Inspired by those perfect denim dresses featured in every online store, this classic and sweet design will make an exceptional addition to your wardrobe. With almost the same feal and weight of jean material, this charming dress features adorable button details and a slight skirt flair. You’ll love wearing this beauty all summer long.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: XS (S, M, L, XL) Finished Bust Size 30 (34, 38, 42, 46)”
Between 2” negative ease and 2” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size S
Gauge: 17 sts and 24 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St st
Materials
Yarn: Garnstudio Drops Paris (100% Cotton; 82 yards [75 meters]/50 grams): 103 Dark Wash 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) balls
Hook: US size 7 (4.5 mm) 32” or longer circular, US size 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs
Notions: Tapestry needle, 8 stitch markers, five 20mm buttons
Special Stitches
2 sts one-row buttonhole
Bring yarn to front, slip one st purlwise, bring yarn to back. *Slip one purlwise, pass first slipped stitch over second; repeat from * once more. Place last stitch back on left needle, turn. Using the cable cast on method, CO 3 sts, turn. Bring yarn to back, slip first stitch on left needle onto right needle and pass last cast-on stitch over it, work to end of row.
Pattern Notes
The dress is worked top-down, first flat (worked back and forth) to the waist, then joined and worked in the round for the skirt.
Straps are worked by picking up stitches at front and seamed to the back.
Pattern
Body
CO 138 (154, 170, 188, 204) sts.
Row 1: K37 (41, 45, 49, 53), pm, k64 (72, 80, 90, 98), pm, k to end.
Row 2: Purl.
Left Side Short Rows
Sizes XS (S, M, -, -) only
Row 1: K to 1 (2, 2, -, -) st(s) before m, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 2: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 3: K29 (31, 33, -, -), ssk, k to 1 (2, 2, -, -) st(s) before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 4: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 5: K to 1 (1, 2, -, -) st(s) before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 6: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 7: K28 (30, 32, -, -), ssk, k to 1 (1, 2, -, -) st(s) before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 8: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 9: K to 1 st before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 10: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 11: K27 (29, 31, -, -), ssk, k to 1 st before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 12: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Sizes – (-, -, L, XL) only
Row 1: K to – (-, -, 2, 3) sts before m, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 2: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 3: K to – (-, -, 2, 3) sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 4: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 5: K- (-, -, 35, 37), ssk, k to 2 sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 6: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 7: K to 2 sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 8: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 9: K to 2 sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 10: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
Row 11: K- (-, -, 34 (36), ssk, k to 2 sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to front, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to back, turn work.
Row 12: Sl next st purlwise, p to last st, k1.
All Sizes
K the next row, picking up all the wrapped sts and slipping the markers, to last 4 sts, work 2 sts one-row buttonhole over 2 sts, k to end.
Right Side Short Rows
Sizes XS (S, M, -, -) only
Row 1: K5, p to 1 (2, 2, -, -) st(s) before m, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 2: Sl next st purlwise, k5 (6, 8, -, -), k2tog, k to end.
Row 3: K5, p to 1 (2, 2, -, -) st(s) before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 4: Sl next st purlwise, k to end.
Row 5: K5, p to 1 (1, 2, -, -) st(s) before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 6: Sl next st purlwise, k3 (3, 4), k2tog, k to end.
Row 7: K5, p to 1 (1, 2, -, -) st(s) before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 8: Sl next st purlwise, k to end.
Row 9: K5, p to 1 st before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 10: Sl next st purlwise, k1, k2tog, k to end.
Row 11: K5, p to 1 st before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 12: Sl next st purlwise, k to end.
Sizes – (-, -, L, XL) only
Row 1: K5, p to – (-, -, 2, 3) sts before m, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 2: Sl next st purlwise, k to end.
Row 3: K5, p to – (-, -, 2, 3) sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 4: Sl next st purlwise, k8, k2tog, k to end.
Row 5: K5, p to 2 sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 6: Sl next st purlwise, k to end.
Row 7: K5, p to 2 sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 8: Sl next st purlwise, k to end.
Row 9: K5, p to 2 sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 10: Sl next st purlwise, k2, k2tog, k to end.
Row 11: K5, p to 2 sts before the wrapped st, bring yarn to back, sl next st purlwise, bring yarn to front, turn work.
Row 12: Sl next st purlwise, k to end.
All Sizes
P the next row, picking up all the wrapped sts.
Cont working in St st and Garter edges until piece meas 1.5” from the underarm, decrease 2 sts at each side of markers on RS as follows (total 4 sts decreased): work to 3 sts before m, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk.
Rep decrease every 2.25” twice more, AT THE SAME TIME, buttonhole every 5” 4 more times.
Cont working until piece meas 7” from the underarm, ending on WS row.
Skirt (Join to start working in rnd)
Put 4 sts from RH needle to DPN, line up the DPN in front of LH needle, *k into the 2 sts from both needles (into 1 st on front needle and 1 st from back needle) at once; rep from * for the next 3 sts, k to m.
Now start working in the rnd from this point.
Work 3 ridges of garter st starting with a purl rnd.
Next Rnd: *K14 (16, 18, 21, 23), pm, k15 (17, 19, 21, 23), pm; rep from * around
Inc Next: Increase 2 sts at each side of markers as follows: work until 2 sts before m, yo, k2, sm, k2, yo. On next rnd, k the yo through back loop.
Rep Inc Rnd every 1.5”, 9 more times.
Cont working until piece meas 17”, then work 3 ridges of Garter St, starting with knit rnd.
BO all sts knitwise.
Straps
Pick up 9 (9, 10, 11,11) sts on Front with Straps 7.75 (7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 8.75)” away from each other.
Work in Garter St until piece meas 13.75 (14.5, 15.25, 16, 17)” when stretched, BO.
Sew Straps at back 6.25 (6.25, 6.75, 7, 7)” from each other.
Finishing
Seam buttons accordingly.
Weave in all ends.