by Alison Green Will

This pretty little sweater-dress is knit using top-down raglan construction for minimal finishing.  Using a hand-dyed semi-solid yarn allows for some color variation without obscuring the lacy “skirt” pattern. 

The tie closures were actually an afterthought, when I couldn’t find the perfect buttons, but they add charm and interest to the bodice portion of the sweater. If you prefer buttons, it would be easy to add buttonholes in the middle row of the placket.

model: Ivy photos: Cheryl Francis, Alison Green Will

Chest: 19.25[20, 21.5, 22.25, 24.5, 26] inches
Length: 10[11.5, 12, 12.75, 13, 14.5] inches

4 stitch markers
Waste yarn
4 safety pins or small stitch holders

22 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st using larger needles
23 sts/36 rows = 4 inches in Lace Pattern

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

Instructions for the Backward Loop Cast On can be found here.

M1L (left-leaning increase): Insert left needle, from front to back, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; knit this stitch through back loop. 1 stitch increased.

M1R (right-leaning increase): Insert left needle, from back to front, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; knit this stitch through front loop. 1 stitch increased.

Lace Pattern (Worked over a multiple of 11 sts + 2):
Odd-Numbered Rows 1-7 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 2 [RS]: K1, [k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3] to last st, k1.
Row 4 [RS]: K1, [k2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k2] to last st, k1.
Row 6 [RS]: K1, [k1, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1] to last st, k1.
Row 8 [RS]: K1, [k2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk] to last st, k1.
Repeat Rows 1-8 for Lace Pattern.

YOKE
Using larger circular needle, CO 38[38, 38, 44, 46, 46] sts.

Set-up Row [WS]: P3, place marker, p4[4, 4, 6, 6, 6], place marker, p24[24, 24, 26, 28, 28], place marker, p4[4, 4, 6, 6, 6], place marker, p3.

Increase Row 1 [RS]: K1, M1R, [k to 1 st before marker, yo, k2, yo] 4 times, k to last st, M1L, k1. 10 sts increased.
P 1 row.

Repeat these 2 rows 5[5, 5, 6, 7, 7] times more. 98[98, 98, 114, 126, 126] sts.
Neckline shaping is complete.

Increase Row 2 [RS]: [K to 1 st before marker, yo, k2, yo] 4 times, k to end. 8 sts increased.

P 1 row.

Repeat these 2 rows 6[7, 8, 7, 7, 9] times more. 154[162, 170, 178, 190, 206] sts.

Raglan shaping is complete. Each front has 22[23, 24, 25, 27, 29] sts, each sleeve has 30[32, 34, 36, 38, 42] sts, and the back has 50[52, 54, 56, 60, 64] sts.

BODICE
Dividing Row [RS]: [K to marker, remove marker and place next 30[32, 34, 36, 38, 42] sts on hold on waste yarn, remove marker, CO 6[6, 8, 8, 10, 10] sts using backward loop method] twice, k to end. 106[110, 118, 122, 134, 142] sts.

Continue in stockinette st until work measures 4.5[5, 5.25, 5.25, 5.5, 6] inches from CO edge, measured along center back, ending with a WS row.

Using smaller circular needle, k 2 rows. P 1 row. K 1 row.

SKIRT
Switch back to larger needle and increase for skirt as follows:

Size 3 months Only:
Next Row [RS]: K2, [M1, k4] 10 times, [M1, k3] 7 times, [M1, k4] 10 times, M1, k3.  134 sts.

Size 6 months Only:
Next Row [RS]: K2, [M1, k3] 16 times, [M1, k4] 3 times, [M1, k3] 15 times, M1, k3. 145 sts.

Size 12 months Only:
Next Row [RS]: K3, [M1, k5] 4 times, [M1, k4] 18 times, [M1, k5] 4 times, M1, k3. 145 sts.

Size 18 months Only:
Next Row [RS]: K2, [M1, k4] 9 times, [M1, k3] 15 times, [M1, k4] 9 times, M1, k3. 156 sts.

Size 2 years Only:
Next Row [RS]: K3, [M1, k4] to last 3 sts, M1, k3. 167 sts.

Size 4 years Only:
Next Row [RS]: K3, [M1, k4] 16 times, [M1, k3] 4 times, [M1, k4] 15 times, M1, k3. 178 sts.

All Sizes:
Work Rows 1-8 of Lace Pattern 5[6, 6, 7, 7, 8] times.
P 1 row.

Hem
Using smaller needle, work 8 rows in stockinette st, ending with a WS row.
Turning Row [RS]: K2[1, 1, 2, 1, 2], [k2tog, yo] to last 2 sts, k2.
Work 6 more rows in stockinette st. BO all sts.

SLEEVES
Transfer held sts of one sleeve to larger double-point needles. Beginning at center of CO underarm sts, pick up and k 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts, k sleeve sts, pick up and k 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts in remaining underarm sts. 36[38, 42, 44, 48, 52] sts.
You are ready to begin working in the round, with beginning of round at center of underarm.

Work in stockinette st until sleeve measures 4[4.5, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6.5] inches from underarm. 

Hem
Using smaller double-point needles, k 8 rounds.
Turning Round: [K2tog, yo] to end.
K 6 rounds. BO all sts.

Turn hems on body and sleeves along turning row to WS and sew in place.

Front Edge and Collar:
Using smaller circular needle, with RS facing and beginning at bottom of right front edge, pick up and k 2 sts for every 3 rows along front edge of skirt, place marker; pick up and k 3 sts for every 4 rows along front edge of bodice and yoke, placing marker at beginning of neckline shaping; pick up and k 1 st in each CO st around neckline, pick up and k 3 sts for every 4 rows along edge of left yoke and bodice, placing marker at end of neckline shaping; place marker, pick up and k 2 sts for every 3 rows along front edge of skirt.
K 7 rows.

Note: In next row, “holder” refers to safety pin or small st holder.

Next Row [RS]: [BO all sts to first marker, BO one more st, k2 (3 sts on right needle) and place these 3 sts on holder, continue binding off to 3 sts before next marker, k2 (3 sts on right needle) and place these 3 sts on holder] twice, BO all sts to end. 4 sets of 3 held sts.

Ties:
Place one set of held sts on smaller double-point needle with WS facing and rejoin yarn. Work in garter st for 3 inches. BO all sts.
Work remaining 3 sets of sts in the same way.

Weave in ends.

Alison lives in the Merrimack Valley north of Boston, where she is working on making knit design and other crafty pursuits her full-time job. 

For updates on her latest designs and her teaching schedule, visit her website.