Materials

Rowan Pure Wool Dk, 100% pure new wool, 200 metres (218 yds) per 50 gm ball
6 balls shade 037, used for skirt - yarn A
Rowan Pure Wool 4 ply, 100% pure new wool, 160 metres (176 yards) per 50 gm ball
3 balls shade 428 used for bodice, sleeves and flower motif - yarn B
1 ball shade 450 used for motif band background - yarn C
Rowan Wool Cotton, 50% wool, 50% cotton, 113 metres (122 yards) per 50 gm ball
1 ball, shade 910 used for bird motif - yarn D
1 ball, shade 962 used for heart motif - yarn E

1 pair 4 mm (US #6) needles
1 pair 3 mm (US #3) needles

Measurements

To fit ages 7-9 years (additional sizes to follow shortly)

Finished Measurements

Chest 30 inches (76 cm)
Full length 29 inches (73.5 cm)
Skirt length 18 inches (46 cm)

Tension

Bodice

27 sts & 36 rows = 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch using 3 mm (US #3) needles

Skirt

21.5 sts & 34 rows = 10 cm ( 4 inches) over pattern using 4 mm (US #6) needles

Abbreviations

K2tog - Knit two together
P2tog - Purl two together
yfwd - bring yarn forward
Dec - Decrease st, either by K2tog or P2tog, depending which side of work facing

Pattern

Skirt

(worked in one piece)

Using 4 mm (US #6) needles, cast on 211 sts and work 5 rows in garter stitch.

Commence pattern, worked over 12 rows:

Row 1: K3, P7, * (K4, P7), rep from * to last 3 sts, K3.
Row 2: K2, * P1, K7, P1 K2, rep from * to end of row.
Row 3: * K2, P1, K1, P5, K1, P1, rep from * to last 2 sts, K2.
Row 4: K3, P1, K5, P1, * K4, P1, K5, P1, rep from * to last 3 sts, K3.
Row 5: * K2, P2, K1, P3, K1, P2, rep from * to last 2 sts, K2.
Row 6: K4, P1, K3, P1, K6, P1, K3, P1, rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.
Row 7: * K2, P3, K1, P1, K1, P3 rep from * to last 8 sts, K1, P1, K1, P3, K2.
Row 8: K5, *P,1 K1, P1, K8, rep from * to last 8 sts, P1, K1, P1, K5.
Row 9: * K2, P4, K1, P4, rep from * to last 2 sts, K2.
Row 10: K6, * P1, K10, rep from * to last 7 sts, P1, K6.
Row 11: * K2, P9, rep from * to last 2 sts, K2.
Row 12: K.

Repeat pattern 11 times in total, but on repeat 11, work 11 rows of pattern then cast off on row 12.

Bodice back and motif band

Using 3 mm (US #3) needles, cast on 109 sts. Commencing with a knit row, work 4 rows in stocking stitch.

Work 12 rows of motif band changing colours as required.

click for a larger view.       or chart as PDF

Work 3 rows in yarn C to complete motif band.

With wrong side facing change to yarn B and begin main bodice, and commencing with a purl row, work 7 rows in stocking stitch.

Armhole shaping

With RS facing, cast off 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. (101 sts)
Dec 1 st at each end of next row and the next 4 alternate rows. (91sts) **

Continue working in st st for a further 56 rows.

Shoulder shaping

Cast off 11 sts at beginning of next 4 rows.
Cast off remaining 47 sts.

Bodice front

Work as bodice back until **
Continue working in stocking stitch for 21 rows, ending with a WS row.
With RS facing, shape neck:
K 42 sts, cast off 7 sts, K to end of row. Working on these 42 sts only, shape neck decrease as follows:
Next row: P.
Next row: K2 tog, K to end of row.
Next row: P to last 2 sts, P2 tog.
repeat last 2 rows until 30 sts remain.
With RS facing dec 1 st at neck edge.
Next row: P.
Repeat last 2 rows until 22 sts remain.
Work a further 8 rows.
Next row (WS): Cast off 11 sts and P to end.
Next row: K.
Cast off remaining 11 sts.
Join yarn at neck edge and P to end.

Work to match first side ( working 1 row less before shoulder cast off).

Sleeves

(Make 2)

Using 3mm (US #3)needles and yarn B, cast on 110 sts and knit 2 rows.
Commencing with a knit row work 36 rows in stocking stitch.

Sleeve shaping

Continuing in st st, cast off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at each end of each row until 42 sts remain.
Dec 4 sts at beg of next 6 rows.
Cast off last 18 sts.

Neck trim

Using 3 mm (US #3) needles and yarn D, cast on 7 stitches.
Proceed in pattern as folls:
Row 1: K3, yfwd, K2tog, yfwd twice, K2.
Row 2: K3, P1, K2, yfwd, K2tog, K1.
Row 3: K3, yfwd, K2tog, K4.
Row 4: Cast off 2 sts, K3, yfwd, K2tog, K1.

Repeat to required length to fit around neck line.

Finishing

Join shoulder and side seams of bodice. Sew skirt seam and join skirt to bodice with seam to the centre of bodice back. Join sleeve seam and set in both sleeves with a little ease. Sew lace trim to neck edge.

This pattern is not to be used commercially or to be resold.
Design Copyright © Melanie Bond 2008     Pattern adaption Copyright © knitonthenet 2008