This square-neck dress is worked top-down, using 1x1 ribbed fabric and carefully placed shaping to create a fitted, curve-hugging look. This dress looks amazing whether dressed up for a night out or with flip flops for a casual day piece. The fit of this design will have you feeling even better than you look, and is perfect for any body, any yarn, and any skill level.

Sizes
This pattern is written to meet the finished measurements in the chart provided below, with finished bust sizes: 24, 28, 32, 36 (40, 44, 48)52, 56, 60“/61, 71.5, 81.5, 91.5 (102, 112, 122)132.5, 144, 152.5cm and finished waist sizes: 20, 24, 28, 32 (36, 40, 44)48, 52, 56”/51, 61, 71.5, 81.5 (91.5, 102, 112)122, 132.5, 142.5cm.

The sample was knit to about 4”/10cm of negative ease (smaller than my body measurements) throughout. The dress would look wonderful with anywhere between 2”/5cm and 8”/20cm of negative ease.

Materials
You will need one BOR marker, six extra stitch markers, darning needle, waste yarn or spare
needle, scissors, measuring tape, and your super amazing body.

Techniques
You will need to know how to cast on, knit in the round, purl, decrease, increase, cast-on mid-row, work German short-rows, sewn bind-off, block, weave in ends, and have fun.

Suggested Yarn
420 from thelittlewolfknits: 100% superwash merino, light DK weight 8-ply, 274yd/250m per 100g.

The sample used two skeins of Old Fashioned on 420.

Any DK weight (or fingering and lace weight held together) yarn should work – just make sure to adjust to get gauge. Alternatives include: Knit Picks Swish, Knit Picks Stroll and Aloft

Suggested Tutorials
Swatch Cast-on from Patty Lyons
Backward Loop cast-on from Very Pink Knits
Center Double Decrease from VeryPink Knits
Knit fbf from Christy Hill
Sewn Bind-Off from Purl Soho

Suggested Needles
Main Needle: US 5 (3.75mm)
But use whatever needle you need to achieve gauge!
(Or just do the math and do your own thing)

Gauge
24 sts x 32 rows = 4”/10cm in 1x1 ribbing blocked. When swatching, remember to cast on more stitches than you’re intending to measure so that you can get an accurate measurement (the end and beginning stitches tend to be looser). I recommend using this tutorial to start and finish the swatch for the most accurate measurements.

Color Suggestions
Like I said, this pattern is perfect for any yarn, and can be made with a tonal or variegated AND it would make amazing scrappy project. Have random odds and ends lying around? Use them for a fun stripey version!

Yardage:
The yardage for the Bayside Dress followed to pattern is:
1069, 1232, 1394, 1546 (1776, 1943, 2109)2336, 2548, 2708 yd/973, 1121, 1269, 1407 (1616, 1768, 1920)2126, 2318, 2464 m.

Each additional 1”/2.5cm of length to the body of the top will require approximately an additional 29, 33, 38, 43 (48, 52, 57)62, 66, 71yd/26, 31, 35, 39 (43, 48, 52)56, 61, 65m to the yardage listed above.

If adding short rows for the bust, this will require an additional 29, 33, 38, 43 (48, 52, 57)62, 66, 71yd/26, 31, 35, 39 (43, 48, 52)56, 61, 65m

If using the suggested yarn, this would be 4, 5, 5, 6 (7, 7, 8)9, 10, 10 skeins of 420. Please remember that these are best estimates.