Undyed Tweed Shift Dress with Flower Border - Free Knit Pattern
Undyed Tweed Shift Dress with Flower Border - Free Knit Pattern
Introduction
This minimalist shift dress is a gentle introduction to top-down garment knitting, worked in undyed worsted tweed wool for a calm, Japandi look. It is designed for men who like a relaxed, straight silhouette with no waist shaping and no fussy details. The whole dress is one uniform natural color, with a simple raglan yoke up top and a single row of small knitted flower motifs around the hem as the only decoration. The result is a soft, slightly nubby stockinette fabric that feels warm and looks quietly special.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight tweed wool, undyed natural color, approximately 1200 yards (1100 m) for size M.
- Needles: 5.0 mm (US 8) circular needles in 80 cm and 100 cm lengths, plus 5.0 mm (US 8) double-pointed needles for the small sleeve circumferences.
- Notions: Stitch markers (including 4 raglan markers), waste yarn or stitch holders, a tapestry needle, and a tape measure.
- Finished size: Chest circumference 40 inches (102 cm), length from shoulder 48 inches (122 cm), sleeve length from underarm 2 inches (5 cm).
Abbreviations
- k - knit
- sts - stitches
- rnd(s) - round(s)
- pm - place marker
- m1L - make one left: lift the bar between stitches from front to back and knit it through the back loop
- m1R - make one right: lift the bar between stitches from back to front and knit it through the front loop
- k2tog - knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
- yo - yarn over (makes an eyelet hole)
- sl1 - slip one stitch purlwise
- psso - pass the slipped stitch over the stitch just worked
- dpns - double-pointed needles
Gauge
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Knit a swatch in the round (or knit a flat swatch and measure it slightly stretched), then check that 18 stitches measure 4 inches before you begin.
Tips Before You Start
- Work a gauge swatch first; the dress is long and straight, so a small gauge difference adds up over 48 inches.
- Use a locking stitch marker or a short length of contrasting yarn to mark the beginning of the round so your raglan increases stay evenly spaced.
- When you divide for the body and sleeves, write down which stitches belong to each section so you can slip them onto waste yarn without losing your place.
- Keep your yarn overs loose and even; tight eyelets make the flower border look uneven after blocking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Yoke
Using the 5.0 mm (US 8) circular needle, cast on 80 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist, and pm for the beginning of the round.
Rnd 1: k all (80 sts).
Rnd 2 (increase): [k1, m1L, k to next marker, m1R, k1] around, slipping markers as needed (88 sts).
Rnds 3-42: Repeat Rnd 2 every other round (working a plain knit round between each increase round), 20 times total (240 sts).
Divide for Body and Sleeves
Place raglan markers as follows: 32 sts for the right sleeve, 88 sts for the front, 32 sts for the left sleeve, 88 sts for the back.
Next rnd: k to the first marker, slip the sleeve sts to waste yarn, cast on 4 sts for the underarm, k to the next marker, slip the sleeve sts to waste yarn, cast on 4 sts for the underarm, k to the end (184 sts for the body).
Body
Work in stockinette stitch (k all rnds) until the piece measures 46 inches (117 cm) from the shoulder.
Hem Flower Border
Rnd 1: k all (184 sts).
Rnd 2: [k2tog, yo, k2] around (184 sts).
Rnd 3: k all (184 sts).
Rnd 4: [k1, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1] around (184 sts).
Rnd 5: k all (184 sts).
Rnd 6: [k2tog, yo, k2] around (184 sts).
Rnd 7: k all (184 sts).
Bind off loosely.
Sleeves (make 2)
Slip 32 sts from the waste yarn onto the double-pointed needles. Pick up and knit 4 sts underarm (36 sts).
Rnds 1-12: Work in stockinette stitch (k all rnds) for 2 inches (5 cm) (36 sts).
Bind off loosely. Repeat for the second sleeve.
Assembly and Finishing
There are no seams to sew: the dress is worked in one piece from the yoke down, and the sleeves are joined as you go. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, closing any small gaps at the underarms with the tail ends. Block the dress to the finished measurements (chest 40 inches / 102 cm, length 48 inches / 122 cm), pinning the hem flat so the flower border opens up evenly. Let it dry completely before wearing.
Pro Tips and Variations
- For a slightly cropped version, stop the body earlier and work the flower border at your preferred length.
- Try a contrast-color border: work the 7 hem rounds in a second undyed or naturally dyed tweed shade for a subtle accent.
- Add a few extra plain rounds before the border if you want the eyelet flowers to sit a little higher above the edge.
