I made this dress over three years ago for my daughter. Like usual, I couldn't decide on a pattern, so I took the challenge of adapting one to fit what I wanted. This post is more of a guideline of what I did than an actual pattern, mostly because I didn't write out how I made this dress because it was a bit complicated. However, the results were totally worth it!
When I decided to make this dress, I knew I wanted something a bit complex. I looked at many lace patterns, but what really caught my eye was a pattern for a shawl entitled the Panna Frost Flower Shawl by Foldi Knit. The original pattern is for machine knitting, but if you look in the notes, there is a link to a hand knit chart.
As for the yarn, I really wanted to use an all cotton sport or fingering weight, but I couldn't find something I liked that was also soft. I ended up going with one of my favorite yarns, Loops and Threads Woolike, which (unfortunately) is an acrylic blend. It is just so soft and delicate!
Once I decided on the lace pattern and yarn I would use, I needed to find a simple dress pattern that was knit from the bottom up, which proved to be quite a challenge. I ended up using a top down pattern and just reversed it. (I'm sorry, I don't remember which pattern it was, but there are many on Ravelry!) I cast on the number of stitches I was suppose to end with and factored in the repeat for the lace. Then, once the main part of the lace was done, I gradually decreased until I reached the number of stitches needed for the waist. I left those on my circular needle then started the bodice from the top down. Once I reached the waist, I grafted the bodice to the skirt using the Kitchener Stitch. I added some ribbon to the waist and a button for the closure in the back.
Then it was time to make the bonnet. I landed on an adorable pattern by Beberouge. Truth be told, I love the lace pattern used here, but I needed the bonnet to match the dress, so I modified it a bit to incorporate the Panna Frost Flower pattern. Then added a matching ribbon.
Lastly, I sewed a little pink A-line under dress. I drew up the pattern based on the knit dress. I didn't do anything fancy, I just turned the dress inside out and traced it onto a large piece of paper then cut it from the fabric and sewed it together.
Simple enough, right?
As for the yarn, I really wanted to use an all cotton sport or fingering weight, but I couldn't find something I liked that was also soft. I ended up going with one of my favorite yarns, Loops and Threads Woolike, which (unfortunately) is an acrylic blend. It is just so soft and delicate!
Once I decided on the lace pattern and yarn I would use, I needed to find a simple dress pattern that was knit from the bottom up, which proved to be quite a challenge. I ended up using a top down pattern and just reversed it. (I'm sorry, I don't remember which pattern it was, but there are many on Ravelry!) I cast on the number of stitches I was suppose to end with and factored in the repeat for the lace. Then, once the main part of the lace was done, I gradually decreased until I reached the number of stitches needed for the waist. I left those on my circular needle then started the bodice from the top down. Once I reached the waist, I grafted the bodice to the skirt using the Kitchener Stitch. I added some ribbon to the waist and a button for the closure in the back.
Then it was time to make the bonnet. I landed on an adorable pattern by Beberouge. Truth be told, I love the lace pattern used here, but I needed the bonnet to match the dress, so I modified it a bit to incorporate the Panna Frost Flower pattern. Then added a matching ribbon.
Lastly, I sewed a little pink A-line under dress. I drew up the pattern based on the knit dress. I didn't do anything fancy, I just turned the dress inside out and traced it onto a large piece of paper then cut it from the fabric and sewed it together.
Simple enough, right?
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