In 2018 a huge Summer storm hit Auckland causing widespread damage across the city, closing schools and businesses and forcing people to stay home and keep safe. It was during that storm that I finished working on this dress, and just after the storm I photographed it in our local, and devastated, park. This dress will keep the wearer warm and snug even when the outdoors is miserable. The herringbone detail around the hem adds surface interest to the fabric of this otherwise simple dress.

When choosing yarn for this garment please consider carefully. The larger sizes are relatively heavy when completed, so the loftier / lighter Aran weight you can find, the better. I used an acrylic for this dress which is something I don’t normally use. But washability was key for a garment this size worn by an active child!

Note: Sizes 1 year through to 6 years have only one band of woven herringbone stitch, sizes 7 years and up have 2 bands separated by a band of plain St st

Sizing and Chest Circumference information:
Sizes: 1-2 years (3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9 -10 years) to fit a chest circumference of 20 (22, 24, 26, 27) inches.

YOU WILL NEED:
300 (360, 420, 500, 560) yards 10 ply / Aran weight yarn. I used Lion Brand Heartland in Shade 109 Olympic.
5mm needles for working in the round
4 stitch markers (1 in a CC to mark beginning of round)
Waste yarn for holding stitches
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Techniques to enjoy:
reading from a chart
working applied i-cord
simple increases and decreases
knitting in the round from the top down