Novita Venla: Pohjantähti (North Star) colourwork dress

Body

Using the smaller needles (2 x 80 cm) and Charcoal cast on 480(512)576(640)672(736) sts and place marker for beginning of round. Work stockinette stitch in the round for 4 rounds. Switch to the larger needles. Purl 1 round (= fold row), knit 4 rounds.

Switch to Off White and work stockinette st.

When the piece measures 10 cm from the purl stripe, begin the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart I. Repeat the 32 st pattern 15(16)18(19)21(23) times. Work rows 2-58 of the chart.

Work stockinette st using Charcoal until the piece measures 57(57)58(58)59(59) cm from the fold row. Next round: work 240(256)288(320)336(368) sts, place marker (front midpoint), work to end. The beginning of round is at the back midpoint.

On the next round make pleats: k0(2)0(4)0(4), *slip next 6 sts onto cable needle and hold in back, knit together the first st and the first st on the cable needle 6 times*. Repeat *-* 19(20)23(25)27(29) more times, k0(2)0(4)0(4), remove marker. K0(2)0(4)0(4), *slip next 6 sts onto cable needle and hold in back, knit together the first st and the first st on the cable needle 6 times*. Repeat *-* 19(20)23(25)27(29) more times, k0(2)0(4)0(4). 240(260)288(328)336(376) sts on the needles.

Knit 1 round and at the same time evenlydecrease [sizes S(M)L(XL)3XL] 6(0)2(16)12 sts or increase [size XXL] 2 sts = 234(260)286(312)338(364) sts.

Work stockinette st. Move the beginning of round marker: remove marker, k58(65)71(78)84(91), place marker for beginning of round (left side).

When you have worked for 6(7)7(8)8(8) cm after the pleats, on the next round place right side marker 117(130)143(156)169(182) sts from the beginning of round = 117(130)143(156)169(182) sts on both sides.

Begin the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart II. The starting point for each size is marked with an arrow. Keep repeating the 26 st pattern as needed. Work rows 2-42 of the chart.

Note: After row 32 [the side measures approx. 18(19)19(20)20(20) cm from the pleats], work next round to last 6(6)8(8)10(10) sts. Bind off the next 12(12)16(16)20(20)sts, removing the marker. Work to last 6(6)8(8)10(10) sts before marker. Bind off the next 12(12)16(16)20(20) sts for the other armhole and remove the marker. 105(118)127(140)149(162) sts in the front and back.

Now switch to working flat.

Back

Working flat, resume the colourwork pattern on the next row of the chart. On every other row decrease 5(5)7(7)8(8)x1st at both ends = 95(108)113(126)133(146) sts.

After you have completed the colourwork section, work stockinette st using Off White for 1 cm.

Begin the colourwork pattern on row 1 of chart III. The midpoint of the piece is marked with an arrow, use that to determine the starting point. Work rows 2-11 of the chart.

For the rest of the piece work stockinette st using Off White.

When the armhole measures 18(19)20(21)21(22) cm, on the next RS rowbind off the middle 43(44)45(46)49(50) sts for the neckline and work to end. Work one side at a time. On every other row bind off 2x2 sts at the neckline edge.

When the armhole measures 20(21)22(23)23(24) cm, bind off the 22(28)30(36)38(44) shoulder sts.

Knit the other side in the same manner.

Front

Work like back until the armhole measures 12(13)14(15)15(16) cm.

On the next RS row bind off the middle 35(36)37(38)41(42) sts for the neckline, then work to end. Work one side at a time. On every other row bind off 4x2 sts at the neckline edge.

When the armhole measures 20(21)22(23)23(24) cm, bind off the 22(28)30(36)38(44) shoulder sts.

Knit the other side in the same manner.

Sleeves

Use either the Magic Loop technique or double-pointed needles.

Using the smaller needles and Charcoal cast on 60(64)64(68)68(70) sts and place marker for beginning of round. Work k2 p2 ribbing in the round for 4 rounds. Switch to the Off White yarn and work ribbing until the piece measures 9 cm.

Switch to the larger needles and Charcoal. Work stockinette st in the round. On the first round evenly increase 3(1)3(3)5(7) sts = 63(65)67(71)73(77) sts.

When the piece measures 13(12)10(10)10(10) cm, increase 1 st on both sides of the beginning round: k1, increase 1 (= knit the strand of yarn between the sts through the back loop), work to last st, increase 1, k1. Repeat the increases every 1,5 cm 21(23)25(26)25(26) more times = 107(113)119(125)125(131) sts.

Note: When the piece measures 35(36)37(38)38(39) cm, begin the colourwork pattern on row of chart II. The midpoint of the piece is marked with an arrow, use that to determine the starting point. Keep repeating the 26 st pattern as needed. Work rows 2-42 of the chart.

Note: After row 32 [the piece measures approx. 47(48)49(50)50(51) cm], work next round to last 6(6)8(8)10(10) sts. Bind off the next 12(12)16(16)20(20) sts, removing the marker.

Switch to working flat. On every other row bind off 5(5)7(7)8(8)x1 st at both ends.

Note: After you have completed the colourwork stripe, use Off White for the rest of the piece.

Knit the other sleeve in the same manner.

Finishing

Pin to measurements wrong side up, mist and allow to dry. Sew the shoulder seams.

Neckline: using the Off White yarn and the smaller circular needle and beginning at the right shoulder seam, pick up and knit 116(118)118(120)120(122) sts from the neckline edge. Work k1 p1 ribbing in the round for 10 cm. Switch to the larger circular needle and work ribbing until the collar measures 18 cm. Bind off in pattern.

Attach the sleeves (see the red marks in the pattern).