A busy kid needs a warm outfit for cold-weather adventures— but there’s no reason it can’t be pretty, too! This dress was inspired by my niece’s refusal to wear anything but dresses one winter and my sister-in-law’s desperate plea for long-sleeved, warm versions. This one’s long sleeves and higher neckline will keep your favorite kid nice and toasty.

Nandi is worked from the bottom up, in the round to the armholes and then back and forth, with a lateral braid dividing the sections. Slipped-stitch colorwork (only one color used per row!) forms the pattern on the yoke. Stitches are then picked up around the armholes and long sleeves are worked downwards with short-rowed caps.

Pattern includes both written instructions and charts.

Note: This is an intermediate-level pattern. You’ll need to be able to read your knitting while working shaping in the mosaic (slipped-stitch) colorwork pattern in the yoke section, which can be a bit challenging at times. The pattern also includes a lateral braid (instructions given) and short rows for the sleeve caps.

Finished Chest Measurement:
19.75 (21, 22.5, 24, 25.5, 27.75)” or 50 [53.5, 57, 61, 65, 70.5] cm
To fit approximately 6-12 mo (1-2 yrs, 2-4 yrs, 4-6 yrs, 6-8 yrs, 8-10 yrs). Shown in size 2-4 yrs.

Yarn:
Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Merino (100% merino wool); 220 yds/201 m per 100g skein; 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5) skeins in Pine for MC, 1 skein (all sizes) in Cream for CC.

If substituting yarn, you’ll need approximately the following amounts of heavy DK or light worsted weight yarn:

500 (540, 600, 700, 800, 940) yds or 460 [490, 550, 640, 730, 860] meters of the main color;

40 (45, 50, 60, 70, 80) yds or 35 [40, 45, 55, 65, 75] meters of the contrasting color.

Recommended needles (check gauge and change size if needed):
US #5 [3.75 mm] circular needle, 16-24” long
US #5 [3.75 mm] set of double-pointed needles (or preferred needles for working small circumferences in the round)
US #6 [4.0 mm] circular needle, 16-24” long
US #6 [4.0 mm] set of double-pointed needles (or preferred needles for working small circumferences in the round)

Notions:
-Stitch markers (at least 2 removable)
-Waste yarn
-Yarn needle
-1 button, .5” [12 mm] in diameter

GAUGE
22 sts/29 rows = 4”/10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles
22 sts/39 rows = 4”/10 cm in mosaic pattern on larger needles