Emlyn: A Top-down Raglan Dress

The perfect addition to a little girl’s wardrobe ~ dainty cable and lace inserts in the skirt front and back create a generous A-line silhouette; adding rope-cable details at the shoulder line, eyelet borders at bodice and hems and raglan-line ribbon lacing (or optional button closure) makes this a dress special enough for any occasion. For that final touch, lace ribbon ties through the eyelet border at the bodice.

Cable stitch patterns are both charted and written out.

FINISHED CHEST MEASUREMENT
21 (23, 25, 26 ¼, 27 ½, 28 ¼)” / 53.5 (58.5, 63.5, 66.5, 70, 72) cm

Garment designed with 2 – 3” / 5 – 7.5 cm of ease.

SUGGESTED YARN
624 (674, 731, 881, 906, 1008) yds / 571 (616, 668, 806, 828, 922) m sport weight yarn; sample in KP Comfy Sport (136 yds/124m per 1.75oz / 50g; 75% Pima Cotton, 25% acrylic) in Flamingo

SUGGESTED NEEDLE SIZE
Adjust needle size as required to obtain the correct gauge.

2.75mm / US 2 circular 16” / 40 cm and 24” / 61 cm
2.75mm / US 2 double-pointed needles, set of 4
Cable needle

GAUGE
Yarns often change characteristics when washed; for excellent results, measure gauge on a Stockinette stitch swatch, 6 x 6” / 15 x 15 cm, that has been washed and dried as the garment will be.

25 sts and 33 rows = 4” / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch after blocking.

NOTIONS
• 3 removable stitch markers (RM)
• 1 End of Round stitch marker
• 8 stitch markers (m)
• waste yarn to hold sleeve stitches
• large-eyed needle for sewing in ends
• ribbon for raglan closure and bodice tie
• (optional) 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7) one-half inch / 12 mm buttons *

* Be sure button are of proper size for the child so as not to present a choking hazard.

METHOD
This top-down raglan is knit back and forth on a circular needle down to the bodice; the bodice band and skirt are then knit in the round. Sleeves are knit in the round on double-pointed needles. No seam sewing required. Side raglan opening is closed with ribbon lacing or optionally with buttons.

I’d like to express my sincere thanks to my Tech Editor:

Stephannie Tallent
StephCat on Ravelry
www.sunsetcat.com

and to Annie Maloney for the wonderful stitch patterns in her The Cable Knitting Handbook (self-published, 2004) that were the basis for the cable panels in this design.