Orange Express

Orange Express

For child's size 4/5, you will need:

150 grams of a slubby cotton/ramie/viscose (or yarn of your choice)

5.5 mm round

5.5 mm dpn

Glossary:

k2tog - knit 2 stitches together

k2togtbl - knit 2 stitches together the back of the loop

yo - yarn over

m1 - pick up the loop just under the next stitch and knit into it

R - refers to rounds

r- refers to rows

Cast on 90 sts.

Join in the round, placing stitch marker to mark beginning of round.

R1: knit

R2: *(K2tog) 5 times, (yo, k1) 5 times*, repeat * * to end of round.

Repeat these 2 rounds until work measures approximately 25 cm. In the yarn I used it was approximately 25 repeats. My daughter is very standard in proportions, but I like things falling a little longer so that her belly doesn't hang out as she likes to wear her pants on her hips. What you need will depend on the torso length of the little girl you are knitting for, so measure from just above the beginning of ribs to where you want the bottom to fall.

Now we prepare for the back edging:

R1: purl

R2: purl

R3: *(k2tog) 5 times, (m1, k1) 5 times*, repeat * * to end of round

R4: purl

R5: purl

R6: bind off 35 stitches knitwise, loosely. Knit to end of round.

55 stitches on needle. You are no longer knitting in round.

r1: purl

r2: k1, k2togtbl, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1

Repeat these two rows until there are 40 sts left on needle.

Decrease for neckline:

n1: *(k2tog) 2 times, k5*, repeat * * to last 4 stitches, (k2tog) 2 times

n2: purl

n3: purl

n4: purl

n5: p2tog to end of row

n6: purl

n7: bind off purlwise, loosely

Make up:

I knitted I-cord that was very long, crissscrosses across the back, is threaded into back edge where it meets the front and then ties in the middle of the back. It would be just as nice to knit a shorter I-cord that would tie up right behind the neck, or sew on a matching or contrasting colour of ribbon as the tie for the halter.

At the right side of the neck pick up and knit 3 stitches with dpn to begin an i-cord. Knit until desired length (crisscrossing - 110 cm, tie at back of neck - 30 cm).

Repeat for the other side of neck.

Happy knitting!