Nina Knitting Pattern: A Versatile Design for Tank Tops, Babydoll Tunics, and Twirly Dresses for Newborn to 10 Years

Nina

Nina means "little girl" and that is what this pattern is all about. There's lace or ruffles and even a ribbon if you'd like. There are 3 versions of Nina for sizes nb - 8y - a tank top, a babydoll tunic and a twirly dress. The size 10 just has the tank top option. All start with a pretty cross-over sleeveless bodice then the 'skirt' part is knit using needles two sizes bigger than the bodice so it drapes and is light and airy for summer, even if knit inwool. I want to say a very VERY special thank you to my wonderful testers. Thank you so much Emma, Shazzy, Kristen, Bron, Leanne, Lea, Rachel, Kristie, Megan, Debby, Natalie, Ang, Sarah, Marie, Rae, Tasha, Meg, Jess Julie, Trish, Kate, Rebecca, Anna, Katherine, Genevieve, Jonette, Stephanie, Jen, Cathy, Zaviera, Sharon, Carla, Lisa, Jennie, Rebecca, Liz, Annie, Kelly, Zofia and Holly @

What you need

4mm 60cm circular needle. (smaller sizes may also need 40cm when knitting in the round) ?5mm 60cm circular needle. (smaller sizes may need 40cm needle) · 4 stitch markers. Ribbon - optional. Spare short circular needle or dpn.

Abbreviations

k- knit P- purl k2tog - knit two stitches together sm - slip marker soRM - start of round marker yo - yarn over sl1 - slip 1 stitch purlwise psso - pass slipped stitch over co -cast on stst - stocking stitch m1l - make 1 left. Pick up the bar between the stitch from the front, knit into the back of the stitch. m1r - make 1 right. Pick up the bar between the stitch from the back, knit into the front of the stitch. kfb - knit into the front and then the back of the same stitch (increasing by 1 stitch) kfPsokb - Knit front, pass stitch over, knit back. A clever technique devised by Georgie Hallam. A video tutorial is available http: / /www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player _embedded&v=Vmuj9P6iEsU

Gauge

22 stitches and 30 rows per 4inches/10cm

Recommended yarn

Yardage (numbers are approximate)

Tank-top/babydoll/dress (yards)

A note about using cotton

This pattern is written for wool but many of my testers successfully used cotton. A few things to remember is that cotton doesn't have the memory that wool does and so it stretches. Make sure that your gauge is exactly right, erring on the side of slightly too tight rather than too loose. When you knit the garter/eyelet band, go down one needle size from what you used for the bodice. And when knitting the skirts, you may Want to only go up one needle size rather than two. Another option is to knit one size smaller.

Sizes Newborn (3m, 6m, 9m, 12m, 18m, 24m) (3y, 4y, 5y, 6y, 8y, 10y)

To fit chest size of 15(16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) (22, 23, 24, 25, 26.5, 28) inches Please choose a size based on the child's chest measurement rather than their age. If your child is older than the size you are knitting, when you are knitting length then knit to the age of the child rather than the size. Eg, Based on her chest measurement I knit my 5 year old daughter the 3y size. I then knit to the 5y length.

Get Comfy and Start Knitting

Using 4mm 60cm needle, loosely cast on using the long tail method 32(33, 35, 36, 39, 42, 42) (44,48, 48, 51, 56, 58) stitches. Row 1 - knit across placing markers as follows;

Row 2 - kfb, k1, sm, \*kfb, knit to 2 stitches before marker, kfb, k1, sm. Repeat from \* until last marker, Sm kfb, k1. Row 3 - knit across. Row 4 -kfb, kfb, k1, sm, \* kfb, knit to 2 stitches before marker, kfb, k1, sm. Repeat from " until last marker, sm, kfb, kfb, k1. Row 5 - k3, purl until 3 stitches remain, k3. Row 6 - \*kfb, knit to 2 stitches before marker, kfb, k1, sm. Repeat from \* until last marker, sm, kfb, knit to last two stitches, kfb, k1. Repeat rows 5 & 6 3(4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6) (6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8) more times.

Stitch Count

Row 7 - knit 3, purl to marker, sm, knit to marker, sm, purl to marker, sm, knit to marker, sm, purl until 3 stitches remain, k3. Repeat rows 6 & 7 one more time.

Casting off shoulder stitches

In the next row you will be casting off the shoulder stitches and will be left with 3 sections, the right front (when worn), the back and the left front (when worn). You will then be working these sections separately before joining them together under the arms. Row 8 - kfb, knit until 2 stitches before marker, kfb, k1, "remove marker, cast off knit-wise all the stitches to the marker. Remove marker, kfPsokb\*\*, knit until 2 stitches before marker, kfb, k1, repeat between " & \*", knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, k1. Stitch count Right front (when worn) Row 1 - k3, purl to last 3 stitches, k3. Row 2 - Knit until 2 stitches remain, kfb, k1. Row 3 - k3, purl to last 3 stitches, k3. Row 4 - k3, m1R, knit until 2 stitches remain, kfb, k1. Repeat rows 1-4 1(1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5) more times. Repeat row 1. Size 3y and 6y only - Repeat row 4 and then row 1. Break yarn. Stitch count 23(25, 25, 28, 30, 30, 32) (34, 35, 35, 37, 42, 45)

Back

Row 1 - Rejoin thread, k3, purl to last 3 stitches, k3. Row 2 - knit. Row 3 - k3, purl to last 3 stitches, k3. Row 4 - k3, m1R, knit until 3 stitches remain, m1L, k3. Repeat rows 1 - 4 1(1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5) more times. Repeat row 1. Size 3y and 6y only - Repeat row 4 and then row 1. Break yarn. Stitch count 34(37,37,40, 43, 44, 46) (50,52, 52,55,60,64) Left front (when worn) Row 1 - Rejoin thread, k3, purl to last 3 stitches, k3. Row 2 - kfb, knit to end of row. Row 3 - k3, purl to last 3 stitches, k3. Row 4 - kfb, knit to last 3 stitches, m1l, knit 3. Repeat rows 1-4 1(1, 1, 2, 2,2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5) more times. Repeat row 1. Size 3y and 6y only - Repeat row 4 and then row 1. Stitch count 23(25, 25, 28, 30, 30, 32) (34, 35, 35, 37, 42, 45)

Joining Under the Arms

e next row you will be casting on under the arm and joining the 3 sections togethe With right side facing, kfb, knit to end of left front, co 1(1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) pm, co 1(1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) knit across back, c0 1(1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) pm, c0 1(1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4), knit across right front until 2 stitches remain, kfb, k1. Stitch count 86(93, 97, 106, 113, 114, 124) (132, 136, 140, 147, 162, 172) Row 1 -k3, \*purl to 3(3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5) (5,5, 6, 6, 6, 6) before marker, k 6(6, 8, 8, 8, 8, 10) (10,10, 12, 12, 12, 12) (slip marker as you come to it). Repeat from " once more. Purl to last 3 stitches, k3 Row 2 - kfb, knit until 2 stitches remain, kfb, k1 Row 3 - k3, "purl to 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5) before marker, k 4(4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8) (8, 8, 10, 10, 10, 10) (slip marker as you come to it). Repeat from " once more. Purl to last 3 stitches, k3 Row 4 - kfb, knit until 2 stitches remain, kfb, k1 Size nb & 3m - continue to Joining in the round

All other sizes

Row 5 - k3, purl to last 3 stitches, k3. Row 6, kfb, knit until 2 stitches remain, kfb, k1. Repeat rows 5 & 6 0(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) (0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1) more times. ch count 90(97, 103, 112, 119, 120, 130) (138, 144, 148, 157, 170, 18(

Joining in the Round

nis row you will be joining in the round and also creating the crossover in the bodice With the working yarn coming from the right needle, slip the first 16(19, 21, 24, 25, 20, 26) (28, 28, 28, 31, 32, 36) stitches of the left needle onto a spare needle. Knit into the next stitch (pulling yarn tight across join) Knit around until 16(19, 21, 24, 25, 20, 26) (28, 28, 28, 31, 32, 36) stitches remain before the join. (Slip the first marker and remove the second marker.) Hold the stitches that are on the spare needle in front of the left needle. Knit together one stitch from the spare needle and one stitch from the left needle until all the stitches on the spare needle have been knitted. Knit until marker, this isnowtheSoRM. Stitch count 74(78, 82, 88, 94, 100, 104) (110, 116, 120, 126, 138, 144)

Eyelet Band

(If using cotton, I recommend going down a needle size for the eyelet band) Round 1 - purl. Round 2 - \*yo, k2tog. Repeat from " until end of round. Round 3 - purl. here are now 3 options, a slim fitting tank top, a babydoll top or a ruffled dres

Tank-top

Change to 5mm needles (or a needle 2 sizes bigger than the needle you used for the bodice) and knit in stocking stitch until garment measures 7.5(8, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 10, 10.5) (11, 12, 13, 14, 15.5, 18) inches from the top of the shoulder. For the lace edging you will need a stitch count that is a multiple of 10. Increase 6(2, 8, 2, 6, 0, 6) (0, 4, 0, 4, 2, 6) stitches evenly around the next row. Go to lace edging.

Babydoll Top

Change to 5mm needles (or a needle 2 sizes bigger than the needle you used for the bodice). \*K1, kfb, repeat from \* until end of round (if this doesn't work out evenly, that's not a problem). Knit in stocking stitch until top measures 10.5(11, 12, 12.5, 13, 14, 15) (16, 16.5, 17, 18, 20, 23) inches from the top of the shoulder. For the lace edging you will need a stitch count that is a multiple of 10. Count your stitches. Increase evenly around to make the stitch number a multiple of 10.

Lace Edging

Round 1 - \*yo, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1. Repeat from \* to end of round. Round 2 - Knit. Round 3 - \*yo, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1. Repeat from \* to end of round. Repeat rounds 2 &3 for a total of 5(5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6) (7, 7, 7,7, 8, 8) rounds. Round 6 - purl. Cast off loosely knit-wise. Block the lace into 'points' as pictured Thread ribbon through the eyelets.

Ruffled Dress

Change to 5mm needle and knit in stocking stitch until dress measures 5.5(6, 6.5, 7.5, 9, 9.5, 10) (11, 12, 13, 14, 15.5, 18) inches from the shoulder. Increase round 1 - \*kfb, k2, repeat from \* to end of round (it isn't a problem if it doesn't work out exactly) Continue in stst until ruffles measures 2(2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25) (3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5, 5) inches from the last increase round. Increase round 2 - \*kfb, k1, repeat from \* to end of round (it isn't a problem if it doesn't work out exactly) Continue in stst until ruffle measures 2(2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25) (3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5, 5) inches from the last increase round. If you have an odd number of stitches increase by one in the last row.

Eyelet band

Round 1- purl. Round 2 -"yo, k2tog, repeat from \* to end of round. Round 3 - purl. Increase round 3 - \*kfb, repeat from " until end of round. Continue in stst until ruffle measures .75(.75, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.5) (1.5, 2, 2, 2, 2.5, 2.5) inches from the last increase round.

Hem

Round 1 - purl. Round 2 - knit. Round 3 - purl. Cast off loosely knit-wise. Block dress and thread ribbon through the bodice eyelet row. The copyright of this pattern remains with the author - Rachel Evans, button & bean designs. This pattern is intended for personal home use only. Any commercial use of this pattern without written permission from the author is in violation of copyright. If you wish to sell garments from this pattern, a cottage license is available. Please contact me on Ravelry under the username CraftyWeeWifey or by email at buttonandbeandesigns@slingshot.co.nz