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Skill Level: Easy

Skills used in this pattern:
Shell st, slst ribbing, sc, hdc, dc, stkd dc, working both in the round and on the BLO or FLO.

Sizes + Measurements

This pattern comes in 6 different sizes. The instructions for each size are color-coded and in the order shown here: 2 (4, 6, 8) (10, 12) years old.

To fit bodies of approximately these measurements – please use the measurements provided and NOT the age of the child since kids grow at different paces. If you find yourself between sizes, choose the largest since kids grow very fast:

Chest: 48.5 – 51.5 (51.5-54.5, 56.5-59.5, 60.5-63.5) (65.5-68.5, 69.5-72.5) cm / 19 – 20 ¼ (20 ¼ – 21 ½, 22 ¼ – 23 ½, 23 ¾- 25) (25 ¾ – 27, 27 ½ – 28 ½) in

Neck to waist at Back: 21.5 (24, 27, 32) (36, 38) cm / 8 ½ (9 ½, 10 ½, 12 ½) (14 ¼, 15) in

These are the approximate measurements of the finished item:

Front Rainbow Width: 23.5 (26.5, 30, 33.5) (36.5, 40) cm / 9 (10 ½, 11 ¾, 13) (14 ½, 15 ¾) in

Front Rainbow Height: 13.5 (15, 16.5, 19) (22, 23.5) cm / 5 ¼ (5 ¾, 6 ½, 7 ½) (8 ½, 9 ¼) in

Waistband: 52 (54, 56, 60) (62, 66) cm / 20 ½ (21 ¼, 22, 23 ½) (24 ½, 26) in

Skirt Circumference at its Widest: 97.5 (101.5, 105, 112.5) (116.5, 124) cm / 38 ½ (39 ¾, 41 ¼, 44 ¼) (45 ¾, 48 ¾) in

Skirt Length: 26 (28, 29, 31) (32, 34) cm / 10 (11, 11 ½, 12 ¼) (12 ½, 13 ½) in

• Adjustable to size and taste.

** Skirt circumference grows significantly based on hook size used and can easily be adjusted.

Sample is size 6; models measures about 59 cm / 23 ¼ in around chest (Oldest is 6 years old and youngest is 4 - they are wearing the same dress)

Materials
YARN
Sport weight yarn (size 2)

Approx 515 (575, 630, 730) (805, 915) m / 560 (630, 690, 800) (880, 1000) yds total for a dress as schematics.

Approx 55 (65, 85, 100) (130, 155) m / 60 (70, 90, 110) (145, 170) yds total, for the bodice of the dress (including rainbow front + back band) as schematics and divided into as many colors as desired (Back band uses between 35% – 40% of Bodice total).

Approx 460 (515, 550, 630) (675, 760) m / 500 (560, 600, 690) (735, 830) yds total, for the skirt ONLY as noted in schematics.

Every 5 cm / 2 in of added length in the skirt will add approx 90 (95, 100, 105) (110, 115) m / 95 (100, 105, 110) (120, 125) yds of yarn.

Yardage provided includes 5% extra for swatching and margin of error. Adjust amounts for desired length.

Yarn used in the sample:
Scheepjes, Stonewashed (78% Cotton, 22% Acrylic, 50g, 130 m) in colors A: Axinite (831), B: Smokey Quartz (802), C: Crystal Quartz (814), D: Larimar (828), E: Soft Epidote (848), F: Blue Apatite (805), G: Deep Amethyst (811), H: Stilbite (837), I: Yellow Jasper (809).

In the sample, less than 1 ball was used of each of the colors except I, of which about 1.5 balls were used on the skirt.

Alternative Yarns
Any sport weight yarn will work. Here are some I recommend based on their weight and fiber content:

Knit Picks, Galileo (50% Merino Wool, 50% Viscose from Bamboo)
Lion Brand, LB Collection® Cotton Bamboo Linen Yarn (40% Cotton 35% Bamboo 25% Linen)
Knit Picks, Comfy Sport (75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic)
MillaMia, Naturally Soft Cotton (100% Cotton)

HOOKS,
4 mm or size needed to meet gauge for rainbow bodice

4.5 mm, 5 mm, 5.5 mm, 6 mm and 6.5 mm (optional) hooks for skirt, increasing as the skirt lengthen

NOTIONS
tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors, 1 cm wide elastic (enough length to go around your waist), 2 buttons of 1.5 – 2cm / 1 – 1 ¼ in in diameter.

Gauge
Rainbow Gauge: 20 sts x 12 rows in hdc pattern worked flat after blocking = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in.

Hdc stitch pattern for rainbow gauge:
Ch as many as desired – recommend a minimum of 30.

Row 1 (RS): Ch1, hdc to end, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Ch1, hdcFLO to end, turn.

Row 3 (RS): Ch1, hdcBLO to end, turn.

Repeat Rows 2 – 3 for the desired gauge swatch size.

Other gauge measurements used in pattern
(it’s optional to swatch for these, but they are here as a reference)

Shell St Skirt: 2 Shell Sts x 2 Shell rows worked in the round with a 6 mm hook = 7.5 cm wide x 5 cm tall / 3 in wide x 2 in tall.

Be sure to block and check gauge before starting by making a big enough gauge swatch (at least 15 x 15 cm / 6 x 6 in).

Certain materials might sag, and fabric may extend too much with drape, so adjust hook size appropriately.