Knitting Knitting from the DoA archives: Laura Gilkey's SD dress and accessories pattern

Long, long ago, there were some wonderful patterns posted to the original DoA Yahoogroup, and then imported over to this forum when it got started. As DoA grew and servers changed, those patterns became harder and harder to find. My dear friend SillyDog and I made a project of saving the pattern archive, with the idea of someday adding it to the Wiki or some other part of the forum.

As we have time, we'll post those patterns so everyone can use them! Here's the second one, contributed by the marvelous Laura Gilkey, exactly as she wrote it and with her original pictures included. If you use this pattern, please give Laura Gilkey the credit for it!




Knit Halter Dress for Standard SD or SD13
with Matching Arm and Leg Warmers
by Laura Gilkey

Permission is granted for Den of Angels members to make or commission as many garments from this pattern as they wish for their own enjoyment, and to sell as many such garments as they wish, provided that they themselves make by hand garments intended for sale.

Fingering weight yarn on US size 2 (2.75mm) needles or size needed for gauge.

You will also need:
Two stitch markers
Size D crochet hook
Yarn needles for sewing

Gauge: 7 sts and 9 rows = 1 inch

Cast on 75
Odd numbered rows are the right side; even numbered rows are the wrong side.
R1-10: Seed Stitch---(k1, p1) across, end with k1.
R11-40: Stockinette Stitch---k across odd numbered rows, p across even numbered rows. (If desired, you can add more rows to this section for a longer skirt)
Continue in stockinette stitch except as noted.
R41: K17, s1, k1, psso, place marker, k37, place marker, k2tog, k17. (73 sts)
R47: K16, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k33, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k16. (69 sts)
R53: K15, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k31, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k15. (65 sts)
R57: K14, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k29, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k14. (61 sts)
R61: K13, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k27, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k13. (57 sts)
R65: K12, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k25, s1, k1, psso, pass marker, k2tog, k12. (53 sts)
R71: K13, m1, pass marker, k1, m1, k25, m1, k1, pass marker, m1, k13. (57 sts)
R79: K14, m1, pass marker, k1, m1, k27, m1, k1, pass marker, m1, k14. (61 sts)
R84: P48, k1, (p1, k1) 6 times. (61 sts)
R85: (k1, p1) 7 times, k33, (p1, k1) 7 times. (61 sts)
R86: K1, (p1, k1) 7 times, p 31, k1, (p1, k1) 7 times. (61 sts)
R87: Bind off in pattern 12 sts, keeping loop of 13th st on the needle, p1, k1, p1, k29, (p1, k1) 8 times. (49 sts)
R88: Bind off in pattern 13 sts, keeping loop of 14th st on the needle, k1, p1, k1, p27, k1, p1, k1, p1, s1. (36 sts)
R89: S2, pass 1st st over (this acts as a "s1, k1, psso" on the previous row), k1, pass previous stich over, p1, k1, p1, k across until 5 sts remain, p1, k1, p1, k2tog. (33 sts)
R90: P2tog, k1, p1, k1, p across until 5 sts remain, k1, p1, k1, p1, s1 (32 sts)
R91-100: Repeat rows 89 and 90 5 times. At the end of row 100, 12 sts remain.
R101: S2, pass 1st st over, slip remaining stitch back to left needle. Cast on 6, (k1, p1) across (17 sts)
R102: Cast on 6, (k1, p1) across (23 sts)
R103-110: Seed Stitch---(k1, p1) across, end with k1.
Cast off in pattern.
Sew back seam.
With same yarn on size D crochet hook, ch 30, sc across short side edge of neckband, ch 30. This should give you a ch30 tail at top and bottom of the closing edge of the neckband. Repeat on the opposite neckband edge. (You can also use hook and eye fasteners, but I prefer this closure.)
Pull the dress on over the doll's legs, then fasten the neckband behind her neck by tying the crochet chain tails.

Matching Arm Warmers and Leg Warmers (make 2 of each):
Same yarn and gauge
Cast on 23 for Arm Warmers or 27 for Leg Warmers (otherwise they are worked alike)
Row 1-10: Seed Stitch---(k1, p1) across, end with k1.
Rows 1-48: Stockinette Stitch---K across odd rows, P across even rows.
Rows 49-58: Seed Stitch---(k1, p1) across, end with k1.
Cast off loosely in pattern.
You can vary the length; end the stockinette stitch section about 1 inch short of the desired total length.
Sew long sides together to form a tube; weave in ends.
Just slip the warmers on over her hands and feet.

Then enjoy watching your girl ham it up in this sexy outfit! At least my girls can't seem to put one of these on and not start glamour-posing... ^_~

 

I keep forgetting to come back and explain the way this pattern has evolved while I've used it! I like to use self-striping yarn for this one, and now I usually knit a 1x1 ribbing at the hem and top border instead of Laura's moss-stitch edging. I've also experimented with lace patterns at the hem (any pattern with a stitch repeat that's a multiple of five, though I really like patterns with wavy edges). and that works well, too. Begin with either 2 or 4 rows of garter stitch before starting the lace pattern, to make a stable and finished-looking edge.

By using slightly heavier fingering or sportweight yarn and going up a needle size or two, I've made this dress in SD16, SID, and EID sizes. By using laceweight yarn and US size 0 needles (2mm), I've made it in slim-mini size. Here are a couple of examples:

 

I use 3.25mm -- standard US size 3 -- for SD16 and SID, and I choose a slightly heavier fingering-weight or light sportweight yarn (though it doesn't need to be much heavier than normal fingering weight -- as you know, this dress has a lot of give in it!). I go up to 3.5mm or 3.75 mm (US size 4) for EID sometimes, though that really depends on whether the yarn needs it.

And oooooh, how do you handle the top shaping (from row 84 of the pattern on) in the round? I'll confess that I kind of enjoy seaming, so I've never bothered to experiment with eliminating the back seam in this pattern, but I've always wondered what would happen at row 84.

 

Ah, thanks SO much -- I see exactly what you mean! *plotting and scheming*