Maxi dresses, how we love them so! They can be worn with boots, sneakers, or ballet flats. They are feminine and practical, with styles to suit all tastes. Ours features balloon sleeves and a ribbed high collar that matches the cuff design. But what makes it truly special—warm and soft—is our Cape Town yarn, a true poem of Pratese twisting. Fluffy thanks to the alpaca, is a masterpiece of twisting where multiple elements intertwine forming a yarn with a unique texture. What's more, it’s made from recycled materials!
The successful outcome of the project can be guaranteed only by using our Cape Town yarn.
MATERIALS
Cape Town yarn col. Earth approx. 600 g / 21.2 oz
Knitting needles size 8 EU / 11 US
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
GAUGE – REVERSE STOCKINETTE
10 cm x 10 cm / 4" x 4"
11.5 stitches and 14 rows
STITCHES USED
Knit
Purl
2/2 Rib:
knit 2 and purl 2 alternately on both the right and wrong sides of the piece.
Stockinette stitch:
row 1: knit
row 2: purl.
Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Reverse stockinette stitch:
row 1: purl
row 2: knit.
Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Increase:
lift the yarn between the last worked stitch and the next one and knit 1 knit into back.
SIZE
One-size-fits-all
DIMENSIONS OF THE FINISHED PIECE
Bust circumference: 130 cm / 52"
Total height: 88 cm / 34.6"
Height from underarm: 50 cm / 20"
Neck opening: 26 cm / 10.2"
Upper arm width: 56 cm / 22"
Sleeve length from underarm: 40 cm / 16"
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
METHOD
The maxi sweater/dress is knitted flat and consists of 4 pieces: the back, the front, and the sleeves. The collar is knitted by picking up stitches after sewing the shoulders.
Using size 8 EU / 11 US needles, cast on 76 stitches and work 14 rows in 2/2 ribbing.
Row 15: knit 2, then purl until the last 2 stitches, and knit the last 2 stitches
row 16: purl 2, then knit until the last 2 stitches, and purl the last 2 stitches.
Rows 15 and 16 establish the reverse stockinette stitch with a stockinette stitch edge. Repeat another 27 times: you will reach row 70, which measures 50 cm / 20".
Row 71: bind off the first 2 stitches for the armhole, purl until the last 2 stitches, then bind off the last 2 stitches for the armhole
row 72: knit.
Now continue in reverse stockinette stitch for 32 rows: you will reach row 104, which measures 78 cm / 31".
Row 105: Bind off the first 3 stitches, purl until the end of the row
row 106: Bind off the first 3 stitches, knit until the end of the row.
Rows 105 and 106 establish the decreases for shaping the shoulders; repeat 6 more times: you will reach row 118, which measures 88 cm / 34.6", with 30 stitches remaining on the needle for the neck.
Bind off.
Using size 8 EU / 11 US needles, cast on 76 stitches and work as for the back until row 110.
Row 111: Bind off the first 3 stitches, purl the next 15 stitches, bind off the next 18 stitches for the neck, purl the last 18 stitches. Turn and continue with the 18 stitches of this first side, leaving the stitches from the other side on a stitch marker
row 112: Bind off the first 3 stitches, knit until the end of the row
row 113: Bind off the first 2 stitches, purl until the end of the row
row 114: Bind off the first 3 stitches, knit until the end of the row.
Rows 113 and 114 set up the decreases on the left for shaping the shoulder and on the right for shaping the neck; repeat twice more: you will reach row 118, which measures 88 cm / 34.6", with all stitches bound off.
Bind off.
Pick up the 15 stitches from the second side and knit as for the first side, but in a mirrored fashion.
Start with the right sleeve.
Using size 8 EU / 11 US needles, cast on 40 stitches and work in 2/2 ribbing for 9 rows.
Row 10: knit the first 3 stitches, increase 1 stitch by knitting into the front and back, repeat (knit 2 stitches, increase 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, increase 1 stitch) until the last 4 stitches, knit the next 2 stitches, increase 1 stitch by knitting into the front and back, knit the last 2 stitches
row 11: purl 30 stitches, knit 4 stitches, purl 30 stitches
row 12: knit 30 stitches, purl 4 stitches, knit 30 stitches.
Rows 11 and 12 set up the reverse stockinette stitch with a central stockinette stitch band; repeat 18 more times: you will reach row 48, which measures 40 cm / 16".
Row 49: bind off the first 30 stitches, knit the next 4 stitches, bind off the last 30 stitches
row 50: purl the 4 stitches.
With the last 2 rows, you have completed the sleeve and continued working the band that finishes the shoulder. Continue in stockinette stitch on these 4 stitches until you have enough length to cover the shoulder. Bind off.
Knit the left sleeve as indicated for the right sleeve.
Sew the shoulders together while also attaching the bands made for the sleeves. Attach the sleeves. Close the underarm and side seams. For the neck, using size 8 EU / 11 US needles, starting and ending at the seam of one shoulder, pick up 72 stitches along the front neck, the shoulder band, the back neck, and the band of the other shoulder. Work in 2/2 ribbing for 24 rows, which equals 16 cm / 6.3". Bind off. Sew the neck.
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