10: P5, *(p2tog, p1) twice, p2tog, p3; rep from * to last 4 sts, p4.
Row 11: Knit.
Row 12: Purl.
Rows 13-16: Rep Rows 11-12 twice.
Row 17: K11, BO 14, k11.
Work Right and Left Straps separately. Place 11 Right Strap sts on yarn holder.
Left Strap
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: K2tog, k9. (10 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K2tog, k8. (9 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: K2tog, k7. (8 sts)
Row 7: Purl.
Work even in St st for 1.5”. Place sts on yarn holder.
Right Strap
Row 1: P2tog, p9. (10 sts)
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: P2tog, p8. (9 sts)
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: P2tog, p7. (8 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: Purl.
Work even in St st for 1.5”. Place sts on yarn holder.
Back
Row 1: Start on WS, BO 2 sts, p to last 2 sts, p2tog. (37 sts)
Row 2: K2tog, k to end. (36 sts)
Row 3: P2tog, p to end. (35 sts)
Row 4: K2tog, k to end. (34 sts)
Work even in St st for 1.75”.
Next Row: K9, BO 16 sts, k9.
Work Right and Left Straps separately.
Place Right Strap 9 sts on yarn holder.
Back Left
Row 1: P7, p2tog. (8 sts)
Row 2: Knit.
Work even in St st until length matches Front Strap.
Back Right
Row 1: P2tog, p7. (8 sts)
Row 2: Knit.
Work even in St st until length matches Front Strap.
Using Kitchener stitch, seam both sets of straps together.
Neck Edging
Pick up and k78 stitches.
Purl 2 rnds.
BO all sts.
Armhole Edging
Pick up and k46 sts.
Purl 2 rnds.
BO all sts.