Maxi Top/Dress

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This design was one of my most impulsive knits, one that you do not put down till it is done. It all started with some yarn from Cascade. I had 18 balls of this lovely yarn for a sweater for myself that I then decided not to make!

The idea for this top came to me all of a sudden, and I am very pleased with the result.

The garment is knitted completely in the round from top down.

This design is written for worsted weight yarns, for a smaller version in DK weight please see:  Maxi Top/Dress for babies.

Sizes available:

6-12 months (16-19 inch chest)
1-2 year old to fit 18-20 inch chest
2-3 year old to fit 20-22 inch chest (size shown)
3-4 year old to fit 21-23 inch chest
4-5T (22-24 inch chest)
5-7T (24-26 inch chest)
7-9T (25-28 inch chest)

Yarn:
Contrast: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4 balls of Mission Falls 1824 wool(100% merino;85 yards or 78m in 50g ball)
Main: 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4 balls of Bollicine Maxi (70% merino, 30% acrylic;109 yards or 100 m in 50g ball) if you want it to be a top (add an extra 1-2 balls if you want it to be a dress)

Gauge:
19 sts per 4 inches on 4.5 mm needles over stockinette st with main color yarn

Abbreviations:

Increase 1 stitch = knit into the stitch below

yo= yarn over needle

Materials:

4 mm/US #6 16" circular needles
4.5 mm 20" and 24" circular needles
stitch markers

Pattern Instructions:

Using 4 mm 16" circular needles and contrast color cast on 66 (70, 70, 76, 82, 88, 94) sts.
Place marker, join in the round
Knit 1x1 rib for 10 (12, 14, 14, 15, 16, 16) rnds
Next round knit.
New rnd: switch to main color and * knit1, yo*...to the end of the round.
Knit one rnd.
Switch to 4.5 mm 20" circular needles and knit 5 (6, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12) rnds
Switch to contrast color and knit following rounds as follows:
Rnd 1:Knit
Rnd 2:Purl
Rnd 3:Knit
Rnd 4:Purl
Rnd 5:Knit
Rnd 6:Purl
For size 4-5T repeat Rnd 5&6 one more time.
And for sizes 5-7T and up repeat Rnd 5&6 2 more times.
Next Rnd knit 36 (40, 40, 42, 46, 49, 52) sts, bind off 30 (30, 30, 34, 36, 39, 42) sts, knit 36 (40, 40, 42, 46, 49, 52) sts, bind off 30 (30, 30, 34, 36, 39, 42) sts.

Next rnd, purl 36 (40, 40, 42, 46, 49, 52) sts, cast on 3 (2, 5, 6, 8, 8, 11) sts, purl 36 (40, 40, 42, 46, 49, 52) sts, cast on 3 (2, 5, 6, 8, 8, 11) sts, place marker and continue knitting in the round with contrast color for 1 more round.
Next round switch to main color and knit 6 (8, 10, 12, 12, 14, 16) rnds.
Switch to contrast color and knit following rnds as follows:
Rnd 1:Knit
Rnd 2:Purl
Rnd 3:Knit
Rnd 4:Purl
Rnd 5:Knit
Rnd 6:Purl
Rnd 7:Knit.
Rnd 8:Purl.
For size 4-5T repeat Rnd 7&8 one more time.
And for sizes 5-7T and up repeat Rnd 7&8 2 more times.
Next round knit and place markers every 13 (14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21) sts (78, 84, 90, 96, 108, 114, 126 sts).
Switch to main color.
Increase 1 sts on each side of each marker (90, 96, 102, 108, 120, 126, 138 sts).
Knit 9 rnds
Increase 1 sts on each side of each marker (102, 108, 114, 120, 132, 138, 150 sts).
Knit 9 rnds.
Continue in the following manner till the piece measures the length you want minus 1 inch. For the in between top and dress length it works out to be about 7 (8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13, 14) inches from the underarm. (I would recommend to do 14 knitting rounds for the last 2-3 sets of increases if you are making a dress)
Switch to contrast yarn.

Hemline Version 1:

For sizes 6-12 months to 2-3T (Knit 1 round, purl 1 round) x5
For sizes 4-5T and up (knit1 round, purl 1 round) x 7
Bind off.

Hemline Version 2:

Switch to contrast color yarn.

1. knit one round
2. 1x1 rib (k1, p1) for 2 rnds.
3. *k1, pbaf (purl back and front)*.
4. *k1, p2* for 3 rounds.
5. *k1, pbaf, p1*….to the end.
6. *k1, p3* for 4 rounds.
7. Bind off in pattern.

Weave in ends.
Done!