Margherita Dress was our 2020 Christmas dress and it is named after its characteristic eyelet patterning that, to the 5-year-old girl in our house at least, clearly resembled Margherita pizza, while the pattern looked more like little flowers to the rest of us. No matter what you see, this dress is worked in an allover easy-to-knit eyelet pattern from the top down with a raglan construction. The ribbed edges give a nice contrast to the wide skirt and girly eyelet pattern, and the dress can therefore easily be dressed up or down, being suitable for multiple occasions. The keyhole opening in the back is closed with a button. Sleeves are designed to be 3/4 length but can be made longer by repeating the stitch pattern. Margherita Dress is worked with 1 strand of Merino, Cotton Merino or Pure Silk.

You start working the neckband and upper yoke back and forth before continuing in the round down to the underarms. Here, sleeve stitches are placed on hold and the body continued in the round. The skirt is shaped with increases and bound off with a scalloped edge in half-twisted rib. Sleeves are worked in the round and finished with cuffs in half-twisted rib. The stitch pattern is charted only.

Please note that whenever only one number is given in the instructions, this number refers to all sizes.

Sizes: 6-9 (12-18) months // 2 (4, 6) years
Finished measurements: Total length at mid-front: approx. 33 (43) // 47 (55, 63) cm 13 (17) // 18½ (21¾, 24¾)”; Chest circumference: approx. 40 (46) // 51 (57, 63) cm 15¾ (18) // 20 (22½, 24¾)”; Sleeve length from underarm to edge: approx. 12 (15) // 17 (20, 22) cm 4¾ (6) // 6¾ (7¾, 8¾)”
Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino, Cotton Merino or Pure Silk (250 m 273 yd / 50 g 1.8 oz), fingeringweight yarn, 2 (3) // 4 (5, 6) balls. Sample is in Merino in Pearl Grey colorway
Needles: 2.5 mm / US1.5 and 3 mm / US2.5 circular and double-pointed needles, or in size to obtain gauge
Gauge (after blocking): 28 sts and 38 rows = 10 cm 4” in pattern with 3 mm / US2.5 needles
Notions: Stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle, 1 button (diameter: 12 mm ½”, crochet hook