This beginner-friendly, bottom-up dress pattern includes a fitted look and simple shaping throughout. The classic fit of this dress and the flirty ruffles will have you making a full collection with a variety of lengths and ruffle options, perfect for any setting – date night, poolside, or a summer work look. This pattern 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: 28, 32, 36, 40 (44, 48, 52)56, 60, 64“/71.5, 81.5, 91.5, 102 (112, 122, 132)142.5, 152.5, 162.5cm, waist sizes: 22, 26, 30, 34 (38, 42, 46)50, 54, 58”/56, 66, 76.5, 86.5 (97, 107, 117)127, 137.5, 147.5cm and hip sizes: 30, 34, 38, 42 (46, 50, 54)58, 62, 66“/76.5, 86.5, 96.5, 107 (117, 127, 137.5)147.5, 157.5, 168 cm.
The sample was knit to about 2-4”/5-10cm of negative ease (smaller than my body measurements) throughout, with slightly more negative ease at my fullest hip. With previous garments, I have found through testers and my own samples, that these patterns can easily accommodate up to 6”/15.5cm of negative ease.

Materials
You will need at least four stitch markers and one BOR marker, waste yarn or extra needles to hold live stitches, darning needle, scissors, measuring tape, and your super amazing body.

Techniques
You will need to know how to cast on with a provisional cast on, pick up stitches, knit in the round, purl, increase, decrease, hold stitches, 3-needle bind-off, stretchy shawl bind-off, block, weave in ends, and have fun.

Suggested Yarn
Sunfish from thelittlewolfknits: 75/25 superwash merino/nylon, fingering weight 4-ply, 463yd/424m per 100g. The sample used three skeins of Birthday Suit.
Any light fingering should work – just make sure to adjust to get gauge.
-Alternatives include:
o Knit Picks Stroll
o Cascade Yarns Heritage

Gauge
24 sts x 32 rows = 4”/10cm stockinette knit in the round and blocked with your main needle. 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.

Suggested Needles
Main Needle: US 5 (3.75mm) circular needle
Ribbing Needle: US 3 (3.25mm) circular needle
Ruffle Needle: US 6 (4mm) circular needle
But use whatever needle you need to achieve gauge!
(Or just do the math and do your own thing)

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

Yardage:
The yardage is based off a dress that follows pattern as written. In order to calculate yardage to alter the length of your dress, each additional 1”/2.5cm of length will require approximately an additional 23, 26, 29, 32 (35, 38, 41)44, 47, 50yd/22, 24, 27, 29 (32, 35, 38)40, 43, 46m to the yardage listed below.

805, 950, 1079, 1208 (1339, 1471, 1605)1741, 1878, 2010yd/737, 865, 982, 1099(1219, 1339, 1461)1584, 1709, 1829m for the body of the dress without ruffles. If using the suggested yarn, this would be 3, 3, 3, 3 (3, 4, 4)4, 5, 5 skeins of Sunfish yarn from thelittlewolfknits.

Bottom Ruffle
For a most dramatic ruffle knit to 3”/8cm, you will need an additional:
161, 183, 204, 226 (247, 269, 290)311, 333, 354yd/147, 166, 186, 205 (225, 244, 264)283, 303, 323m.

For a moderate ruffle knit to 3”/8cm, you will need an additional:
121, 137, 153, 169 (185, 202, 218)234, 250, 266yd/111, 125, 140, 154 (169, 183, 178)213, 227, 242m.

Arm Ruffles
For both most dramatic arm ruffles knit to 3”/8cm, you will need an additional:
141, 147, 152, 163 (168, 174, 185)190, 196, 201yd/129, 134, 139, 148 (153, 158, 168)173, 178, 183m.

For both moderate arm ruffles knit to 3”/8cm, you will need an additional:
106, 110, 114, 122 (126, 131, 139)143, 147, 151yd/97, 100, 104, 111 (115, 119, 126)130, 134, 137m.

Total Yardage
With most dramatic ruffles, your entire pattern will take:
1106, 1280, 1434, 1596 (1754, 1913, 2079)2241, 2405, 2565yd/1007, 1164, 1305, 1452 (1596, 1741, 1892)2040, 2189, 2334)m or 3, 3, 4, 4 (4, 5, 5)5, 6, 6 skeins of Sunfish yarn from thelittlewolfknits.

Abbreviations
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
PU – pick up
k – knit
p – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
ssk – slip slip knit
k2tog – knit two together
m1l – make one left
m1r – make one right
p2togtbl - purl two together
through the back loop
swyif - slip with yarn in front
DS - double stitch
BO - bind off
* X * – repeat between asterisks