This dress is is knit in two parts, a bib collar and sleeveless dress, which are sewn together at the neckline when finished. I used the sleeveless dress found in the “Bunny Girl in a Dotty Dress” pattern by Julie Williams. I knit a full skirt version in the round ( my dress modifications are explained here). The first 5 rows are knit on straight needles creating a three ridge garter stitch hem. The color changes are frequent for the “rind” on the hem (and bib collar edge) leaving you with ends to sew in but are worth the effect.

Dress
Row 1: With straight needles, do a long tail cast on of 90 stitches in Teal

Rows 2-5: Join the Peapod yarn, knit 4 rows. You should have three garter stitch ridges for the hem.

Row 6-21: With the White yarn, join in the round and begin following the chart doing 15 repeats. (Rows 6-7 use White yarn, rows 8-9 use Cotton Candy and row 10 begins with Rouge for the reminder of the dress including the three rows featuring Mulberry “seeds”).

Row 22: Separate for the dress opening by beginning to purl with small dpns at the back seam. Continue following the chart through row 28.

Row 29: (bodice decrease) Knit 2 tog across (45 stitches)
Row 30: Purl 9, (purl 2 tog, purl 1) 9 times, purl 9

(Please note on starting deceases, this length works for my bunnies…you may need to be adjust for your bunny by decreasing sooner or later. I do add a second loop for a button at the waist too.

On the next knit row, I follow the Dotty dress pattern for the sleeveless bodice beginning on row 23 and finishing as written using only the Rouge yarn to the end.

Bib Collar
For the bib collar, I use straight needles in the same size as used for the dress, 2.5mm. I knit back and forth turning my work after each row. The collar begins at the neck and works outward.

Row 1: (Rouge yarn)Long tail cast on 30 stitches on straight needles.

Row 2: Knit 3, (M1L, knit 3)repeat to end. (39 stitches)

Row 3: Purl across.

Row 4: Knit 3, (M1L, Knit 3)repeat to end. (51 stitches)

Row 5: Purl across and cut yarn leaving a tail for sewing in.

Row 6: Attach Cotton Candy yarn. (Knit 6, M1R)repeat to end, knit last three stitches.

Row 7: Purl across.

Row 8: Attach white yarn and knit across.

Row 9: Knit across.

Row 10: Attach Peapod yarn and knit across.

Row 11: Bind off in knit stitch.

Lightly press both pieces with an iron on the steam setting. Sew the bib to the dress by slipping the needle through the cast on stitches of the bib and the top loop of the bind off row on the dress. Be sure you begin at the first stitch of each. Sew in ends. Iron again if necessary being careful not to flatten the knit.

The bib may also be knit in a solid color if you choose.
For the cap sleeve version of this dress with no collar, please visit this page.

The pattern for the Bunny Hat can be found here

(The bunny was knit using my own pattern not the pattern linked above.)