Dresses in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops - 5186 - Downloadable PDF

Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops Dresses – Pattern 5186

Pattern 5186 from Sirdar is a charming knitting pattern featuring two children's dress designs — a Long Sleeved Dress and a Sleeveless Dress — both worked in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops yarn. Sized to fit babies and children from 0–6 months through to 6–7 years, these dresses are a versatile addition to any young wardrobe. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for knitters ready to cast on straight away.

Designs Included

Long Sleeved Dress

The Long Sleeved Dress is a cosy, full-coverage option ideal for cooler months. It is knitted in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops shade 852 and requires 2 to 3 balls of 100g yarn depending on the size being made. The dress features set-in or fitted sleeves with a sleeve length ranging from 15 cm (6 in) for the smallest size up to 33 cm (13 in) for the largest, measured just below the armholes and noted as adjustable to suit individual preference.

Sleeveless Dress

The Sleeveless Dress offers a lighter, more summery silhouette that can also be layered over long-sleeved tops for year-round wear. It is knitted in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops shade 850 and requires 1 to 3 balls of 100g yarn depending on size. Without sleeves, this version works up more quickly and is a great project for knitters looking for a slightly faster finish.

Sizing and Measurements

Both dresses are sized across six age ranges: 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 1–2 years, 2–3 years, 4–5 years, and 6–7 years. The actual chest measurements range from 44 cm (17¼ in) up to 71 cm (28 in), with full lengths spanning 32 cm (12½ in) to 53 cm (21 in). These generous measurements include ease for comfortable fit and freedom of movement.

Yarn and Materials

Both designs are worked in Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops, a self-striping Aran weight yarn that creates beautiful, automatic colour gradients without the need to change yarn or weave in multiple ends. The rainbow drops effect gives each garment a playful, colourful finish that is particularly appealing for children's knitwear. The pattern notes that the designs are also suitable for Sirdar Supersoft Aran (the non-variegated version), though yarn amounts may vary when substituting.

• Yarn: Sirdar Supersoft Aran Rainbow Drops (100g balls) — shade 852 for the Long Sleeved Dress, shade 850 for the Sleeveless Dress
• Needles: 1 pair of 5mm (UK6 / USA8) knitting needles, 1 pair of 4mm (UK8 / USA6) knitting needles, and 1 pair of 3¼mm (UK10 / USA3) knitting needles
• Notions: Stitch holders, and cable needle (referenced in the materials section)

Techniques and Stitches

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to develop their skills further. The use of multiple needle sizes suggests ribbed or textured edgings worked on finer needles to create neat, fitted cuffs, necklines, and hems, with the main body and sleeves worked on the larger needle sizes for the correct Aran-weight tension.

The reference to a cable needle in the materials list indicates that at least one of the two dress designs incorporates cable knitting — a classic technique where stitches are crossed over one another to create twisted rope-like or lattice textures. Cables are a hallmark of Aran-style knitting and add beautiful structural detail to garments even when worked in a relatively small