Knitted Beautiful Dress For Little Girls

Knitting a beautiful dress for little girls can be such a joy! The intricate patterns, soft yarn, and vibrant colors make each stitch a labor of love. Not only does it provide a creative outlet, but the end result is a truly unique piece that is sure to make any little girl feel like a princess. The personal touch that comes with hand-knitted garments adds a special charm that store-bought clothes just can't match. Whether it's a summer sundress or a cozy winter sweater dress, the process of knitting for little ones is as heartwarming as it is rewarding. So grab your needles and yarn, and get ready to create something truly special for the little girl in your life!

Materials

• Double Knitting yarn, 40g balls -
• 6 [6, 7]
• One pair each of Nos 8 (4mm), and 10 (3¼mm) needles.
• 1 cable needle.

Tension

22 sts x 30 rows to 4 inches measured over stocking stitch

Size matters

To fit chest:

22 [24, 26] inches;

length to shoulder: 16 [18, 21] inches; sleeve seam: 8½ [10, 11½] inches.

Abbreviations:

• k/p: knit/purl
• ktbl: knit through back loops
• T2R: twist 2 stitches right - knit the 2nd stitch on the left hand needle, then knit first stitch
• T2L: twist 2 stitches left - knit the 2nd stitch on the left hand needle tbl, then knit first stitch
• C6B: slip the next 3 stitches on to a cable needle and hold at back of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit 3 from cable needle
• C6F: slip the next 3 stitches on to a cable needle and hold at front of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit 3 from cable needle
• p3tog: purl 3 stitches together.

A Word on the Wool

The original yarn was a standard synthetic double knitting crepe yarn. Possibly about 100m per 40g ball.

Instructions.

3 sizes - larger sizes are given between brackets -

eg Small [Medium, Large].

Front

Using No 8 (4mm) needles, cast on 92 [102, 112] stitches and work 7 rows in kl/pl rib.

Next row (hemline row): Knit to end.

Commence Pattern.

1st row (right side facing)): k17 [20, 23]; p2, k6, p2, k1tbl, (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times; p1, knit the 2nd stitch on the left hand needle, then knit first stitch - called T2R -, p1; (k1, p1, k1 into the next stitch, p3) 4 times; p1, knit the 2nd stitch on the left hand needle tbl, then knit first stitch - called T2L -, p1; k1tbl (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times; p2, k6, p2, k17 [20, 23].

2nd Row: p17 [20, 23]; k2, p6, k2, p1, (k1tbl, p1) 3 [4, 5] times, k1, p2, k1, (p3tog, k3) 4 times, k1, p2, k1, p1, (k1tbl, p1) 3 [4, 5] times, k2, p6, k2; p17 [20, 23].

3rd Row: k17 [20, 23]; p2, k6, p2, k1tbl, (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times, p1, T2R, p1, (p3, then k1 p1, k1 into the next stitch) 4 times, p1, T2L, p1, k1tbl, (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times, p2, k6, p2, k17 [20, 23].

4th Row: p17 [20, 23]; k2, p6, k2, p1, (k1tbl, p1) 3 [4, 5] times, k1, p2, k1, (k3, p3tog) 4 times, k1, p2, k1, p1, (k1tbl, p1) 3 [4, 5] times, k2, p6, k2, p17 [20, 23].

5th Row: as 1st row.

6th Row: as 2nd row.

7th Row: p17 [20, 23], p2, slip the next 3 stitches on to a cable needle and hold at back of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit 3 from cable needle - called C6B -, p2, k1tbl, (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times, p1, T2R, p1, (p3, then k1, p1, k1 into the next stitch) 4 times, p1, T2L, p1, k1tbl, (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times, p2, slip the next 3 stitches on to a cable needle and hold at front of work, k3 stitches then k3 from cable needle - called C6F -, p2, p17 [20, 23].

8th Row: p17 [20, 23], k2, p6, k2, p1, (k1tbl, p1) 3 [4, 5] times, k1, p2, k1, (k3, p3tog) 4 times, k1, p2, k1, (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times, p1, k2, p6, k2, p17 [20, 23].

These 8 rows form the pattern.

Keeping pattern correct, decrease one stitch at each end of the next and every following 10th row until 80 [88, 96] stitches remain.

Continue without shaping until works measures 11½ [13, 15½] inches from hemline, ending with a wrong side row.

Shape armholes: by casting off 4 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Decrease one stitch at each end of the next 3 [4, 5] rows, then at each end of the following alternate row. 64 [70, 76] stitches.

Continue without shaping until armhole measures 3 [3½, 4] inches from the beginning, ending with a wrong side row.

Shape neck:

Next Row: pattern 20 [22, 24]. Turn.

Leave remaining stitches on a holder or spare needle.

Complete this side first, by decreasing one stitch at the neck edge on the next and every following alternate row until 16 [18, 20] stitches remain, ending at the armhole edge.

Shape shoulder:

Cast off at the beginning of the next and following alternate row 4 [5, 6] stitches once and 12 [13, 14] stitches once.

With right side of work facing, slip the first 24 [26, 28] stitches on to a holder for the centre front neck, and rejoin the yarn to the remaining stitches. Complete to match the first side, reversing shaping.

Back

Work as given for the Front until armhole shaping is completed.

Continue without shaping until armholes measure the same as the front to the shoulder, ending with a wrong side row.

Shape shoulders:

Cast off at the beginning of the next and every row 4 [5, 6] stitches twice, and then 12 [13, 14] stitches twice.

Leave the remaining 32 [34, 36] stitches on a holder for centre back neck.

Sleeves

Using No 10 (3¼mm) needles, cast on 34 [36, 40] stitches.

Work 17 rows k1/p1 rib, increasing one stitch at the end of the last row on the 2nd size only: 34 [37, 40] stitches.

Next Row k1, * increase in next stitch, rib 2; repeat from * to end:

45 [49, 53] stitches.

Commence working the pattern.

1st Row (right side facing): k9 [10, 11], p2, k6, p2, k1tbl, (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times, p2, k6, p2, k9 [10, 11].

2nd Row: p9 [10, 11], k2, p6, k2, p1, (k1tbl, p1) 3 [4, 5] times, k2, p6, k2, p9 [10, 11].

Repeat the last 2 rows twice more.

7th Row: p9 [10, 11], p2, C6B, p2, k1tbl, (p1, k1tbl) 3 [4, 5] times, p2, C6F, p2, p9 [10, 11].

8th Row: as 2nd row.

These 8 rows form the pattern. Keeping the pattern correct, increase one stitch at each end of the next and every following 8th row until there are 49 [55, 61] stitches.

Change to No 8 (4m) needles.

Continue without shaping until sleeve measures 8½ [10, 11½] inches from the beginning, ending with the same wrong side pattern row as on the Front and Back at the underarm.

Shape top:

Cast off at the beginning of the next and every row 4 stitches twice, one stitches 6 times, 2 stitches 10 [12, 14] times, and 15 [17, 19] stitches once.

Polo neck

Join right shoulder seam.

Using No 10 needles, and with right side of work facing, begin at the left front shoulder and knit up 10 stitches down left front neck, knit across 24 [26, 28] stitches on the holder for the front neck, knit up 10 stitches up the right front neck; then knit across 32 [34, 36] stitches on the holder for the back neck: 76 [80, 84]

Work 10 rows k1/p1 rib.

Change to No 8 needles and work 18 rows k1, p1,rib.

Cast off in rib.

To Make Up

Do not press.

Join left shoulder seam.

Set in sleeves.

Join side and sleeve seams.

Turn hem at lower edge to wrong side and slip stitch in place.