Tea Party Frock
By Justine Turner
I love the look of little girls party dresses from the 40’s and 50’s – frothy white layered chiffon skirts accented with brightly colored satin sashes. Today’s little girl (and her Mom!) is to busy to fuss with all of that froufrou and scratchy netting, so I combined the cuteness of a full ruffled skirt and embroidered sash with the practicality of a square neck and angel sleeves creating a top which will look delightful over jeans or with her favourite skirt, and fab over a cute nappy cover or leggings for crawling babies.
Sizes
0-6 months (6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months, 2T)
Shown in size 2T
Finished Measurements
Chest: 18[19, 20, 21, 22] inches
Length: 8.75[10.25, 11.25, 12.5, 14.25] inches
Materials
Forever Green Elan Organic Merino (100% organic merino wool; 182 yards/166 meters per 1.75 ounce/50 gram ball]
900 Ecru (MC); 1[2, 2, 3, 3] balls
903 Indie Blue (CC); 1 ball for all sizes
Recommended needle sizes
US #3/3.25 mm 16 inch circular needle
Notions
2 Stitch markers
4 Stitch holders
Yarn needle
.5 inch buttons - 2
Gauge
24 sts and 32 rows = 4 inches square in St st
24 sts and 50 rows = 4 inches square in Garter st
24 sts and 38 rows = 4 inches square in Ripple st
Pattern Notes
Ripple pattern
Work 7 rnds in St st (knit every rnd).
Next Rnd: Knit into front and back of every st (you now have double the number of sts)
Work 7 rnds in St st.
Next Rnd: K2tog across.
Instructions are given for the smallest size, with subsequent sizes following in brackets. If there is only one figure, it applies to all sizes.
Garment is knitted in the round to underarms.
Skills Required
Knitting in the round using a circular needle, increasing, decreasing, simple embroidery
INSTRUCTIONS
SKIRT
With MC and circular needle cast on 140[150, 160, 170, 180] sts using a cable cast on.
Join to work in rnds, being careful not to twist. Place marker for beginning of rnd
– join is under left arm.
Work 6 (6, 6, 8, 8) rnds in garter st (knit 1 rnd, purl 1 rnd)
Work in ripple pattern for a total of 40[48, 56, 64, 72] rnds decreasing as follows:
Work 20 rnds.
Next Rnd: Knit around decreasing 15[18, 14, 12, 13] sts evenly spaced: 125[132, 146, 158, 167] sts.
Work 15 rnds.
Next Rnd: Knit around decreasing 15[18, 14, 17, 13] sts evenly spaced: 110[114, 132, 141, 154] sts.
Size 0-6 months ONLY
Knit 3 rnds, then proceed to Sash.
Size 6-12 months ONLY
Work 11 rnds, then proceed to Sash.
Sizes 12-18 months, 18-24 months, and 2T ONLY
Work 15 rnds.
Next Rnd: Knit around decreasing 0[0, 12, 17, 13] sts evenly spaced: 110[114, 120, 124, 141] sts.
Size 12-18 months ONLY
Knit 3 rnds, then proceed to Sash.
Size 18-24 months ONLY
Knit 11 rnds, then proceed to Sash.
Size 2T ONLY
Work 15 rnds
Next Rnd: Knit around decreasing 0(0, 0, 0, 11] sts evenly spaced: 110[114, 120, 124, 130] sts.
Knit 3 rnds, then proceed to Sash.
Sash
With CC, work 4[5, 6, 7, 7] rnds in St st (knit every rnd).
Sizes 0-6 months, 12-18 months, and 2T ONLY
Next Rnd (eyelet holes): * K8, yo, k2tog; repeat from * around.
Sizes 6-12 months and 18-24 months ONLY
Next Rnd (eyelet holes): K9, yo, k2tog, (k8, yo, k2tog) [3, 4] times, (k9, yo, k2tog) twice, (k8, yo, k2tog) [4, 4] times, k9, yo, k2tog.
All Sizes
Work 4[5, 6, 7, 7] rnds in St st.
FRONT
You will be working the top in garter st (knit every row).
Knit 55[57, 60, 62, 65] sts, place the next 55[57, 60, 62, 65] on a holder for backs.
Next Row: Knit across.
Next Row (RS): K1, M1, pm, knit across to last st, pm, M1, k1: 57[59, 62, 64, 67] sts.
Next Row: Knit across.
Next Row: Knit to marker, M1, slip marker, knit to marker, slip marker, M1, knit to end: 59[61, 64, 66, 69] sts.
Next Row: Knit across.
Repeat last 2 rows, 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) times: 79[83, 88, 92, 97] sts.
Neck Shaping
Next Row: Knit to marker, M1, slip marker, k16, bind off next 21[23, 26, 28, 31] sts, k16, slip marker, M1, knit across: 30[31, 32, 33, 34] sts each side.
Right Shoulder
Next Row: Knit across.
Next Row: Knit to marker, slip marker, M1, knit to end: 31[32, 33, 34, 35] sts.
Repeat last 2 rows, 2[2, 3, 3, 3] times: 33[34, 36, 37, 38] sts.
Work even until Sleeve measures 3[3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4] inches from Sash, ending with a WS row.
Break yarn leaving a 12 inch tail for grafting.
Place shoulder sts on a holder.
Left Shoulder
Rejoin yarn at neck edge.
Next Row: Knit across.
Next Row: Knit to marker, M1, slip marker, knit to end: 31[32, 33, 34, 35] sts.
Repeat last 2 rows, 2[2, 3, 3, 3] times: 33[34, 36, 37, 38] sts.
Work even until Sleeve measures 3[3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4] inches from Sash, ending with a WS row.
Break yarn (leaving a tail as before) and place on holder.
BACK
With RS facing, place 55[57, 60, 62, 65] sts from Back st holder on needle and knit 2 rows.
Right Shoulder
Next Row (RS): K1, M1, pm, knit 26[27, 29, 30, 31] sts, place rem sts back onto st holder and continue on the right back: 27[28, 30, 31, 32] sts.
Next Row: Knit across.
Next Row: Knit to marker, M1, slip marker, knit to end.
Repeat last 2 rows 14[15, 17, 18, 19) times: 42[44, 48, 50, 52] sts.
(stop sleeve increases now)
Next Row (WS): Bind off 10 (11, 13, 14, 15) sts, knit aross.
Work even on remaining sts until Right Shoulder measures same as Front to shoulder, break yarn (leave a couple of inches as a tail to darn in) and place sts on a holder.
Left Shoulder
Rejoin yarn at center back, knit across to last st, pm, M1, k1.
Next Row: Knit across.
Next Row: Knit to marker, slip marker, M1, knit to end.
Repeat last 2 rows 14[15, 17, 18, 19) times: 43[45, 48, 50, 53] sts.
(stop sleeve increases now)
Next Row: Knit across.
Next Row: Bind off 11[12, 13, 14, 16] sts.
Work even on remaining sts until Left Shoulder measures same as Front to shoulder, break yarn (leave a couple of inches as a tail to darn in) and place sts on a holder.
FINISHING
With right sides facing, graft shoulder seams.
Darn in loose ends.
Embroider lazy daisies around eyelet holes.
Sew buttons onto back and crochet simple loops on the opposite back.
Block gently.
Justine lives in Auckland, New Zealand and has been designing knitwear for babies and children since her first daughter was born, however it took her until 2006 to start sharing her patterns with the world via her website and Ravelry where you can find her as justjussi.
Pattern © 2009 Justine Turner. Contact