Eleanor Dress Knitting Pattern

Eleanor Dress in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK

What is Being Made

The Eleanor Dress is an intermediate-level knitted garment designed for a range of bust circumferences from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm. This downloadable knitting pattern from Quails Studio features a fitted silhouette with shaped shoulders and a neckline, available in multiple sizes to accommodate various body measurements. The garment shown in the pattern photography is rendered in Toffee 203, a warm neutral colorway.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate shaping techniques that give the dress its structured fit. Shoulder shaping is achieved through strategic bind-offs at the beginning of rows, with multiple decreases worked over consecutive rows to create a sloped shoulder line. Neckline shaping is incorporated through single-stitch decreases worked at regular intervals, combined with additional bind-offs to define the neck opening. Sleeve cap shaping involves increases worked from the underarm, with frequency varying by size to accommodate different proportions. The pattern uses staggered increases and decreases worked at different row intervals (every 2 rows, every 4 rows, or every 6 rows depending on the section and size), allowing for precise fit adjustments across the size range.

Stitches Used

The Eleanor Dress is worked primarily in a textured stitch pattern that creates visual interest throughout the garment. The main stitch pattern alternates between knit and purl stitches in a structured repeat: one row begins with a purl stitch followed by a knit stitch, then repeats three purl stitches and one knit stitch across the row, ending with a purl stitch. The subsequent row works three knit stitches followed by one purl stitch in repeat to the end. This creates a subtle ribbed or waffle-like texture. Stockinette stitch sections are worked in specific areas as indicated by the pattern instructions. Standard knitting techniques including cast-on, bind-off, increases (make one), and decreases (knit two together) are used throughout for shaping.

Materials

The Eleanor Dress is designed to be knitted with Rowan Alpaca Soft DK yarn, a lightweight double-knitting weight yarn. The yardage requirements vary by size, with the pattern specifying yarn quantities in 50-gram balls (approximately 180 yards per ball for DK weight alpaca). Size 4 (US 6 / 3.5mm) knitting needles are used throughout the pattern to achieve the specified gauge. The pattern calls for a gauge of 22 stitches and 32 rows over 10 centimeters when working the textured stitch pattern on size 4 needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements across all sizes.