purlJam

# Simple A-Line Knitted Dress

A relaxed, A-line pinafore-style dress worked in two flat panels and seamed at the sides and shoulders. With gentle waist shaping, garter stitch borders, and a sleeveless silhouette, this is an ideal first garment project for a confident beginner.

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## Skill Level
**Beginner** (confident beginner — comfortable casting on, knit, purl, basic decreases, and seaming)

## Finished Measurements (Size Women's Medium)
- **Bust:** 93 cm (36½ in)
- **Hip / Hem:** 111 cm (43¾ in)
- **Total length:** 90 cm (35½ in) from shoulder to hem

> *Note: This is a single-size pattern designed for a relaxed, A-line fit with approximately 5–10 cm (2–4 in) of positive ease at the bust.*

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (medium / aran), smooth wool or wool blend
  - Approx. **1100–1200 m (1200–1320 yds)** total
  - Suggested: 6–7 × 100 g balls (≈ 175 m / 191 yds per ball)
- **Needles:**
  - 5.0 mm (UK 6 / US 8) straight or circular needles — for borders
  - 5.5 mm (UK 5 / US 9) straight or circular needles — for main body
- **Notions:**
  - Tapestry / darning needle for seaming
  - Stitch markers (2)
  - Tape measure
  - Scissors

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## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** in stocking stitch on 5.5 mm needles, after blocking.

> **Please take time to knit a tension swatch.** For a garment, correct tension is essential to fit. Cast on 26 sts, work 32 rows in stocking stitch, cast off, and block before measuring.

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## Abbreviations (UK terminology)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **k2tog** – knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together (left-leaning decrease)
- **st st** – stocking stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl)
- **g st** – garter stitch (knit every row)
- **RS** – right side
- **WS** – wrong side
- **rep** – repeat
- **rem** – remaining
- **beg** – beginning

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## Pattern Notes

- The dress is worked in **two identical panels** (front and back) from the hem upwards.
- Each panel begins with a **garter stitch border**, transitions to **stocking stitch** for the body, and has paired decreases at the sides to create gentle A-line shaping.
- The **front and back are identical** until shaping is complete — making this very beginner-friendly.
- All edges (hem, armholes, neckline) are finished in garter stitch, so no picked-up borders are needed.
- Seams are joined at the sides and shoulders using mattress stitch.

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## Instructions

### BACK PANEL

**Hem border:**
Using 5.0 mm needles, cast on **100 sts**.
Work 8 rows in g st (knit every row). *(4 garter ridges formed)*

**Change to 5.5 mm needles. Begin body in st st:**
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Continue in st st, starting with a knit row, until panel measures **15 cm (6 in)** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

### Shape sides (A-line decreases)

**Decrease Row (RS):** K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. *(2 sts decreased)*

Work 9 rows in st st without shaping (starting with a purl row, ending with a purl row).

Rep the last 10 rows **7 more times**. *(8 decrease rows worked in total: 100 − 16 = **84 sts** remain)*

✅ *Math check: 8 dec rows × 2 sts = 16 sts decreased. 100 − 16 = 84 sts. ✓*

Continue straight in st st until work measures **60 cm (23½ in)** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

### Shape armholes

**Row 1 (RS):** Cast off 6 sts, knit to end. *(78 sts)*
**Row 2 (WS):** Cast off 6 sts, purl to end. *(72 sts)*

✅ *Math check: 84 − 6 − 6 = 72 sts. ✓*

**Set up garter stitch armhole edges:**
Row 1 (RS): K3, purl to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 2 (WS): Knit across.

Wait — for simplicity, work armhole edges as follows:
- **Row 1 (RS):** K3, knit to last 3 sts, k3. *(this is just knit across)*
- **Row 2 (WS):** K3, purl to last 3 sts, k3.

Continue in this pattern (3-st g st border on each side, st st between) until armhole measures **28 cm (11 in)** from cast-off row, ending with a WS row.

### Shape neckline and shoulders

With RS facing:
**Row 1 (RS):** K18 (right shoulder sts), cast off centre **36 sts**, k to end (18 sts for left shoulder).

✅ *Math check: 18 + 36 + 18 = 72 sts. ✓*

Working on the **left shoulder (18 sts)** only — place right shoulder sts on a holder or spare needle:

**Row 2 (WS):** K3, p to end.
**Row 3 (RS):** Knit.
**Row 4 (WS):** K3, p to end.

Work 4 rows in g st (knit every row).
Cast off all 18 sts knitwise.

**Rejoin yarn to right shoulder (18 sts) with WS facing:**
**Row 1 (WS):** Purl to last 3 sts, k3.
**Row 2 (RS):** Knit.
**Row 3 (WS):** Purl to last 3 sts, k3.

Work 4 rows in g st.
Cast off all 18 sts knitwise.

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### FRONT PANEL

Work exactly as for Back Panel.

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## Finishing

1. **Weave in all loose ends** on the wrong side.
2. **Block both panels** to finished measurements: 55.5 cm wide at hem, 47 cm at bust, 90 cm long. Pin out gently and allow to dry completely.
3. **Shoulder seams:** With RS together, join shoulder seams using mattress stitch or a three-needle cast-off.
4. **Side seams:** With RS together, align hem edges and side decreases. Sew side seams from hem to underarm using mattress stitch, leaving the armholes open.
5. **Weave in any remaining ends** and give the seams a light steam press if desired.

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## Schematic (approximate)

```
        ┌──── 18 ──── 36 ──── 18 ────┐    ← shoulders + neck (72 sts)
        │                            │
        │                            │  28 cm armhole
        │                            │
        ├────────── 84 sts ──────────┤    ← bust (47 cm)
        │                            │
        │   gentle A-line decreases  │  45 cm body
        │                            │
        │                            │
        └───────── 100 sts ──────────┘    ← hem (55.5 cm)
              15 cm st st + 8 rows g st
```

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## Tips for Success

- **Count your stitches** after each decrease row to stay on track.
- If you'd prefer a longer or shorter dress, adjust length **before the armhole shaping begins**. Each additional 10 cm requires approximately **45 g (50 m / 55 yds)** more yarn.
- **Mattress stitch** creates an almost invisible seam — there are excellent free video tutorials online if you're new to it.
- For a softer neckline, you may pick up and knit a garter stitch collar after seaming, working approximately 80 sts around the neck opening and working 6 rows in g st before casting off loosely.

Enjoy your finished dress! 🌿