Novita Merino 4PLY: Seea knitted dress
Designed by Lotta Sorvoja and knitted from the thin Novita Merino 4ply yarn, the festive Seea dress hangs beautifully and has an ample hem – ideal for twirling! The dress also features baggy sleeves and a dainty buttonband on the back.
Designer
Lotta Sorvoja
Size(s)
92/98(104/110)116/122(128/134)
Finished dimensions
body circumference 56(60)64(68) cm / 22(23½)25¼(26¾) in
length 55(59)62(66) cm / 21¾(23¼)24½(26) in
inner sleeve length 23(26)29(32) cm / 9(10¼)11½(12½) in
Yarn demand
Novita Merino 4PLY (649) Chantarelle 350(400)450(500) g
Needles and other supplies
Circular needles (40 cm / 16 in; 80 cm / 32 in) Novita 2.5 mm (US 1½) and 3 mm (UK 11 / US 2½) or sizes needed; 2.5 mm and 3 mm double-pointed needles for the sleeves Other supplies 5 buttons (diameter approx. 1 cm / ½ in)
Finished dimensions
body circumference 56(60)64(68) cm / 22(23½)25¼(26¾) in
length 55(59)62(66) cm / 21¾(23¼)24½(26) in
inner sleeve length 23(26)29(32) cm / 9(10¼)11½(12½) in
Stitch patterns Stockinette stitch (flat): knit the right side rows and purl the wrong side rows. Garter stitch (flat): knit all rows. Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all rows.
Gauge 29 sts and 41 rows in stockinette st with larger needles = 10 cm / 4 in
Top front and back
The top is knitted in one piece to the armholes, with an opening at the back (see pattern for direction of knitting).
Using the larger circular needle (80 cm), cast on 169(181)193(205) sts and work stockinette st: (WS) k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2. Keep working 2 sts at both ends in garter st. With the other sts, work stockinette st. Slip the last st of each row.
Note: After 1(2)1(2) cm, make the first buttonhole at the left end: (RS) work to last 5 sts, yarn over, skp (slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass the slipped st over), work to end. Make 4 more buttonholes at 3(3)3.5(3.5) cm intervals.
Note: When the piece measures 3 cm, place side markers so that there are 44(47)50(53) sts at the right end (left back piece), 81(87)93(99) sts in the centre (front) and 44(47)50(53) sts at the left end (right back). Divide the sts into three groups: on the next RS row, work to last 2(3)4(5) sts before side marker, bind off next 4(6)8(10) sts for armhole, work to last 2(3)4(5) sts before side marker, bind off next 4(6)8(10) sts for armhole, work to end. 42(44)46(48) sts in both back pieces, 77(81)85(89) sts in the front.
Top right back
Continue with the 42(44)46(48) sts at the left end. On every other row decrease 4(4)5(5)x1 st at the right end for armhole = 38(40)41(43) sts. Note: Remember to make the buttonholes as established.
When the armhole measures 11(12)13(14) cm, bind off 19(20)20(22) sts at the left end for neckline. Bind off a further 1x2 sts at the neckline edge.
When the armhole measures 12(13)14(15) cm, bind off the 17(18)19(19) shoulder sts.
Top left back
Continue with the 42(44)46(48) sts at the right end. On every other row decrease 4(4)5(5)x1 st at the left end for armhole = 38(40)41(43) sts.
When the armhole measures 11(12)13(14) cm, bind off 19(20)20(22) sts at the right end for neckline. Bind off a further 1x2 sts at the neckline edge.
When the armhole measures 12(13)14(15) cm, bind off the 17(18)19(19) shoulder sts.
Top front
Continue with the 77(81)85(89) sts in the centre. On every other row decrease 4(4)5(5)x1 st for armholes at both ends = 69(73)75(79) sts.
When the armhole measures 8(9)10(11) cm, bind off the middle 27(29)29(33) sts for the neckline. Work one side at a time. On every other row, bind off 4x1 st at the neckline edge.
When the armhole measures 12(13)14(15) cm, bind off the 17(18)19(19) shoulder sts.
Knit the other side in the same manner.
Hem
The piece is knitted from the top down. Sew the shoulder seams. Place the back pieces on top of each other, with 7 sts from the pieces overlapping and the buttonholes on the outside.
1st frill section: using the larger circular needle (40 cm), pick up 1 st from each st in the top [162(174)186(198) sts] and yarn over after each picked-up st = 324(348)372(396) sts.
Work stockinette st in the round using the longer circular needle. On the first round, knit the yarn overs through the back loop to avoid gaps.
When the frill section measures 20(21.5)22.5(24) cm, bind off.
2nd frill section: using the larger circular needle (80 cm), pick up 1 st from each st in the previous frill section [324(348)372(396) sts] and yarn over after each picked-up st = 648(696)744(792) sts.
Work stockinette st in the round. On the first round, knit the yarn overs through the back loop to avoid gaps.
When the section measures 20(21.5)22.5(24) cm, purl 1 round (= fold round). Switch to the smaller circular needle, work stockinette st in the round and bind off.
Fold the hem at the fold round and sew the edge to the inside.
Sleeves
Using the smaller double-pointed needles, cast on 36(39)42(45) sts and work garter st in the round: purl 1 round, knit 1 round, purl 1 round. Place marker for beginning of round.
Switch to the larger needles. On the next round increase 36(39)42(45) sts: *k1, yo*, repeat *–* to end of round. 72(78)84(90) sts on the needles. Work stockinette st in the round. On the first round, knit the yarn overs through the back loop to avoid gaps.
When the piece measures 23(26)29(32) cm, work next round to last 2(3)4(5) sts before marker. Bind off 2(3)4(5) sts and the first 2(3)4(5) sts of the next round. Work stockinette st back and forth. On every other row decrease 4(4)5(5)x1 st at both ends = 60(64)66(70) sts.
Work for 7(8)8(9) cm without decreasing, then decrease 8x1 st at both ends on every other row. On the next RS row, k2tog to end of row and bind off all sts.
Knit the other sleeve in the same manner.
Finishing
Neckline: Using the smaller circular needle and with RS facing pick up and knit a total of 96(100)100(104) sts from the neckline. Work garter st for 2 rows, then bind off in knit on WS.
Sew the sleeves to the armholes, gathering the sleeve cap evenly into the upper sleeve.
Sew on the buttons. Steam the dress lightly.
Finished dimensions
body circumference 56(60)64(68) cm / 22(23½)25¼(26¾) in
length 55(59)62(66) cm / 21¾(23¼)24½(26) in
inner sleeve length 23(26)29(32) cm / 9(10¼)11½(12½) in
Stitch patterns Stockinette stitch (flat): knit the right side rows and purl the wrong side rows. Garter stitch (flat): knit all rows. Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all rows.
Gauge 29 sts and 41 rows in stockinette st with larger needles = 10 cm / 4 in
Top front and back
The top is knitted in one piece to the armholes, with an opening at the back (see pattern for direction of knitting).
Using the larger circular needle (80 cm), cast on 169(181)193(205) sts and work stockinette st: (WS) k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2. Keep working 2 sts at both ends in garter st. With the other sts, work stockinette st. Slip the last st of each row.
Note: After 1(2)1(2) cm, make the first buttonhole at the left end: (RS) work to last 5 sts, yarn over, skp (slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass the slipped st over), work to end. Make 4 more buttonholes at 3(3)3.5(3.5) cm intervals.
Note: When the piece measures 3 cm, place side markers so that there are 44(47)50(53) sts at the right end (left back piece), 81(87)93(99) sts in the centre (front) and 44(47)50(53) sts at the left end (right back). Divide the sts into three groups: on the next RS row, work to last 2(3)4(5) sts before side marker, bind off next 4(6)8(10) sts for armhole, work to last 2(3)4(5) sts before side marker, bind off next 4(6)8(10) sts for armhole, work to end. 42(44)46(48) sts in both back pieces, 77(81)85(89) sts in the front.
Top right back
Continue with the 42(44)46(48) sts at the left end. On every other row decrease 4(4)5(5)x1 st at the right end for armhole = 38(40)41(43) sts. Note: Remember to make the buttonholes as established.
When the armhole measures 11(12)13(14) cm, bind off 19(20)20(22) sts at the left end for neckline. Bind off a further 1x2 sts at the neckline edge.
When the armhole measures 12(13)14(15) cm, bind off the 17(18)19(19) shoulder sts.
Top left back
Continue with the 42(44)46(48) sts at the right end. On every other row decrease 4(4)5(5)x1 st at the left end for armhole = 38(40)41(43) sts.
When the armhole measures 11(12)13(14) cm, bind off 19(20)20(22) sts at the right end for neckline. Bind off a further 1x2 sts at the neckline edge.
When the armhole measures 12(13)14(15) cm, bind off the 17(18)19(19) shoulder sts.
Top front
Continue with the 77(81)85(89) sts in the centre. On every other row decrease 4(4)5(5)x1 st for armholes at both ends = 69(73)75(79) sts.
When the armhole measures 8(9)10(11) cm, bind off the middle 27(29)29(33) sts for the neckline. Work one side at a time. On every other row, bind off 4x1 st at the neckline edge.
When the armhole measures 12(13)14(15) cm, bind off the 17(18)19(19) shoulder sts.
Knit the other side in the same manner.
Hem
The piece is knitted from the top down. Sew the shoulder seams. Place the back pieces on top of each other, with 7 sts from the pieces overlapping and the buttonholes on the outside.
1st frill section: using the larger circular needle (40 cm), pick up 1 st from each st in the top [162(174)186(198) sts] and yarn over after each picked-up st = 324(348)372(396) sts.
Work stockinette st in the round using the longer circular needle. On the first round, knit the yarn overs through the back loop to avoid gaps.
When the frill section measures 20(21.5)22.5(24) cm, bind off.
2nd frill section: using the larger circular needle (80 cm), pick up 1 st from each st in the previous frill section [324(348)372(396) sts] and yarn over after each picked-up st = 648(696)744(792) sts.
Work stockinette st in the round. On the first round, knit the yarn overs through the back loop to avoid gaps.
When the section measures 20(21.5)22.5(24) cm, purl 1 round (= fold round). Switch to the smaller circular needle, work stockinette st in the round and bind off.
Fold the hem at the fold round and sew the edge to the inside.
Sleeves
Using the smaller double-pointed needles, cast on 36(39)42(45) sts and work garter st in the round: purl 1 round, knit 1 round, purl 1 round. Place marker for beginning of round.
Switch to the larger needles. On the next round increase 36(39)42(45) sts: *k1, yo*, repeat *–* to end of round. 72(78)84(90) sts on the needles. Work stockinette st in the round. On the first round, knit the yarn overs through the back loop to avoid gaps.
When the piece measures 23(26)29(32) cm, work next round to last 2(3)4(5) sts before marker. Bind off 2(3)4(5) sts and the first 2(3)4(5) sts of the next round. Work stockinette st back and forth. On every other row decrease 4(4)5(5)x1 st at both ends = 60(64)66(70) sts.
Work for 7(8)8(9) cm without decreasing, then decrease 8x1 st at both ends on every other row. On the next RS row, k2tog to end of row and bind off all sts.
Knit the other sleeve in the same manner.
Finishing
Neckline: Using the smaller circular needle and with RS facing pick up and knit a total of 96(100)100(104) sts from the neckline. Work garter st for 2 rows, then bind off in knit on WS.
Sew the sleeves to the armholes, gathering the sleeve cap evenly into the upper sleeve.
Sew on the buttons. Steam the dress lightly.
