Wisteria Child's Sleeveless Dress

As this dress took form, its violet color and the waterfall effect of the lace border brought the cascading blossoms of Wisteria sinensis to mind. And since W. sinensis means Chinese wisteria, and the lace border is a variation of "Chinese Lace" from Barbara Walker’s 2nd Treasury of Knitting Patterns—well, the name seemed perfect.

Wisteria is a sleeveless dress worked in the round to the armholes, and the pattern includes instructions for girls’ sizes 3 months through 10 years. The Chinese Lace forms a wide, graceful flounce at the hem, and the vertical ribbed columns give a lean yet non-clingy fit, then curve gently around armholes and neck to echo the undulations of the lace.

Difficulty Adventurous beginner to intermediate; stitches used include k2tog, k3tog, SSK (or sl1, k1, PSSO), SSSK, and YO. Pattern requires chart reading, and the neckline finishing uses an applied I-cord.

Materials Yarn: Classic Elite Provence (100% mercerized cotton; 205 yds/186 m per 100 gm