DIY Fair Isle Sweater Dress
Prepping for my sweet angel I looked everywhere for a Christmas outfit for her first Christmas. Found some I liked okay, but nothing I loved that was in her size. I decided to raid Pinterest for ideas and found this beautiful sweater dress with matching ski boots. The knitted pattern was made from a book this woman had, but me being too cheap to buy a pattern I decided to make my own. I tracked down several patterns I liked and combined them to make what I needed. I used Caron Simply Soft Yarn because I like how soft it feels, but it's also pretty lightweight, machine washable, and cheap.
This is how I made this incredibly adorable outfit!
0-3 Month Old Fair Isle Sweater Dress
Supplies:
Size 8 circular knitting needle
Size 10 double pointed needles
2 skeins of main color in a size 4-medium yarn
1 skein of secondary color in a size 4-medium yarn
Darning needle
Size H crochet hook
Gauge:
20 stitches=4 inches
13 rows in stockinette=2 inches
Abbreviations:
CO=cast on
st=stitches
MC=main color
k=knit
p=purl
k2tog=knit two together
SC=secondary color
bo=bind off
sc=single crochet
ch=chain
ss=slip stitch
inc=increase
sc2tog=single crochet 2 tog
slst=slip stitch
dc=double crochet
Directions:
Create a small swatch to check your gauge against mine.
Dress:
CO 108 st using MC. Place a stitch marker and join in the round.
1. k 4, p 4, repeat until the end.
2. k round
3-6. Repeat row 1 for each odd numbered row and row 2 for each even numbered row.
7-17. knit
18. k2tog, k 25 st, repeat to end
19-26. knit
27. k 12 st, k2tog, k 24 st, repeat to end
28-32. knit
33. k2tog, k 23 st, repeat to end
34-38. knit
39. k 12 st, k2tog, k 47 st, k2tog, knit to end
40-69. knit pattern using SC for the pattern
70. knit
71. bo 10 st (sleeve), k 8 st (shoulder) and place on cabling hook, bo 30 st (chest), k 8 st (shoulder) and place on cabling hook, bo 10 st (sleeve), knit to end (back)
72-77. k even rows, p odd rows--stockinette stitch
78. k 8 st (shoulder) and place on cabling hook, bo st to last 8 st (neck), k 8 st (shoulder)
79-84. stockinette stitch
85. bo all stitches
Take other back shoulder st from cable hook and place on needles. Repeat rows 79-85.
Add one of the front shoulder st from cable hook and place on needles. Stockinette stitch for 13 rows, bo. Repeat for other should strap.
Join shoulder straps.
Neck:
1. Using size H hook sc 10 st across chest, ch 1, turn.
2-?. sc back and forth until you've worked your way around the collar, ss at end of row to join collar to shoulder and back.
bo, use darning needle to sew onto chest other side.
Sleeves (make 2):
CO 20 st using MC.
1. k 4 st, p 4 st, repeat to end.
2. k
2-6. Repeat row 1 for all odd rows and row 2 for all even rows
7-22. k with cabling
23. inc, k 18 st, inc
24-26. k with cabling
27. inc, k 20 st, inc
28-30. k with cabling
31. inc, k 22 st, inc
32-34. k with cabling
35. inc, k 24 st, inc
36-38. k with cabling
39. inc, k 26 st, inc
40-42. k with cabling
43. inc, k 28 st, inc
44. bo all
Sew onto main sweater and join sides up sleeve.
Fair Isle Ski Booties (make 2):
Using size H hook ch 7 in SC.
1-10. sc, ch 1, turn
11. 2 sc in first st, sc 5 st, 2 sc, ch1, turn
12-18. sc, ch1, turn
19. sc, ch1
20. sc around
21. sc inside loops only
22-23. sc both loops
24. sc inside loops only across toes, sc both loops around rest of shoe
25-28. sc both loops across toes only, sc2tog, ss 2 st, turn
29-30. sc around entire shoe
Using size 10 double pointed needles CO 28 st, place stitch marker, join round.
1. k
2-15. k snowflake pattern using MC for pattern
16. k
17. bo
Sew to base of shoe.
Using size H hook ch 70 in MC, bo.
Weave long chain around top of bootie and tie a pom pom in MC to both ends, tie in a bow.
Flower Headband:
Using size J hook ch 50 in MC, slst to make round.
1. ch 2, dc, slst, ch 1, turn
2-6. sc, slst, ch 1, turn
7. sc, slst, ch 2, turn
8. dc, sl st, bo
Using size J hook ch 3 in SC 1. 6 dc into the first chain. slst to the top of the first dc. (6) 2. ch 2, 3 dc into the same stitch, ch 2, sl st into the same stitch. *ch 1, sl st in next stitch. ch 2, 3 dc into the same stitch, ch 2, sl st into the same stitch* around. (6 petals made). 3. ch 3. You will bring this chain behind the first petal on the previous round and sl st into ch 1 space between the petals. Do this behind each petal. Behind the last petal, sl st into the first ch 3 space you made. (6 ch 3 spaces made) 4. ch 2, 5 dc into the same ch 3 space, ch 2, sl st into the same space. *ch 1, sl st in next ch 3 space. ch 2, 5 dc into the same stitch, ch 2, sl st into the same space* around. (6 petals made behind first set of 6 petals) 5. ch 4. You will bring this chain behind the first petal on the previous round and sl st into the ch 1 space between the petals. Do this behind each petal. Behind the last petal, sl st into the first ch 4 space.
6. ch 2, 6 dc into the same ch 4 space, ch 2, sl st into the same space. *ch 1, sl st in the next ch 4 space. ch 2, 6 dc into the same stitch, ch 2, sl st into the same space* around. (6 petals made behind the second set of 6 petals).
Sew onto headband.
Hope you enjoy this super adorable pattern and the super adorable child wearing it. This was my first experience knitting in fair isle and I think it turned out pretty good. Have any tips when you knit in fair isle? This was also my first time making pom poms, had to get my mother to help me. Switched to crocheting periodically because it's much faster for me to complete the outfit in time for Christmas.