This cute little dress is so fun to work! With its lovely yoke embellished with different stitch-patterns, its buttoned upper back (for fast dressing), its A-line shaping of the lower body and gorgeous patterned hem it will become a lovely addition to the wardrobe.

This pattern is tested by a group of talented and skilfull knitters.
See list of tester at the bottom of these notes.

Construction
The dress is worked top-down and seamlessly. You start the work from the ribbed neckline worked back-and-forth, with the button-bands integrated. An elevation is worked on the back, towards the button-bands, to create a lower neck on the front, thereafter you work the rounded yoke in stitch-patterns and the button-bands in garter, back-and-forth. After the stitch-pattern section, the upper body is joined in the round and worked in stockinette sts to underarms.
Work is split for the sleeves and the lower body, and sts are cast on for underarms. The lower body is worked top-down and in the round from the underarms with regular increases on the sides to create the A-line shaping. The lower hem is worked in stitch-pattern. The sleeves are worked top-down and in the round, the small cuff is worked in garter and eyelets.

You may add length to body and/or sleeves.
You don’t need to worry about a rolling hem, as the patterned hem is staying down properly - even before blocking.

Sizes
Chest circumference:
0 - 3 months: 42.5 cm/16.75”
3 - 6 months: 47 cm/18.5”
9 months: 52cm/20.5”
18 – 24 months: 61 cm/24”
3 – 4 years: 67 cm/26”
All sizes are tested. The sample is worked in size 9 months.

Materials

Yarn: I recommend that you use a fingering weight yarn with great stitch-definition. I used the fingering weight yarn, ”Silk merino sock” in colour “Light Dusky”, from Life in the long grass to work the dress. This yarn comes in skeins of 100 gr/3.53 oz and 400 m/437 yards. You will need approximately 260/320/400/520/660 m = 285/350/440/570/720 yards to work the dress. Needles: Choose needle size to obtain gauge. I used needle size 3 mm/US2.5, this is a suggestion only.
Notions 2 removable stitch-markers, waste-yarn (or separate holders), 3 buttons 11 – 13 mm/0.4-0.5” across. Tapestry needle. Blocking tools.

Gauge
28 sts and 38 - 40 rows/rounds in stockinette sts = 10 x 10 cm/
4 x 4”

The pattern
The pattern is tested in all sizes.
The stitch-patterns of the yoke are written out.
There is a schematic.
All stich-counts are given.
Measurements are given in both cm and in inches.

Knitting skills and techniques
This pattern is suitable for intermediate knitters.
The pattern uses:
cast-on
bind-off
short-rows (explained)
different stitch-patterns (explained)
increases

A huge thank you to my wonderful and talented testers:
aliaskaktus / bmwhurrey / Echoesinthyme / ejmsasha / eyenowhour / heisto / ljnmom / kmcfet / Knit2much2day / knitwitch47 / subala28 / Sylvia1002 / tastywench / teresaronk