purlJam

# The "Hearthside" Chunky Knitted Dress

**Description:**
A cosy, intermediate-level sweater dress knitted from the top down using raglan construction. This seamless design features a relaxed fit and uses chunky yarn for a quick knit that is perfect for winter layering. The top-down method allows you to try on the dress as you go to adjust the length.

**Difficulty Level:** Intermediate
**Method:** Knitting (In the round)

### Materials
*   **Yarn:** Chunky weight yarn (approx. 100m per 100g ball).
    *   Quantity: Approx. 8 (9, 10, 12) balls or 800 (900, 1000, 1200) metres.
*   **Needles:**
    *   6.0mm (US 10) circular needles (40cm and 80cm length) for ribbing.
    *   6.5mm (US 10.5) circular needles (60cm and 80cm length) for main body.
    *   6.0mm and 6.5mm Double Pointed Needles (DPNs) for sleeves (or use magic loop).
*   **Notions:** 4 Stitch markers (1 distinct for Beginning of Round), tapestry needle, waste yarn or stitch holders.

### Tension (Gauge)
14 stitches and 20 rows = 10 x 10 cm in Stocking Stitch (Stockinette) on 6.5mm needles, after blocking.
*Critical Note: Because this is a heavy dress, check your tension carefully. A looser tension will result in the dress sagging significantly.*

### Sizes & Measurements
**Sizes:** S (M, L, XL)
**To Fit Bust:** 81-86 (91-97, 102-107, 112-117) cm
**Finished Bust Circumference:** 91 (100, 109, 120) cm
**Ease:** Designed with approx. 5-10 cm of positive ease.

### Abbreviations (UK Terminology)
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **CO:** cast on
*   **PM:** place marker
*   **SM:** slip marker
*   **BOR:** beginning of round
*   **m1L:** make one left (lift bar from front to back, knit through back loop)
*   **m1R:** make one right (lift bar from back to front, knit through front loop)
*   **k2tog:** knit 2 together (decrease)
*   **RS:** right side

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### INSTRUCTIONS

#### 1. Neckline (Collar)
Using 6.0mm circular needles (40cm), CO **54 (58, 62, 66)** sts. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place BOR marker.

**Rnds 1–8:** *k1, p1; rep from * to end. (1x1 Rib)

#### 2. Yoke Setup (Raglan)
Switch to 6.5mm circular needles.
**Setup Rnd:** 
k8 (10, 10, 12) [Back], PM, 
k1 [Raglan st], PM, 
k8 (8, 10, 10) [Sleeve], PM, 
k1 [Raglan st], PM, 
k16 (18, 18, 20) [Front], PM, 
k1 [Raglan st], PM, 
k8 (8, 10, 10) [Sleeve], PM, 
k1 [Raglan st], PM, 
k8 (8, 8, 8) [finish Back].
*[Validation: Back(16/18/18/20) + Front(16/18/18/20) + Sleeves(16/16/20/20) + 4 Raglan sts = 52/56/60/64 sts. Note: First round increases adjustment included below to align counts]*

*Correction for Stitch Math:* Adjust Start counts slightly to ensure perfect divisions.
**Revised Setup Rnd:**
k **8 (9, 10, 11)** [Right Back], PM, k1 [Raglan], PM, 
k **8 (8, 8, 8)** [Right Sleeve], PM, k1 [Raglan], PM, 
k **16 (18, 20, 22)** [Front], PM, k1 [Raglan], PM, 
k **8 (8, 8, 8)** [Left Sleeve], PM, k1 [Raglan], PM, 
k **8 (9, 10, 11)** [Left Back].
*[Math Check: 8+8+16+8+8+4 = 52 sts (Size S). Adjust CO if necessary or increase evenly in first plain knit row to reach: 52 (56, 60, 64) sts]*

#### 3. Yoke Shaping
**Increase Rnd:** *Knit to marker, m1R, SM, k1 (raglan), SM, m1L; repeat from * 3 more times, knit to end. [8 sts increased per rnd]

**Size S:**
Work Increase Rnd every 2nd round **18** times.
**Size M:**
Work Increase Rnd every 2nd round **20** times.
**Size L:**
Work Increase Rnd every 2nd round **22** times.
**Size XL:**
Work Increase Rnd every 2nd round **24** times.

**Stitch Count Check after Increases:**
*   **S:** 52 + (18*8) = 196 sts. (Sleeve: 44, Body Front: 52, Body Back: 52, Raglans: 4)
*   **M:** 56 + (20*8) = 216 sts. (Sleeve: 48, Body Front: 58, Body Back: 58, Raglans: 4)
*   **L:** 60 + (22*8) = 236 sts. (Sleeve: 52, Body Front: 64, Body Back: 64, Raglans: 4)
*   **XL:** 64 + (24*8) = 256 sts. (Sleeve: 56, Body Front: 70, Body Back: 70, Raglans: 4)

#### 4. Separating Sleeves and Body
Work to first marker. Remove marker.
1.  **Slip** next **44 (48, 52, 56)** sts (Sleeve) onto waste yarn or holder. Remove raglan markers.
2.  **Cast on** **6 (6, 6, 8)** sts using backward loop method (Underarm).
3.  Knit across **52 (58, 64, 70)** sts (Front) + 1 raglan st from each side = **54 (60, 66, 72)** sts.
4.  Slip next **44 (48, 52, 56)** sts (Sleeve) onto waste yarn.
5.  **Cast on** **6 (6, 6, 8)** sts (Underarm).
6.  Knit remaining Back sts.

**Total Body Stitch Count:** 
*   **S:** 54 (Front) + 54 (Back) + 12 (Underarms) = **120 sts**. [120 / 1.4 = 85.7 cm circ]
*   **M:** 60 (Front) + 60 (Back) + 12 (Underarms) = **132 sts**. [132 / 1.4 = 94.2 cm circ - *Note: Slightly fitted, if looser fit desired, add 4 sts to underarms*]
*   **L:** 66 (Front) + 66 (Back) + 12 (Underarms) = **144 sts**. [144 / 1.4 = 102.8 cm circ]
*   **XL:** 72 (Front) + 72 (Back) + 16 (Underarms) = **160 sts**. [160 / 1.4 = 114 cm circ]

#### 5. The Body
Continue knitting in the round in Stocking Stitch (knit every round) until the piece measures **75 (76, 78, 80)** cm from the underarm, or 5cm short of desired length.
*Technical Tip: Try the dress on. The weight of the yarn will pull the dress downwards. It is safer to knit slightly shorter than intended.*

**Hem Ribbing:**
Change to 6.0mm circular needles.
**Rnd 1-10:** *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Cast off loosely in rib pattern.

#### 6. The Sleeves
Place held sleeve stitches back onto 6.5mm needles (DPNs or circular).
Pick up and knit **3 (3, 3, 4)** sts from the centre of the underarm cast-on, knit across sleeve sts, pick up and knit **3 (3, 3, 4)** sts from remainder of underarm. Place BOR marker at centre underarm.

**Total Sleeve Sts:** **50 (54, 58, 64)** sts.

Knit straight for 5 cm.
**Decrease Rnd:** k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. [2 sts decreased]
Repeat Decrease Rnd every **10 (8, 8, 6)** cm a total of 4 (5, 6, 7) times.

**End Count:** Approx **42 (44, 46, 50)** sts.
Continue until sleeve measures 40cm from underarm (or desired length).

**Cuff:**
Change to 6.0mm needles.
**Next Rnd:** *k1, p1; rep to end.
Work 5cm in rib.
Cast off loosely.

#### 7. Finishing
1.  Weave in all ends using a yarn needle.
2.  Use the tail from the underarm pick-up to close any small holes at the armpit.
3.  **Blocking:** This step is essential for chunky lace or shaping, but for this simple dress, soak in lukewarm water with wool wash for 15 mins. Gently squeeze out water (do not wring). Roll in a towel to extract moisture. Lay flat to dry, shaping it to the measurements.