With its simple stocking stitch pattern, this tunic dress is very quick to knit up. Designed and named by my daughter, Isabella, I constructed the pattern design and knit it up in Kartopu Kar-Sim metallic yarn and WonderSoft Merry Go Round rainbow DK yarn, which were purchased on holiday in Iceland. Similar yarns available to purchase in the UK include King Cole Glitz and James C Brett Twinkle brands. If using an alternative yarn, please knit up a swatch to test the gauge first and adapt pattern or needle size to suit. If knitting for a baby, a softer yarn like King Cole Baby Glitz is recommended.

Tutorials

Size

Children’s XXS/6-9m/16″/40cm [XS/12-18m/18″/44cm, S/2-4y/19″/47cm, M/4- 6y/21″/53cm, L/6-8y/26″/65cm, XL/8-10y/28″/69cm]

Shown in size L

Yarn

1 x 100g ball of each of the following: Kartopu, Kar-Sim (97% acrylic, 3% metallic yarn; 300m per 100g ball) in cerise (CA – K733), aubergine (CB – K725), raspberry (CC – 732), and teal blue (CD –K512); WonderSoft Merry Go Round DK (100% acrylic; 294m per 100g ball) in rainbow (CE – shade 3142)

Needles

US size 6/4mm circular (80cm) for rib and US size 7/4.5mm in both circular needles and DPNs for st st or size needed to achieve gauge

Notions

Yarn needle, 6 stitch markers, 2 stitch holders or waste yarn

Gauge

22 sts and 26 rows is 4″x4″ or 10cm by 10cm in st st.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard abbreviations.

RY – rainbow yarn

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in the round from the top down.

Pattern

Section 1

Using US 6/4mm circular needles or DPNs and CA, CO 80 [80, 84, 88, 92, 96] sts, place marker and join in the round

Rnd 1: *K2, p2, rep from * to form 2×2 rib for neckline

Rnds 2-4: Work in 2×2 rib

Divide for Front, Back and Sleeves

Rnd 5: Change to US 7/4.5mm circular needles, working in st st, pm after 16 [16, 17, 18, 18, 19] sts for first sleeve, after next 24 [24, 25, 26, 28, 29] sts for front, after next 16 [16, 17, 18, 18, 19] sts for second sleeve, k to end.

Section 2

Rnd 6: Working in st st, k2, yo, *k to 2 st bef m, yo, k to 2 st after m, yo, rep from * 2 more times, k to 2 st bef last m, yo, k to end – 8 sts inc’d, 88 [88, 92, 96, 100, 104] sts in total

Rnd 7: K around.

Rep above 2 rnds another 3 [4, 5, 6, 10, 11] times – 32 [40, 48, 56, 88, 96] incs, 120 [128, 140, 152, 188, 200] sts in total

Section 3

Next rnd (divide sleeves from body): K2, transfer next 24 [24, 28, 30, 37, 40] sts to stitch holder or waste yarn for first sleeve, CO 4 [4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts for underarm, pm, CO another 4 [4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts for underarm, k to next m, k2, transfer next 24 [24, 28, 30, 37, 40] sts to stitch holder or waste yarn for second sleeve, CO 4 [4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts for underarm, pm, CO another 4 [4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts for underarm, k to end

Cont in st st. AT THE SAME TIME, change colors as follows: when piece measures 10 [11, 12, 13, 15, 17] cm from neck edge, change to CB; when piece measures 19 [22, 24, 25, 28, 31] cm from neck edge, change to CC

Inc rnd: Slm, kfb, k to next m, slm, kfb, k to end

K3 rnds

Rep inc rnd once more – 124 [132, 144, 156, 192, 204] sts total

AT THE SAME TIME, when piece measures 10 [12, 13, 14, 15, 17]” or 27 [30, 33, 36, 39, 44] cm from neck edge, change to CD

Cont in st st until pieces measures 15 [17, 19, 20, 22, 25]” or 38 [43, 48, 51, 57, 64] cm from neck edge or 1.5”/4cm less than total desired length – alter to suit height.

AT THE SAME TIME, change to CE and change to 4mm circular needles (or dpns) and work in 2×2 rib for a further 1.5” or 4cm, until piece measures 16.5 [18.5, 20.5, 21.5, 24, 26.5]” or 42 [47, 52, 55, 61, 68] cm in length or desired length as above

BO loosely in pattern. Weave in ends.

Sleeves

Using 4.5mm dpns and CA, with RS facing, starting at marker half way between newly CO sts underarm, pu and k 4 [4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts, k to next set of newly CO sts, pu and k 4 [4, 5, 6, 7, 8] sts; 32 [32, 38, 42, 51, 56] total sts for sleeve.

Working in st st, k in rnd until sleeve measures 1.25 [1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.25, 2.75]” or 3 [3, 4, 5, 6, 7] cm from underarm, change to CB

Next Rnd: Slm, k2tog, k to end.

Next 3 Rnds: K around

Rep above 4 rnds an additional 7 [7, 10, 9, 11, 10] times; 24 [24, 27, 32, 39, 45] sts rem.

AT THE SAME TIME, change colors as follows: when sleeve measures 2.25 [2.75, 3, 4.25, 5, 6]” or 6 [7, 8, 11, 13, 15] cm from underarm, change to CC; when sleeve measures 4 [4.25, 5, 6.5, 8, 9]” or 10 [11, 13, 17, 20, 23] cm from underarm, change to CD; when sleeve measures 6 [7, 8.25, 10, 10.5, 12]” or 15 [18, 21, 25, 27, 30] cm from underarm, change to CE

When sleeve measures 7 [8.25, 9.5, 11, 12, 13]” or 18 [21, 24, 28, 30, 33] cm or 4 cm less than desired sleeve length, change to US 6/4mm DPNs and work in 2×2 rib for further 1.5” or 4 cm

BO loosely in pattern.

Finishing

Weave in ends.

Block gently if desired.

About the Designer: Mhairi Morris

My name is Mhairi (pronounced “Vari”), I am a Biochemistry Lecturer at a UK university by day, and an avid knitter (and general crafter!) by night. I recently found myself increasingly wanting to alter and amend the patterns I was knitting up to make them suit or fit me better, and then I decided I’d try my hand at designing my own.

After a whole lot of research, mainly on Ravelry, but also through informal email exchanges with Lauren Riker of Girly Knits, reading Alex Tinsley’s eBook (“So you want to be a knitting designer…”), and a good dose of the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show podcast, I took the plunge and began drafting and submitting my own designs.

My Ravelry and Instagram usernames are both mhairimorris – I’d love to connect with other knitters and designers, so please do pop by and say ‘hello’.

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