This beautiful sleeveless dress is just perfect for a little girl. The bottom edge of the dress is decorated with a Feather and Fan pattern which is perfect for a new lace knitter. The shoulders are joined with beautiful buttons for easy dressing.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Chest: 20 (21, 22)” to fit chest 18 (19, 20)”; Armhole depth: 4″, 4½”, 5″; Total length: 18″, 19″, 20″; Shown in size 20”
Gauge: 21 sts and 27 rows =4″ (10 cm) after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby (100% acrylic; 362 yards [331 meters]/140 grams): Prettiest Pink (2 (2, 3) balls)
Needles: US size 6 (4.0 mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: Tapestry needle, two 1” buttons, US size F/5 (3.75 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Special Stitches
One-Row Buttonhole
Slip next 2 sts from left-hand needle onto the right-hand needle.
Pass the first stitch over the second stitch.
Slip the next stitch from left-hand needle onto the right and repeat step 2.
Slip the last stitch back on left-hand needle. Cast on as many stitches as you have bound off. Continue knitting.
Feather and Fan – Multiple of 18 sts +2
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, *(k2tog) 3 times, (yo, k1)6 times, (k2tog) 3 times; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 4: Knit.
Pattern
Back
Cast on 110 sts.
Rows 1-6: Knit.
Rows 7-30: Work as Feather and Fan pattern.
Switch to st st and work even until piece measures 14″ (14½”, 15″).
Decrease row: Decrease 55 (49, 43) sts evenly across row. (55 (61, 67) sts)
Work st st for 1″ even.
Armhole Shaping
Bind off 5 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows. (45 (51, 57) sts)
Decrease one st on both sides every other row, 3 (4, 5) times. (39 (43, 47) sts)
Work st st for 1″ even.
Back Neck Opening
K15, with another ball of yarn bind off next 9 (13, 17) sts, k15.
Work both sides at the same time.
On the neck side decrease 1 st every other row 5 times. (10 sts for each shoulder)
Work 3″ (3½”, 4″) in st st.
Decrease 1 st on both sides of the shoulder piece. (8 sts)
Buttonhole row: K3, work one-row buttonhole on next 2 sts, k3.
Next WS Row: Purl.
Next RS Row: Decrease 1 st on both sides of the shoulder piece. (6 sts)
Last WS Row: Purl. Bind off all sts loosely.
Front
Work same as back until Back neck opening.
Front Neck Opening
K15, with another ball of yarn bind off next 9 (13, 17) sts, k15.
Work both sides at the same time.
On the neck side decrease 1 st every other row 5 times. (10 sts for each shoulder)
Work 2″ (2½”, 3″) in st st.
Decrease 1 st on both sides of the shoulder piece. (8 sts)
Next WS Row: Purl.
Next RS Row: Decrease 1 st on both sides of the shoulder piece. (6 sts)
Last WS Row: Purl. Bind off all sts loosely.
Finishing
Sew side seams. With crochet hook and starting at the center back neck, work as follows:
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in every st or every other row around.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, reverse sc in every sc around. Fasten off.
Block dress to size.
Sew buttons opposite buttonholes. 
This doesn’t seem like a beginner pattern!
Hi Leslie! This pattern is labeled intermediate, but we are happy to help with any specific problems you may have. Let us know! – Nicola
Are you certain that the needle size does not change for the bodice? It looks like a different gauge.
Hi Patricia! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
Hi Patricia. The needle size hasn’t changed. The only difference is the number of stitches have been reduced to almost half. Therefore, it looks as if the needle size has changed.