Design Story

I love Fall. The crunch of dried leaves under foot. The smell of wood burning from neighbourhood fireplaces getting their first use in months. The taste of a freshly picked apple. And... the transition from sundresses to sweaters. Yes! Cocoon from Rowan is the perfect yarn to match my love of Fall. So wonderful to work with and even more beautiful in a completed garment. I set out to design a pinafore for my daughters using Cocoon and since it is such a luxurious yarn, I wanted them to be able to get as much wear from it as possible. Little girls grow so quickly and if one is going take the time to hand knit a pinafore, it should be worn more than on a few occasions and for more than just one season. The pinafore shown is knit in size Large which would fit a 5 year old as a longer dress and a 7 year old as a shorter version. A younger and older sister could share the dress or it would fit one girl for a few seasons. The pinafore can be worn with the buttons at the front or the back, adding to its versatility. It also works well for layering and has a wide skirt just perfect for twirling around in the leaves. The matching hat has a side cable to echo the dress pattern. Choose your own favourite fall colours and be creative!

Materials

Yarn for Dress: 3(4,4,5) 100g skeins Rowan Cocoon 80% merino wool, 20% kid mohair, approx 115 metres (126 yds) per 100 gm ball
3(4,4,5) balls, shade 801 (Polar)
Yarn for Hat: Rowan Cocoon 80% merino wool, 20% kid mohair
1 ball shade 801 (Polar)

8mm (US #11) 60 cm (24 inch) circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge
8mm (US #11) 40 cm (16 inch) circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge
2 x1 inch buttons
61cm (24 inches) 12mm (0.5 inch) white flat elastic
clear or white thread

Measurements

Dress

Girls XS (S,M,L)
Suggested age ranges:
XS: 9-24 months
S: 18-36 months
M: 3-5 yrs
L: 5-7 yrs

Finished measurements

Use the finished measurements to determine which size to knit.

Actual Sizes: Chest 41 (46, 51, 56) cm - 16 (18, 20, 22) inches
Skirt Length: 28 (30, 36, 41) cm - 11 (12, 14, 16) inches

Hat

One size - 38 cm (15 inch) circumference

Tension

13 sts x 18 rows = 10cm (4 inches) in st st using 8 mm (US #11) needles

Abbreviations

BH - button hole
C - cable
CN - cable needle
C8B - slip 4 sts to CN, hold in back of work, k 4 sts, k sts from CN
dec - decrease
K - knit
P - purl
rnd - round
RS - right side
St st - Stockinette stitch
st - stitch
WS - wrong side
YO - yarn over

Pattern notes

A seamless pinafore fitting a range of ages within each size with cable hat to match.
A good beginner project for knitting in the round and cables.

Dress Pattern

Skirt

St st hem will curl approximately 5cm (2 inches), therefore final length of skirt is 5cm (2 inches) less than listed below.
Pattern can be adjusted here for length...simply knit more or fewer rows for length desired.

Using 8 mm (US #11) needles, cast on 124 (144, 156, 168) sts and join in rnd and place marker. Work in St st for 28 (30, 36, 41) cm 11 (12, 14, 16) inches from cast on edge.

Bodice

Round 1: K2tog around entire rnd. 62 (72, 78, 84) sts.
Round 2-7: Knit every round.
Round 8: Change to 40 cm (16 inch) circular needles if necessary.
K2 (3, 5, 5), C8B, K4 (6, 6, 8), C8B, K4 (6, 6, 8), C8B, K4 (6, 9, 9), C8B, K6 (8, 8, 10), C8B, K2 (3, 4, 4).
Rnds 9-16: Rep rnds 1-8.
Rnds 17-19: K.
Rnd 20: Work BH as follows: K2tog, YO.

Work K1. P1 rib for 2 (3, 5, 5) sts, K8, work K1, P1 rib for 16 (20, 20, 24) sts, K8, work K1, P1 rib for 4 (6, 9, 9) sts, K3, BH, K3, work K1, P1 rib for 6 (8, 8, 10) sts, k3, BH, K3, work K1, P1 rib for 2 (3, 4, 4) sts.

Rnds 21-22: Continue in K1, P1 rib pattern as in rnd 20. At BH knit YO as 1 st.
Rnd 23: Cast off 2 (3, 5, 5) sts in patt, C8B and leave sts on needle. Cast off centre 16 (20, 20, 24) sts in patt, C8B and leave sts on needle, cast off remaining sts.

Right Front Strap

Rows 1-7: With WS facing, rejoin yarn and work back and forth in St st.
Row 8: C8B

Rep rows 1-8 three times for a total of 4 cables.

Work in K1, P1 rib for 5 rows. Cast off in patt.

Left Front Strap

Work as right front strap.

Finishing

Block garment. Sew buttons to straps at desired length.
Use the Herringbone Method to sew elastic to upper body edge on inside of garment just in from cast off edge. Adjust tightness of elastic as needed.
Weave in all ends.

Side Cable Hat Pattern

Using 8 mm (US #11) circular needle, cast on 64 sts.
Work back and forth in K1, P1 rib for 5 cm (2 inches).
Commencing with a knit row, work in st st for 7 rows.
Row 8: K12, C8B, K44.
Rep Rows 1-8 twice more.

Begin decreases

With RS facing: * K7, K2tog, rep from * to last st, K1.
Next row: P1, * P2tog, P6, rep from * across row.
Next row: * K5, K2tog, rep from * to last st, K1.
Next row: P1, * P2tog, P4, rep from * across row.

Continue decreases in this manner until 16 sts remain. K2tog across row. Break yarn leaving long tail for seaming. Leave sts on needle.

Finishing

With WS facing use needle to thread yarn back through remaining sts and at same time slip sts off needle.
Pull center sts closed and stitch side seam down to brim.
Weave in all ends.

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This pattern is not to be used commercially or to be resold.  Copyright © UmaJoy Designs 2008