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ExperiencedFree Dress Knitting Pattern
This classic cable dress is great for both professional and evening wear. The cables add interest, and the vertical stripes create a slimming effect. I recommend at least some experience with cables before tackling this pattern.
The dress is worked from the top down in a 2-color cable pattern, in rounds, without seams. Sleeves are also worked in-the-round. I used solid color yarn as the main color (cables) and self-striping yarn as a contrast color. The yarn I used has long color changes. However, it is possible to use solid color, hand dyed or self-striping yarn with shorter color changes. Just make sure the colors contrast enough to highlight the pattern.
Sizes: S (M, L, XL)
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 36 [40, 44, 48] inches (90 [100, 110, 120] cm)
Materials: Kauni (affiliate link) 8/2 Effektgarn 100% Wool fingering weight yarn 440 yd (400 m)/100g, color Flame – 3 (4, 4, 5) skeins. (CC)
Kauni (affiliate link) Wool 8/2 Solids fingering weight yarn, 660 yards (604 meters) /150 gr, color Natural – 2 (2, 3, 3) skeins (MC)
Needles: circular US2 (2.75mm) and dpn for the sleeves OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE
For sleeve you can also use circular 16” US 2 needles.
Gauge for cable pattern: 28 sts x 54 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm)
Pattern Notes
Two-Color Cable Pattern in rounds
Multiple of 12, however, the amount of sts between cables varies
Round 1 (MC): knit
Round 2 (MC): knit
Round 3 (CC): *p8, sl4 wyib - rep across
Round 4 (CC): *p8, sl4 wyib - rep across
Round 5 (MC): knit
Round 6 (MC): knit
Round 7 (CC): like round 3
Round 8 (CC): like round 4
Round 9 (MC): *k8, c4f - rep across
Round 10(MC): knit
Repeat rows 3-10
Two-Color Cable Pattern in rows
Multiple of 12, however, the amount of sts between cables varies
Round 1 (MC): knit
Round 2 (MC): purl
Round 3 (CC): *p8, sl4 wyib - rep across
Round 4 (CC): *k8, sl4 wyif - rep across
Round 5 (MC): knit
Round 6 (MC): purl
Round 7 (CC): like round 3
Round 8 (CC): like round 4
Round 9 (MC): *k8, c4f - rep across
Round 10(MC): purl
Repeat rows 3-10
Click image to enlarge
Two-Color Crossed Cable Pattern in rounds
Multiple of 24
Round 1 (MC): k6, *cross2R, cross2L, k6, from * repeat across
Round 2 (MC): knit
Round 3 (CC): p6, *sl2 wyib, p2, sl2 wyib, p6, from* rep across
Round 4 (CC): same as round 3
Round 5 (MC): k4, *cross2R, k2, cross2L, k4, from * repeat across
Round 6(MC): knit
Round 7 (CC): p4, *sl2 wyib, p4, sl2 wyib, p4, from* rep across
Round 8 (CC): same as round 7
Round 9 (MC): k2, *cross2R, k4, cross2L, k2, from * repeat across
Round 10 (MC): knit
Round 11 (CC): p2, *sl2 wyib, p6, sl2 wyib, p2, from* rep across
Round 12 (CC): same as round 11
Round 13 (MC): *cross2R, k6, cross2L, from * repeat across
Round 14 (MC): knit
Round 15 (CC): *sl2 wyib, p8, sl2 wyib, from* rep across
Round 16 (CC): same as round 15
Round 17 (MC): k4, *c4f, k8, from * repeat across
Round 18 (MC): knit
Round 19 (CC): *sl4 wyib, p8, from* rep across
Round 20 (CC): same as round 19
Round 21 (MC): knit
Round 22 (MC): knit
Round 23 (CC): like round 19
Round 24 (CC): like round 19
Rounds 25-32: repeat rounds 17-24
Rounds 33-36: repeat rounds 17-20
Round 37 (MC): *cross2L, k6, cross2R, from * repeat across
Round 38 (MC): knit
Round 39 (CC): p1, *sl2 wyib, p6, sl2 wyib, p2, from* rep across
Round 40 (CC): same as round 39
Round 41 (MC): k1, *cross2L, k4, cross2R, k2, from * repeat across
Round 42 (MC): knit
Round 43 (CC): p2, *sl2 wyib, p4, sl2 wyib, p4, from* rep across
Round 44 (CC): same as round 43
Round 45 (MC): k2, *cross2L, k2, cross2R, k4, from * repeat across
Round 46 (MC): knit
Round 47 (CC): p3, *sl2 wyib, p2, sl2 wyib, p6, from* rep across
Round 48 (CC): same as round 47
Round 49 (MC): k3, *cross2L, cross2R, k6, from * repeat across
Round 50 (MC): knit
Round 51 (CC): p4, *sl2 wyib, sl2 wyib, p8, from* rep across
Round 52 (CC): same as round 51
Round 53 (MC): *k4, c4f, k4, from * repeat across
Round 54 (MC): knit
Round 55 (CC): *p4, sl4 wyib, p4, from* rep across
Round 56 (CC): same as round 55
Click image to enlarge
Ribbing 1:1
All rounds: *k1, p1 - rep across
Abbreviations:
k – knit
p - purl
k2tog - knit 2 together
sl1 - slip 1
sl4 wyib - slip 4 with yarn in back
sl4 wyif - slip 4 with yarn in front
sl2 wyif - slip 2 with yarn in front
sl2 wyib - slip 2 with yarn in back
cn - cable needle
c4f - slip 2 st on cable needle (cn) and hold in front, knit 2, knit 2 from cn
cross 2 L - sl 2 st onto cable needle and hold in front, k1, k2 from cable needle
cross 2 R - slip 1 st onto cn and hold in back, k2, k1 from cn
k2tog - knit 2 together
p2tog - purl 2 together
co - cast on
yo - yarn over
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
pu&k - pick up and knit
dpn – double-pointed needles
Dress
The dress is worked from the top down, in rounds, without seams in a 2-Color Cable pattern (see above). The round yoke is shaped, by increasing the stitches between the cables. The waist is shaped with 2-Color Crossed Cable pattern. The sleeves are also worked in-the-round.
With MC, using provisional cast-on method, cast on 115 (125, 140, 150) sts, join into a circle and continue work in rounds.
Yoke
Start working the 2-Color Cable pattern (see above) in rounds with 4 sts for the cables and 1 st between cables (5 sts in 1 pattern repeat), there will be 23 (25, 28, 30) pattern repeats.
Work 112 (120, 124, 132) rows. Make 9 increases in the stitches between cables increasing from 1 to 10 stitches. Make increases in rounds 5, 9, 13, 17, 29, 41, 53, 65, 77. Total at the bottom of the yoke before dividing for sleeves and bodice = 322 (350, 392, 420).
Divide for sleeves and bodice
Beginning of the round is between the left sleeve and the back.
Divide stitches as follows:
back = 114 (126, 136, 140)
right sleeve = 46 (50, 60, 70)
front = 116 (124, 136, 140)
left sleeve = 46 (50, 60, 70)
Place markers between each part.
Transfer the back stitches to a separate needle (or work on the working needles) and work the back in 2-Color Cable pattern in rows (see above) back and forth for 20 rows. This is to shape the neckline (the neckline in the back is higher than in the front)
Next round: work back stitches (in 2-Color Cable pattern in rounds again), transfer right sleeve sts to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 19 (21, 24, 26) sts for the underarm, work front sts, transfer left sleeve sts to a piece of waste yarn, cast on 19 (21, 24, 26) sts for the underarm. Continue to work 2-Color Cable pattern in rounds. Total sts in bodice after division – 268 (292, 320, 332).
Bodice
Work as established for 64 rounds.
Work 2-Color Cross Cable pattern (see above) for 56 rounds. The 2-Color Cross Cable pattern shapes the waistline without increases or decreases, just because the gauge is slightly different. If you would like to place the waist line higher or lower, you should do it before starting the 2-Color Cross Cable pattern, keeping in mind that the pattern starts approximately 2.5” (6 cm) above the waist line.
Continue to work 2-Color Cable pattern in rounds. Increase by 1 st in every pattern repeat in the next MC rounds to shape the hip line.
Work the dress skirt as established to desired length. Bind off the stitches with applied I-cord in MC yarn..
See video instructions for knitting applied I-cord.
Sleeve
Transfer sts from waste yarn to dpn. Pick up and knit 19 (21, 24, 26) sts underarm and 10 sts along the side of the 20 rows of the back. Mark the beginning of the round.
Continue to work 2-Color Cable pattern in rounds.
Work total 246 (252, 256, 256) rounds or to desired length, taking into consideration, that there is a 1” (3 cm) 1x1 rib.
Work 10 rounds of 1x1 rib in MC yarn. Bind off.
Finishing
Weave in the ends of the yarn.
Remove the waste yarn from the neckline, pick up the stitches. Work 8 rounds of 1x1 rib in MC yarn. Bind off.
Enjoy!
