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13 September knitting ideas digest

Knitted Ray of Sunshine Toddler Dress — Top‑Down Pattern & Step‑by‑Step Instructions

Accessories

Bright, cheerful and perfectly sized for little ones, the Knitted Ray of Sunshine Toddler Dress is a top‑down knit featuring a charming lace motif and a buttoned back opening. This pattern works from the neckline down using short‑row shaping for armholes and finishes with a delicate lace skirt — ideal for sunny days or special occasions.

Knitted Ray of Sunshine Toddler Dress — Top‑Down Pattern & Step‑by‑Step Instructions
Knitted Ray of Sunshine toddler dress in sunshine yellow — a top‑down knit with lace detail and buttoned back opening.

The instructions below include materials, gauge, sizes and a full step‑by‑step pattern. Recommended yarn and notions are listed where provided; follow ball‑band care instructions when finishing.

Materials: I used Anchor delux baby in a sunshine yellow shade — 1 (2, 3, 4) 100g balls, but any sport or baby yarn that knits to gauge will work.

Needles: 3.5mm circular 60cm
Buttons: four, small

Gauge : 24 sts x 31 rows = 10 cm (4ins) over stockinette stitch.

Measurements and Sizes

Sizes to fit (years): 9-18 months (2-3, 4-5, 6-7)
Chest (cm): 50 (55, 60, 65)
Actual chest (cm): 70.5 (81.5, 92.5, 103.5)
Back length (cm): 44 (50, 56, 62)

Abbreviations:

  • k – knit
  • P – purl
  • K2tog – knit 2 together
  • yfwd – yarn forward
  • M1 – make one
  • skpo - slip a stitch, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over
  • sk2po – slip one, knit two stitches together, then pass the slipped stitch over

This dress is worked from the top down and includes wrap and turns to create short‑row shaping for the armholes.

Body

NOTE: work from the top down in one piece. Using 3.5mm circular needle cast on 54 (66, 78, 90) sts. Do NOT join in the rnd.

K two rows. Continue in lace pattern as follows:

Row 1 (RS): k
Row 2 and all alt rows: k3, p to last three sts, k3

Row 3: k3, * k3, yfwd, k3, rep from * to last three sts, k1, yfwd, k2tog.
Row 5: k3, * k3, [yfwd, k1] twice, k2, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 7: k3, * k3, [yfwd, k1] four times, k2, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 9: k3, * skpo, k2, yfwd, k2tog, k1, skpo, yfwd, k2, k2tog, rep from * to last three sts, k1, yfwd, k2tog

Row 11: k3, * k2, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, skpo, yfwd, k2, yfwd, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 13: k3, * yfwd, skpo, k2, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, k2, k2tog, yfwd, k1, rep from * to last three sts, k3

Row 15: k3, * k1, yfwd, skpo, k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k2, rep from * to last three sts, k1, yfwd, k2tog
Row 17: k4, * k1, yfwd, skpo, k3, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, rep from * ending last rep, k1, yfwd, skpo, k3, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, k2tog, k3

Row 19: k3, * yfwd, k3, yfwd, skpo, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k3, yfwd, k1, rep from * to last three sts, k3
Row 21: k3, * [k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd] three times, k2, rep from * to last three sts, k1, yfwd, k2tog. 118 (146, 174, 202) sts
Row 22 (WS): k
Next row: k
Next row: cast off three sts, k to end. 115 (143, 171, 199) sts

Divide for armholes

Next row: k18 (21, 24, 29), cast off next 21 (28, 35, 41) sts pwise, k next 37 (45, 53, 59) sts, cast off next 21 (28, 35, 41) sts pwise, k rem 18 (21, 24, 29) sts
Break yarn and sl the last group of 18 (21, 24, 29) sts onto the opposite end of the needle.

NOTE: these 36 (42, 48, 58) sts are for the back of the dress. With RS facing rejoin yarn to these 36 (42, 48, 58) sts and work as follows:

Next row (RS): k2 (4, 6, 12) sts, then k twice in each st to last 2 (4, 6, 12) sts, k to end of row. 68 (76, 84, 92) sts.
Turn and work on these sts only as follows.

Work shaping for armhole

Next row: p twice into first st, p6 (8, 10, 12), w&t
Next row: k
Next row: p twice into first st, p12 (14, 16, 18), w&t
Next row: k to end
Next row: p twice into first st, p19 (21, 23, 25), w&t
Next row: k
Next row: cast on 2 (4, 6, 8) sts, p to end. 73 (83, 93, 103) sts
Next row: k twice into first st, k6 (8, 10, 12), w&t
Next row: p
Next row: k twice into first st, k12 (14, 16, 18), w&t
Next row: p
Next row: k twice into first st, k19 (21, 23, 25), w&t
Next row: p
Next row: cast on 2 (4, 6, 8) sts, k to end. 78 (90, 102, 114) sts
Break yarn and rejoin to Front 37 (45, 53, 59) sts with RS facing.

Next row (RS): k3 (7, 11, 13) sts, then k twice in each st to last 3 (7, 11, 13) sts, k to end of row, turn. 68 (76, 84, 92) sts
Work on these sts only as given from the earlier shaping. 78 (90, 102, 114) sts
Place marker for beg/end of rnd and continue in st st (every rnd k) working in rnds across all the sts of the back and then the front. 156 (180, 204, 228) sts

Work 16 rnds in st st
Inc rnd: k19 (22, 25, 28), m1, k40 (46, 52, 58), m1, k38 (44, 50, 56), m1, k40 (46, 52, 58), m1, k19 (22, 25, 28). 160 (184, 208, 232) sts
Work 16 rnds in st st
Inc rnd: k19 (22, 25, 28), m1, k42 (48, 54, 60), m1, k38 (44, 50, 56), m1, k42 (48, 54, 60), m1, k19 (22, 25, 28). 164 (188, 212, 236) sts
Work 16 rnds in st st
Inc rnd: k20 (23, 26, 29), m1, k42 (48, 54, 60), m1, k40 (46, 52, 58) sts, m1, k42 (48, 54, 60), m1, k20 (23, 26, 29). 168 (192, 216, 240) sts
Work 16 rnds in st st

FIRST SIZE ONLY
Next rnd: k to end inc two sts evenly across rnd. 170 sts

SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH SIZE ONLY
Inc rnd: k23 (26, 29) sts, m1, k50 (56, 62) sts, m1, k46 (52, 58) sts, m1, k50 (56, 62) sts, m1, k23 (26, 29) sts. 196 (220, 244) sts
Work 16 rnds
Inc rnd: k24 (27, 30), m1, k50 (56, 62), m1, k48 (54, 60), m1, k50 (56, 62), m1, k24 (27, 30). 200 (224, 248) sts

THIRD SIZE ONLY
Inc rnd: k27, m1, k58, m1, k54, m1, k58, m1, k27. 228 sts
Next rnd: k to end inc two sts evenly across rnd. 230 sts

FOURTH SIZE ONLY
Next rnd: k to end inc two sts evenly across rnd. 250 sts
Work 11 rnds

All sizes

Continue in lace stitch pattern on these 170 (200, 230, 250) sts as follows:

Rnd 1 (RS): k
Rnd 2 and alt rows: k
Rnd 3: * k5, yfwd, k5, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 5: * k2tog, k3, [yfwd, k1] twice, k2, skpo, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 7: * k2tog, k2, [yfwd, k1] four times, k1, skpo, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 9: * k2tog, k2, yfwd, skpo, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k2, skpo, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 11: * k2, yfwd, k2tog, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, skpo, yfwd, k2, yfwd, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 13: * yfwd, skpo, k2, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, k2, k2tog, yfwd, k1, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 15: * k1, yfwd, skpo, k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k2, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 17: sl 1, * yfwd, k1, yfwd, skpo, k3, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, sk2po, rep from * to last rep, yfwd, k1, yfwd, skpo, k3, k2tog, yfwd, k1, yfwd, sl 2, remove marker, place second of these two sl sts back on to LH needle, k2tog, psso, replace marker
Rnd 19: * yfwd, k3, yfwd, skpo, k1, k2tog, yfwd, k3, yfwd, k1, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 21: * [k1, yfwd, sk2po, yfwd] three times, k2, rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 22 and 23: k
Cast off loosely pwise.

Armhole edging

(alike) Working from the RS pick up and k 28 (32, 36, 38) sts around underarm. Cast off kwise.

Finishing

Press lightly on WS or according to ball band instructions. Sew in all ends. Sew the three cast off sts at bottom of back opening to the inside of the work. Sew buttons into place to correspond with buttonholes.

accessories, easy diy, fashion
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