Knitted child’s dress with cables

Knitted from the top down on a circular knitting needle or double-pointed knitting needles.

Using knitting needles size 4 mm and wool tweed yarn, cast on 62 (66) stitches (sts). Work 4 rounds (rds) of knit 1, purl 1 rib (k1,p1) and then 1 rd: p to end of rd.

Start raglan increases with cables as follows: Rd 1: Set a stitch marker (ssm), k3, ssm, k10 (11) (sleeve), ssm, k3, ssm, k15 (16) (front), ssm, k3, ssm, k10 (11) (sleeve), ssm, k3, ssm, k15 (16) (back).

Rd 2: Ssm, slip 1 st knitwise, knit 2 sts and then pass the slipped st over both knitted sts (sl 1, k2, psso), ssm, yarn over needle (yon) (= increase), k10 (11), yon, ssm, sl 1, k2, psso, ssm, yon, k15 (16), yon, ssm, sl 1, k2, psso, ssm, yon, k10 (11), yon, ssm, sl 1, k2, psso, ssm, yon, k15 (16), yon.

Rd 3: Ssm, k1, yon, k1, ssm, k12 (13), ssm, k1, yon, k1, ssm, k17(18), ssm, k1, yon, k1, ssm, k12 (13), ssm, k1, yon, k1, ssm, k17 (18).

Rd 4: Ssm, k3, ssm, yon, k12 (13), yon, ssm, k3, ssm, yon, k17 (18), yon, ssm, k3, ssm, yon, k12 (13), yon, ssm, k3, ssm, yon, k17 (18), yon.

Repeat these 4 rds 8 (9) times in all. Note that the stitch count increases in alternate rds = 190 (218) sts in all. To make 3 stripes in the yoke, work rows 13, 19 and 25 with 1 strand of cotton yarn and 1 strand of wool tweed yarn. Continue with wool tweed yarn only.

Slide the 42 (49) sleeve stitches and 2 x 3 cable sts onto 2 stitch holders = 48 (55) sts per sleeve. Leave these sts while you work the bodice.

Ssm at start of rd. Cast on 4 sts at each underarm and then work in the rd: k to end of rd (= 104 (118) sts). Work 14 (16) rds, about 5 (6) cm. Next rd: Decrease (dec) 22 (23) sts as follows: Knit 2 stitches together (k2tog) at regular intervals = 82 (95) sts.

Work 4 rds using 1 strand of cotton yarn and 1 strand of wool tweed yarn. Continue working with wool tweed yarn only, increasing by making a new stitch through the bar between two sts after every second st = 123 (142) sts. Work 14 (18) cm, including 3 stripes worked with 1 strand of cotton yarn and 1 strand of wool tweed yarn. Work 5 rds with wool tweed yarn between each stripe.

Continue working with wool tweed yarn only. Work 4 rds (k to end of rd) and 1 rd (p to end of rd). To finish, work 5 rds of k1,p1 rib. Cast off.

Slide the 48 (55) sleeve stitches onto doublepointed knitting needles and pick up the 4 sts you made at the armhole. Ssm at start of rd. Work 5 (6) cm: k to end of rd. Now decrease 10 (13) sts as follows: k2tog at regular intervals in the rd.

Now work 1 rd (p to end of rd) and 5 rds of k1,p1 rib. Cast off. Work the second sleeve in the same way.

Weave in ends. Gently press the dress.