The Cables and Lace dress pattern includes a dress, and a shorter version of the dress that makes a great sweater or cardigan. A matching hat is included as a bonus.

The dress or sweater is knitted from the neck down and fastens down the center back with buttons and buttonholes. The dress and sweater can also be worn with the buttons at the front if you prefer. There is a choice of cap sleeves, puffed sleeves or elbow length straight sleeves.

The button bands are knitted in with the dress, so there’s very little to sew together with this pattern, just the sleeve seams (if you are making one of the options with sleeves). After that, all you need to do is darn in the yarn tails and sew on the buttons.

The stitch pattern for this dress is inspired by Japanese knitting patterns. Japanese knitting is known for its delicate and intricate-looking patterns usually combining lace stitches and cables or textured stitches. Although this may sound complex, it isn’t really. The stitch patterns contain repeated rows and are built up of blocks of elements to create a pattern that, while looking complex, is actually fairly easy to understand.

This versatile pattern is sure to please your doll. The dress is a fun, modern style dress that’s perfect for most occasions. The sweater can be worn with other clothing in your doll’s wardrobe and the hat is perfect as a fashion accessory for all sorts of outfits.

Finished Garment measurements
Dress:
Chest (all around under arms) – 10” / 25 cm
Waist – 11” / 27.5 cm
Hips – 13” / 32.5 cm
Front length (center neck to hem)– 8½” / 21.5 cm

Sweater:
Chest (all around under arms) – 10” / 25 cm
Waist – 11” / 27.5 cm
Hips – 13” / 32.5 cm
Front length (center neck to hem) – 5¼” / 13 cm

A full list of the yarns used to create the examples, and yarn choices from the testers is included to help you to choose the correct yarn for this pattern.
This PDF knitting pattern is designed to fit 18” dolls such as American Girl®.

Recommended Fabrics: The gauge for this dress is 16 stitches and 21 rows to 2” x 2”. Most yarns marked with the symbol 1 (SuperFine) will be suitable for this pattern. For UK/Aus/NZ/SA knitters, 4ply yarn or sock yarn is perfect for this pattern.

Supplies Needed:

• One pair of US Size 2 (metric 2.75 mm) knitting needles, or a circular needle if you prefer (or whatever size needle you need to use to make the gauge (tension) required).
• A cable needle the same size as, or finer than, your main knitting needles.
• One pair of US size 1 (metric 2.25 mm) knitting needles, or a circular needle if you prefer, for knitting the hat band.
• Optional – one US Size 4 (metric 3.5 mm) knitting needle – needed only if you bind off tightly.
• Blunt ended yarn needle for darning in yarn ends and sewing on buttons or snaps.
• 8 x 3/8” (or 7-9 mm) buttons for the back closure of the dress, 5 buttons for the sweater.
• One 50g (1¾ oz) ball of Super Fine fingering yarn should be sufficient to knit the dress. You will need less yarn for the sweater and hat. Approximate yarn quantities required for individual garments, using US fingering weight yarns: Dress: Approximately 207 yards (45g) for the cap sleeve dress, and approximately 255 yards (55g) for the short or puffed sleeve dresses Sweater: Approximately 130 yards (28g) for the sweaters (all options) Hat: Approximately 70 yards (15g) for the hat.