Yellow dress knit from a wonderfully light yarn - a breath of nothing! A little petticoat underneath adds just a little volume to the skirt and the lurex belt completes the perfect fifties silhouette.
Size: 36/38, 40/42 and 44/46.
Instructions are given for first size. Figures in parentheses refer to larger sizes. When only one figure is given, it applies to all sizes.
Materials: ITO "Sensai" (60% mohair, 40% silk, approx. 240 m/20 g): 220 (260-300) g in Yellow, col 305, and ITO "Kin Gin" (51% viscose, 49% polyester, approx. 300 m/25 g): 50 g in Gold, col 271 (for belt); size 3.5 mm Prym needles; size 3.5 mm circular needle, 40 cm/16" long.
Garter st: K every row.
Stockinette: K on RS, p on WS.
Lace pattern:
Row 1 (WS): Knit all sts.
Row 2 (RS): Selvedge st, * k2tog, yo; rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, selvedge st.
Row 3 (WS): Knit all sts. Work rows 1 - 3 once.
Rib pattern: K1, p1.
Short rows with 'double st': Turn work after having worked the number of sts indicated in pattern. Sl 1 st as if to purl, with yarn in front of work, bring yarn to back of work over top of the needle and pull it very tightly; this will rotate the st the back of the needle so that both 'legs' of the st from the row below are now on the needle. On foll rows, work to 'double st' [= 2 loops on needle], insert needle into both loops and knit or purl as you would normally.
Tension: 23 sts and 33 rows = 10 x 10 cm/4" x 4" in Stockinette with 2 strands of yarn held tog; 19 sts for belt = 5 cm/2" in rib pat with 3 strands of yarn held tog.
Dress is worked with 2 strands of Yellow held tog; belt is worked with 1 strand Yellow and 2 strands Gold held tog!
Back: With 2 strands Yellow held tog, cast on 179 (199-219) sts. Beg with a WS row, work in garter st for 4 rows. Next, work 4 rows in Stockinette, 3 rows in lace pat, 5 rows in Stockinette and 3 rows in lace pat. Next, work in Stockinette for 40 cm/15 3/4" = 133 rows.
Next RS row: Selvedge st, k2tog across row to last 2 sts, k1, selvedge st = 91 (101-111) sts. Cont in Stockinette for 8 cm/3 1/4" = 27 rows.
Shape sides: Inc 1 st at beg and end of next row, then every alternating 6th and 8th row 15 times = 123 (133-143) sts. Cont in Stockinette until back measures 38 (39-40) cm/15 (15 1/2"-15 3/4") = 126 (128-132) rows from first inc row.
Shape shoulders: Working short rows with 'double st', leave 6 sts unworked at end of next 2 rows, then 6 additional sts unworked at end of next 6 rows (6 sts unworked at end of next 2 rows, then 7 additional sts unworked at end of next 6 rows - 7 sts unworked at end of next 4 rows, then 8 additional sts unworked at end of next 4 rows) as foll: Work 117 (127-136) sts, turn work, work 'double st' as instructed, work 111 (121-129) sts, turn work, work 'double st', work 105 (114-122) sts, turn work, work 'double st'. Cont in this manner until 75 (79-83) sts remain after 8th short row worked.
Next row: Work 24 (27-30) shoulder sts, working 'double sts' as instructed as you come to them; bind off center 75 (79-83) sts for back neck, work remaining 24 (27-30) shoulder sts, working 'double sts' as instructed as you come to them. Sl shoulder sts onto 2 separate holders.
Front: Work same as for back to shoulder shaping. Work shoulder shaping same as for back and at same time, on first row of shoulder shaping, shape neck: Bind off center 37 (41-45) sts. Working each side separately, bind off 10 sts at each neck edge once, then 9 sts once.
Belt: With 2 strands Gold and 1 strand Yellow held tog, cast on 19 sts and work in rib pat for approx. 170 cm/ 67". Bind off all sts.
Finishing: Pin pieces to measurements and block with damp towels. Graft live shoulder sts tog with Kitchener Stitch. Sew side seams, leaving top 20 (21-22) cm/8" (8 1/4"-8 3/4") unsewn for armholes. With circular needle, pick up and k 64 (68-72) sts around left armhole edge. Join for working in rnds.
Next rnd: Bind off all sts in purl. Repeat for right armhole edge. With circular needle, pick up and k 156 (164-172) sts around neck edge. Join for working in rnds. Purl 1 rnd, then bind off all sts.
