Materials:
- 1oog Misti Alpaca, chunky (100% baby alpaca... so delicious)
- 7.5mm circular needles
- 4 stitch markers
- 2 buttons
- yarn needle to sew in tails
Abbreviations:
k - knit
p - purl
st st - stockinette stitch
k2tog - knit 2 stitches together
ssk - slip following 2 stitches knitwise, insert left hand needle through the front of both slipped stitches and knit. Or see tutorial here.
YO - yarn over
rnd - round
dec - decrease
sl st - slip stitch
SM - stitch marker
Babygirl Dress
Size newborn - width: 6.3" length (not inc straps): 7.5" approx.
Gauge: 3 sts by 5 rows = 1 inch sqaure
Cast on 61 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches.
rnds 1 - 4: work in Moss Stitch - k1, p1 continuously.
rnds 5 - 8: knit.
On 8th rnd, place SMs like this: k13, SM, k5, SM, k25, SM, k5, SM, k13.
rnd 9 (dec rnd): k until 2 sts remain before SM, ssk, transfer SM from left to right needle, k5, transfer SM, k2tog, k until 2 sts remain before SM, ssk, transfer SM, k5, transfer SM, k2tog, k to end of rnd.
rnd 10: knit.
rnd 11: knit.
-repeat rnds 9 - 11 4 more times, until you have 41 sts remaining-
rnds 24 - 27: knit.
rnds 27 - 38: moss st (12 rnds).
rnd 39: cast off 4 sts, k4, cast off 25, k4, cast off 4. The 2 sets of 4 sts left on your needles are the beginnings of the straps. Now you can either use a crochet needle to sl st over to your first strap, or if you prefer, break off the yarn and rejoin at strap.
Straps: Continue in moss st for 30 rows (at this point you can adjust the length of the straps by removing or adding rows to suit your dress).
row 31 (button hole shaping): k2tog, YO, k2.
row 32: *k1, p1* twice.
row 33: *p1, k1* twice.
Cast off.
Sew buttons on the bodice (using the picture for guidance) and sew in tails.
To embellish, use a crochet needle to pick up stitches around the button holes and crochet little flowers, or whatever motif you like. I found inspiration for mine in 201 Crochet Motifs and 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet.
