Cotton Twirl Baby Dress, Arella

See more Cotton Twirl patterns here. Special thanks to Baby Lila for modeling.

Crystal Palace Yarns - free baby dress pattern

Arella (Cotton Twirl Baby Dress)
Designed by Linda Iwaszko, owner of Mrs. I’s Yarn Parlor in Osceola, WI

Description: This adorable little dress is done mostly in Stockinette stitch with seed stitch edging and waistband in contrast color. It features a gathered waist and accent buttons for extra cuteness.

Level: Advanced Beginner

Size: Pattern written for size 9 mo., 19 - 20" chest and waist, 14" length (from shoulder to hem)

Materials:
MC= 3-50g balls of Crystal Palace Cotton Twirl (shown in 2910 "Endive")
CC= 1-50g ball of Crystal Palace Cotton Twirl (shown in 2913 "Baby Blue")
Crystal Palace Bamboo 26" circular needle in US size 6 circular needle,
or size needed for gauge
Stitch markers
Yarn needle

Gauge: 20 sts=4" in St st

Abbreviations: BO- bind off; CC- contrasting color; CO- cast on; k- knit; k2tog- knit 2 stitches together to decrease; MC- main color; p- purl; RS- right side (outer side of garment); st- stitch; St st- stockinette stitch; tbl- through the back loop

Seed Stitch:
Rnd 1: k1, p1, end with k1.
Rnd 2: p1, k1, end with p1.
(Note: When working seed stitch, always start with odd number of stitches and just work continuously. No thinking necessary!)

3-Needle Bind-Off: Hold 2 edges to be joined - on their knitting needles parallel - RS facing. Using a 3rd needle, knit 1 st st off both needles at once. Knit 2nd st off the same way, and bind off st from 3rd needle. (YouTube has excellent tutorials on 3-needle bind-offs.)

Instructions: With CC, CO 185 stitches. Join and begin working in the rnd. Place marker to designate beginning. Work Seed Stitch for 1". Knit 1 rnd.

Change to MC and knit for 5".
Dec Rnd: K2tog around, ending with a knit 1. [93 sts]
Change to CC and knit 1 rnd.
Work Seed Stitch for 2".
Knit 1 more rnd, decreasing by 1 and placing a 2nd marker after 46 stitches. [92 sts total]
Change to MC and knit for 2". Knit to 5 sts before 2nd marker, BO 10 sts, knit to 5 sts before beginning of rnd marker and BO 10 sts.
There should be 36 sts each on the front and the back, with 10 bound-off sts on each end.

Bodice Front: Working back and forth, either put back sts on holder or just leave them on your needles and forget about them for a bit.
Work 2 rows in St st, decreasing by 1 on each end, each row. [32 sts on front] Work 4 more rows even in St st.
Next Row: K6, BO 20, k6.
Working each strap separately, work St st for 2 1/2" and put sts on holder.

Bodice Back: Reattach yarn and work 2 rows in St st, decreasing by 1 on each end, each row (just like the front).
Work even in St st for 14 more rows.
Next Row: K6, BO 20, k6.
Working each strap separately, work even in St st until back straps are even with front straps (approx. 4 rows).
Turn dress inside out and work 3-Needle Bind Off to attach straps together.
Turn dress right side out.

Neck edge: With CC and starting at center back, pick up and k51.
Work Seed Stitch for 4 rnds.
BO as follows: K2tog, pass st from right to left needle, k2tog tbl loosely, pass stitch from right to left needle, k2tog tbl. Continue around neck.
Pull yarn through last st and secure. Weave in ends.

Armhole edge: With CC and starting under the arm, pick up and k33 around armhole.
Work Seed Stitch for 4 rnds. BO as for neck edge.

Sew on fancy buttons or appliques at waist band. (I used flower buttons from Dill Button Co.)

A big thanks to Mrs. I's Yarn Parlor for sharing this pattern.
If you are in the La Crosse area of Wisconsin, visit Linda's shop in Osceola, WI

Pattern Copyright 2011 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc.& Mrs. I's Yarn Parlor - We are happy to share this pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission. Knitting shops carrying Crystal Palace Cotton Twirl are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns and email cpyinfo -at- straw.com (replace the -at- with @)

or write to: Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804 phone: 510-237-9988, fax: 510-237-9809

June 1, 2011