This is a simple striped sweater dress for all the little girls who love to keep secret treasures in their pockets. Girls’ pockets are always full of toys and other treasures. This sweater dress has pockets with a secret surprise!
Time: 50 hours
Skill Level: Easy
Size: Child: 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14) or for a chest circumference of 58 (64, 68, 76, 83, 88, 93) cm
Each size has 5cm positive ease incorporated. For a more fitted style, choose a smaller size.
Shown in size 8
Gauge: 16 sts and 23 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Drops Alaska (100% wool; 70 yards [76 meters]/50 grams): Midnight Blue 15 (CC1, 2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6) balls), Dark Grey 05 (CC2, 2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6) balls), Fog 62 (CC3, 2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6) balls), Lavender Pink 40 (CC4, 2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6) balls), Navy Blue 12 (CC5, 2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6) balls), Dark Red 11 (CC6, 2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6) balls)
Note: the amount of each CC used will depend on the color choices you make
Needles: US size 8 (5.0 mm) double pointed, 24” straight and circular needles or size needed to achieve gauge.
US size 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed, 24” straight and circular needles
Notions: 4 markers, 4 lockable markers, 2 stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle, darning needle
Abbreviations
Kfb: knit into front and then back of same stitch to inc 1 st.
K2tog: Knit two stitches together to dec 1 st
Ssk: Slip one st purlwise, slip one stitch knitwise, return stitches to left hand needle and k two sts together through back loops
CDD: Central Double Dec. Slip 2sts tog kwise, knit next st. Insert the left needle into the 2 sl sts from left to right and pass them over the knit st. 2 sts dec’d
Special Stitches
Moss St:
Rnd 1: [K1, p1] rep until end of rnd.
Rnd 2: [P1, k1] rep until end of rnd.
I-cord:
CO 4 stitches onto DPN. Knit these 4 sts. *Slide the sts back to the right side of the DPN. Keeping the yarn at the back, k these 4 sts. Rep from * until your i-cord is the desired length.
Pattern Notes
The sweater dress is worked from the top down in the round. As yoke uses raglan increases before separating the sleeves from the body. The stitches for the sleeves are set aside and the body of the dress is worked in the round. The pockets are picked up from the body of the dress and worked flat before attaching to the front of the dress. The stripes are worked in a set series of widths while the colors are assigned arbitrarily as you please.
Pattern
Stripes sequence
(1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 5, 3, 2, 1) rnds. Continue in sequence from top of garment to bottom, Moss stitch borders included. Please change color at the end of each sequence. CCs are not assigned in any sequence.
Collar
With smaller needles and CC of your choosing; cast on 56 (60, 60, 80, 80, 80, 80) sts. Join in the needles. Be careful not to twist the sts.
Work 4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6) rnds in moss st.
Yoke shaping
Change to larger needles.
Rnd 1: (set up rnd) [K17 (18, 20, 27, 29, 29, 31), pm, k11 (12, 10, 13, 11, 11, 9) pm] twice.
Rnd 2: Knit around, sm as you come to them.
Rnd 3: [K1, kfb, k to 2sts before m, kfb, k1, sm] four times. (64 (68, 68, 88, 88, 88, 88) sts)
Rep rnds 2 and 3 another 12 (14, 15, 15, 16, 18, 19) times. (160 (180, 188, 208, 216, 232, 240) sts)
Separating body and arms
Rnd 1: K43 (48, 52, 59, 63, 67, 71), rm, place the next 37 (42, 42, 45, 45, 49, 49) on a stitch holder, rm, cast on 3 sts, k43 (48, 52, 59, 63, 67, 71), rm, place the next 37 (42, 42, 45, 45, 49, 49) on a stitch holder, rm, cast on 3 sts, pm to mark beginning of rnd. (92 (102, 110, 124, 132, 140, 148) sts)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Work in patt until body measures 30 (33, 35, 40, 44, 47, 48) cm from cast on edge.
Pocket placement markers: use lockable markers
Rnd 1: K48 (53, 57, 64, 69, 74, 78), pm, k15 (15, 17, 20, 20, 20, 20), pm, k12 (17, 17, 18, 20, 22, 26), pm, k15 (15, 17, 20, 20, 20, 20), pm, k to end of rnd.
Work in patt until body measures 34 (42, 50, 58, 64, 70, 74) cm from cast on edge or approximately 2cm less than your desired length.
Hem Border
Switch to smaller needles and continuing in stripe sequence.
Work 4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6) rnds in moss st.
Bind off.
Sleeves (both the same)
Place the 37 (42, 42, 45, 45, 49, 49) sts on a stitch holder back onto a larger needle. Continue in stripe sequence.
Rnd 1: K37 (42, 42, 45, 45, 49, 49) sts, pick up and k 3 sts. (40 (45, 45, 48, 48, 52, 52) sts)
Rnd 2: K2tog, k until 3 sts rem, k2tog, k1. (38 (43, 43, 46, 46, 50, 50) sts)
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: K2tog, k until 3 sts rem, k2tog, k1. (36 (41, 41, 44, 44, 48, 48) sts)
Work 0 (0, 2, 4, 4, 8, 8) rnds in St st.
Change to smaller needles.
Work 4 (4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6) rnds in moss st.
Bind off.
Pockets (both the same)
Sequence of stripes for pockets: (5, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5) rnds.
Continue in sequence from top of garment to bottom, Moss stitch borders included. Please change color at the end of each sequence. CCs are not assigned in any sequence.
The pockets will be picked up from between the 1st and 2nd lockable marker and the 3rd and 4th lockable markers.
Row 1: With smaller needle, your choice of CC and right side facing, insert needle into front leg of st and pick up and knit 15 (15, 17, 20, 20, 20, 20) sts.
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Kfb, k18, kfb. (17 (17, 19, 22, 22, 22, 22) sts
Continue in patt for 15 rows.
Change to smaller needles
Work 4 rows in Moss stitch.
Bind off.
Sew sides of pocket flap to front of dress with matching thread or yarn.
Finishing
Weave in all ends.
Block to dimensions in schematic.
Kitten
Legs (make 4)
With CC4, CO 3 sts.
Row 1: Kfb. (6 sts) Join in the rnd. Pm to mark beg of rnd.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Kfb. (12 sts)
Rnds 3-6: Knit.
Rnd 7: K1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1. (10 sts)
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: K1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. (8 sts)
Rnd 10: Knit.
Rnd 11: K1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. (6 sts)
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnds 13-22: Knit.
Leave the sts on a needle or yarn holder.
Stuff leg
Tail
CO 4sts.
Work I-cord until tail is 12-cm in length.
Leave the sts on a needle.
Body
Set up: Place 3 first stitches from 2 back legs on one needle, place the 3 back sts from each leg on a second needle.
Rnd 1: Knit. Join in the rnd. Pm to mark beginning of the rnd. (12 sts)
Rnd 2: Kfb. (24 sts)
Rnd 3: Knit.
Stuff as you work.
Join Tail
Rnd 4: K16, [K next together with first st from tail] 4 times, K4. (24 sts)
Rnds 5-8: Knit.
Rnd 9: K1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1. (20 sts)
Rnds 10-12: Knit.
Rnd 13: K1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k2, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. (16 sts)
Rnds 14-16: Knit.
Rnd 17: K1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. (12 sts)
Rnds 18-20: Knit. Rm.
Join front legs
Rnd 21: K3, pm to mark BOR, [k1 st from first leg with 1 st from body] 6 times, [k1 st from second leg with 1 st from body] 6 times, (12 sts)
Rnd 22: Knit.
Rnd 23: K1, ssk, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2tog, k1. (8 sts)
Stuff as you work.
Neck
Rnds 24-25: Knit.
Stuff as you work.
Head
Rnd 26: Kfb. (16 sts)
Rnd 27: Knit.
Rnd 28: (K1, kfb) 4 times, k8. (20 sts)
Rnds 29-33: Knit.
Rnd 34: K1, k2tog, k4, ssk, k11. (18 sts)
Rnd 35: Knit.
Rnd 36: K1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k11. (16 sts)
Rnd 37: Knit.
Rnd 38: K1, k2tog, ssk, k11. (14 sts)
Rnd 39: Knit.
Rnd 40: K8, ssk, k2tog, k2. (12 sts)
Stuff.
Break yarn, leaving long tail to sew up.
Ears
Set up: Place the first 6 sts on one dpn, place the next 6 sts on second dpn.
Align as if to work 3 needle bind off.
Work on one ear at a time
Row 1: K first st from front needle together with first st from back. Rep with next 2 sts. (3 st)
Leave remaining sts on needle
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: CDD. (1 st)
Break yarn and fasten off st.
Rejoin yarn
Row 1: K next st from front needle together with next st from back. Rep with next 2 sts. (3 st)
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: CDD. (1 st)
Break yarn and fasten off st.
Scarf
CO 5 sts
Work in Garter st stripes of 4 rows.
Change color every 4th row until scarf measures 26 cm.
BO
Add fringe if desired.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Sew up any small holes that may have appeared- between legs, between ears in particular.
Add features with scraps of yarn. See pictures for details.
Place in pocket.