The title says it all…this dress really is the sweetest little thing!

This warmer-weather dress begins with a simple, scalloped hem that works up in just 5 rounds. A lot of “tv knitting” follows with a full, stockinette skirt that requires no shaping until the empire waist. The bodice goes quick, and the delicate, puffy sleeves are formed from stitches picked up at the arm hole, a short-row sleeve cap, then working a few rounds followed with an i-cord bind-off. Another i-cord trims out the neckline.

This dress would be a lovely special-occasion dress for your special girl. Make it for her first birthday, for a summer wedding, or as a dress for baby to wear to church. Or, with a little extra length added to the skirt, this would make an exquisite baptism gown.

The sizes listed above correspond to finished chest sizes of 17.5 (19.25, 20, 21, 21.75)“. Intended positive ease is between 0-1”, as this is a dress that will likely not be worn with anything (except possibly a thin undergarment) beneath it. My little model was just beginning to wear the size I made for her, so it appears a bit long in the photos. On a child that is solidly into the size made for her, the hem is intended to hit just below the knee.

This “Intermediate” pattern includes the following techniques:
• Knitting in the round (and a bit of knitting flat for the bodice)
• Decreases (K2tog, SSK, P2togtbl)
• Casting on a backward loop (for button hole)
• Kitchener Stitch (for shoulder seams)
• Picking up stitches (for sleeves & button band)
• Working a short-row sleeve cap with Wrap & Turns
• I-cord bind off (video link and detailed explanation given)
• Applied i-cord neckline trim (video link and detailed explanation given)

Instructions are fully written out (no charts) and a detailed schematic is included. An i-cord supplement is also attached to the pattern file so anyone not familiar with i-cord techniques can get the detailed instructions they want, but more experienced knitters won’t have to wade through instructions they don’t need. Video links are also included for i-cord, picking up stitches, and Kitchener stitch techniques.

Materials:
360 (400, 460, 500, 525) yds light fingering Weight Yarn. Sample was made from Manos del Uruguay Serena, 60/40 Alpaca/Cotton, 170
yds/50g skein
Please note: This yarn is listed in the Ravelry database as a “sport-weight” yarn, but it knits up like a lighter fingering weight similar to Malabrigo Sock or Lorna’s Laces Solemate. So please make your yarn choice something that is on the light side of fingering. You will have a hard time getting true sport-weight to get down to 28 stitches/4”, and if you can get the stitches that small, the fabric will likely be quite stiff.
US Size 2.5 / 3mm circ needle
Pair of US Size 2.5 / 3mm dpns
2 buttons, 1/2” in circumference
2 traveling markers, 2 fixed markers
3 stitch holders or scrap yarn

My thanks go out to the terrific testers who worked on this project and provided the feedback that took this pattern from good to great. I appreciate all your work momofthirteen, maritere, mercurr, and kmb34me!