Child’s Summer Lace Dress or Tunic

Free Girl Dress Knitting Pattern

This cute little tunic or dress features a lace skirt, decorative florets on the front and contrast color bands at the waist and sleeves. It is knitted seamlessly and features raglan sleeves.

Skills Required/Techniques Used:
---Knit & purl, cast on & bind off;
---Increasing: yarn over (YO), make 1 (m1);
---Decreasing: knit 2 together (k2tog), slip-slip-knit (ssk)
---Working in the round on double pointed needles (dpn) or using "magic loop" method,
---Working lace patterns
---Working short rows
---Picking up stitches
---Basic crochet

Sizes: 2 (4, 6, 8)

Measurement
For chest: 24 (26, 28, 29.5) inches [60 (65, 70, 74) cm]

Materials:

Knit Picks (affiliate link) Simply Cotton Organic Sport weight yarn (164 yards (150 meters) / 50 grams, 100% cotton), color Natural - 3 (4, 5, 7) balls (MC)
Knit Picks (affiliate link) Simply Cotton Organic Sport weight yarn (164 yards (150 meters) / 50 grams, 100% cotton), color Gold - 1 ball (CC1)
Knit Picks (affiliate link) Simply Cotton Organic Sport weight yarn (164 yards (150 meters) / 50 grams, 100% cotton), color Orange - 1 ball (CC2)

Notions:
yarn needle
4-5 small buttons
8-10 plastic rings
stitch markers

Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE.
For the sleeves I use “magic loop” method and 32” circular needles. You can use also dpn.

Crochet hook: 3.25 mm.

Gauge for stockinette st: 20 sts x 32 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm)

Abbreviations:
k - knit
p - purl
psso - Pass slipped stitch over (slip 1 st knitwise to the right needle, knit the next 2 sts together, pass the slipped stitch over
kfr&b - knit into front and back
w&t - wrap and turn
pu&k- pick up and knit
yo - yarn over
m1 - make 1 increase - make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit as a regular stitch.
RS - right side
WS - wrong side


Pattern Notes

Lace pattern in rounds

Multiple of 3 plus 1
Round 1: *sl 1, knit next 2 sts one by one, pass the slipped st over the just knitted 2 sts, yo, repeat from * to the last st, k 1.
Round 2 and all even rounds: knit
Round 3: k 1, *yo, sl 1, knit next 2 sts one by one, pass the slipped st over the just knitted 2 sts, repeat from *.
Repeat rounds 1-4.

Stockinette st in rounds:
All rounds – knit

Stockinette st in rows:
Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2 (WS): purl
Repeat rows 1-2

Garter st in rounds:
Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl.
Repeat rounds 1-2.

Raglan increases are worked in every RS row as follows:
In the first row work (k 1, yo, k 1) in the marked raglan stitch. In the next RS row, make sure to work (k 1, yo, k 1) in the yo of the previous RS row. There are 4 raglan stitches, thus the number of stitches in each RS row is increased by 8 in every RS row.

Selvedge stitches are worked in the following way: slip the first stitch in a row, purl the last one.


Short overview of the pattern:

The dress is worked top-down, without seams. The bodice is worked back and forth with raglan sleeves and the opening on the back in stockinette stitch. The back of the neck is shaped with short rows. The skirt is worked in rounds in a lace pattern.

Dress

Bodice

With MC yarn and circular needles cast on 48 (54, 54, 57) stitches and knit 1 row.

Neck Shaping for all sizes:

Short Row 1: sl 1, k 14, wrap, turn.

Short Row 2: purl to the end of the row. Turn.

Short Row 3: sl 1, k 7, wrap, turn.

Short Row 4: purl to the end of the row. Turn.

Row 5: sl 1, knit to the last st, picking up wraps and knitting them together with the stitch it was wrapped around, p 1.

Short Row 6: sl 1, p 14, wrap, turn.

Short Row 7: knit to the last st, p 1.

Short Row 8: sl 1, p 7, wrap, turn.

Short Row 9: knit to the last st, p 1.

Row 10: purl to the end of the row, picking up wraps and working (purl) them together with the stitch it was wrapped around.


Check the stitches and place markers:
1 selvedge – 8 (9, 9, 10) right back - 1 raglan (place a marker before this st) – 5 (6, 6, 6) right sleeve - 1 raglan (place the second marker before this stitch) – 16 (18, 18, 19) front - 1 raglan (place the third marker before this st.) - 5 (6, 6, 6) left sleeve - 1 raglan (place the forth marker before this st.) - 8 (9, 9, 10) left back - 1 selvedge.


Row 1 (RS): sl 1, *knit till marker, sm, (k 1, yo, k 1) in raglan stitch - repeat from * 4 times, knit to last st, p1. + 8 = 56 (62, 62, 65)
You can remove all markers now and make the raglan increases in yos of the previous RS rows.

Row 2 (WS) and all even rows purl.

Row 3 (RS): sl 1, *knit till yo of the previous RS row, (k1, yo, k1) in yo of the previous RS row - repeat from * 4 times, knit to last st, p1.

Row 4 as row 2. = 64 (70, 70, 73)

Repeat rows 3-4 17 (19,21, 22) more times.

Work 38 (40, 46, 48) rows as established = 200 (214, 238, 249) sts

Stitch count after:
Row 5 = 72 (78, 78, 81)
Row 7 = 80 (86, 86, 89)
Row 9 = 88 (94, 94, 97)
Row 11 = 96( 102, 102, 105)
Row 13 = 104 (110, 110, 113)
Row 15 = 112 (118, 118, 121)
Row 17 = 120 ( 126, 126, 129)
Row 19 = 128 ( 134, 134, 137)
Row 21 = 136 (142, 142, 145)
Row 23 = 144 (150, 150, 153)
Row 25 = 152 (158, 158, 161)
Row 27 = 160 (166, 166, 169)
Row 29 = 168 (174, 174, 177)
Row 31 = 176 (182, 182, 185)
Row 33 = 184 (190, 190, 193)
Row 35 = 192 (198, 198, 201)
Row 37 = 200 (206, 206, 209)
Row 39 = --- (214, 214, 217)
Row 41 = --- (---, 222, 225)
Row 43 = --- ( ---, 230, 233)
Row 45 = --- ( ---, 238, 241)
Row 47 = --- ( ---, ---, 249)


Divide for sleeves and bodice:

Size 2

Row 39: sl 1, k28 (right back sts + raglan st), transfer 43 sts (right sleeve sts) to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 5 sts for underarm , k56 (front sts + 2 raglan sts), transfer 43 sts (left sleeve sts) to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 5 sts for underarm, k28 (left back sts + 1 raglan st), p1.= 124 sts

Size 4

Row 41: sl 1, k30 (right back sts + raglan st), transfer 46 sts (right sleeve sts) to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 5 sts for underarm , k60 (front sts + 2 raglan sts), transfer 46 sts (left sleeve sts) to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 5 sts for underarm, k30 (left back sts + 1 raglan st), p1.= 132 sts

Size 6

Row 47: sl 1, k33 (right back sts + raglan st), transfer 52 sts (right sleeve sts) to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 5 sts for underarm , k66 (front sts + 2 raglan sts), transfer 52 sts (left sleeve sts) to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 5 sts for underarm, k33 (left back sts + 1 raglan st), p1.= 144 sts

Size 8

Row 49: sl 1, k35 (right back sts + raglan st), transfer 54 sts (right sleeve sts) to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 5 sts for underarm , k69 (front sts + 2 raglan sts), transfer 54 sts (left sleeve sts) to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 5 sts for underarm, k35 (left back sts + 1 raglan st), p1.= 151 sts

Work 4 more rows in stockinette st. Cut off yarn.

With color CC1 work 4 rows in stockinette st. Cut off yarn.

With color CC2 work 4 rows in stockinette st. Cut off yarn.


Skirt

The skirt is knitted in rounds, in lace pattern (see above) with MC yarn.

Slip stitches of the right back and 2 underarm sts, that is 31 (33, 36, 38) sts, onto the right needle without knitting them. The 3rd underarm stitch will be the beginning of the round. Place a marker before this stitch. Slip marker while working the rounds.

Round 1: Attach MC and knit around.

Size 2

Round 2 (increase round): k1, (kb&f, k1) 3 times, (kb&f in each of next 9 sts, k1) 5 times, (kb&f, k1) 3 times, k2, (kb&f, k1) 3 times, (kb&f in each of next 9 sts, k1) 5 times, (kb&f, k1) 3 times, k1. =226 sts

Size 4

Round 2 (increase round): K1, k2, kb&f, k2, (kb&f in each of next 8 sts, k1) 6 times, k2, kb&f, k2, k2, k2, kb&f, k2, (kb&f in each of next 8 sts, k1) 6 times, k2, kb&f, k2, k1. = 232 sts.

Size 6

Round 2 (increase round): K1, k5, (kf&b in each of next 5 sts, k1) 10 times, k5, k2, k5, (kf&b in each of next 5 sts, k1) 10 times, k5, k1. =244 sts.

Size 8

Round 2 (increase round): K1, k1, (kf&b in each on next 4 sts, k1) 14 times, k2, k2, k2, (kf&b in each on next 4 sts, k1) 13 times, kf&b in each of next 3 sts, k2, k2, k2. =262 sts.

Round 3: k 1, *sl 1, knit next 2 sts, pass the slipped st over 2 next sts, yo, repeat from * 36 (37, 39, 42) more times, k 2, *sl 1, knit next 2 sts, pass the slipped st over 2 next sts, yo, repeat from * 36 (37, 39, 42) more times, k 1.

Round 4: knit

Round 5: k 2, *yo, sl 1, knit next 2 sts, pass the slipped st over 2 next sts, repeat from * 36 ( 37, 39, 42) more times, k 2, *yo, sl 1, knit next 2 sts, pass the slipped st over 2 next sts, repeat from * 36 ( 37, 39, 42) more times.

Round 6: knit.

Repeat rounds 3-6 until skirt measures 10 (12, 14, 16) inches [25 (30, 35, 40) cm long or to desired length.

Work 4 rounds of garter stitch. Bind off.



Sleeve

The sleeves are worked in the round either on circular needles using “magic loop” method or on dpn.

Transfer sleeve sts to circular needle, pu&k 5 sts underarm. Place marker to mark the beginning of the round.

With MC work 4 rounds in stockinette st.

With CC1 work 4 rounds in stockinette st.

With CC2 work 4 rounds in stockinette st.

Work 4 rounds in garter st. Bind off.


Finishing

Weave in ends.

Sew on the back opening from the skirt up, leaving the opening of about 5"-6" long.

Attach MC yarn to the upper corner of the right back and crochet 1 row of sc along the edges of the back opening. Turn at upper corner of left back, crochet a row of sc down the left back, then crochet up the right back making 4-5 buttonholes by working *ch 3, skip 2.

Sew on buttons to the left edge of the back opening.

Embellishments

With CC1 or CC2 crochet 1 round of sc around the plastic ring. Leave a 5” (12.5 cm) tail and cut off yarn. Make 4 rings with CC! and 4 rings with CC2. Sew on the rings on the front of the dress (see photo).

Have fun!