Dress 18" & 20" chest size

Delilah Dress for 18" and 20" Chest Sizes

What is Being Made

The Delilah dress is a knitted garment designed by Designs by Tracy D, available in two finished chest sizes: 18 inches and 20 inches. This is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern suitable for advanced knitters. The dress features a fitted construction and includes elastic detailing for the pants portion, making it a complete dress design rather than a simple tunic or top.

Knitting Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs a variety of intermediate to advanced techniques that create shaping and texture throughout the garment. The pattern utilizes increases and decreases strategically to achieve the fitted silhouette characteristic of the Delilah design.

• Increases: The pattern uses M1 (make one) increases, which involve picking up the loop between needles and working into the back of it for invisible shaping. INC (knit into front and back of stitch) is also employed for creating additional stitches where needed.
• Decreases: Multiple decrease methods are incorporated, including K2TOG (knit 2 together), SKPO (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over), SSK (slip, slip, knit), and SSP (slip, slip, purl) for various shaping requirements.
• Yarn Overs: YO (yarn over) techniques are used to create decorative elements or lace details within the pattern.
• Stitch Holders: The pattern uses stitch holders to manage stitches during construction, a common technique in garment knitting for setting aside sections that will be worked later or grafted together.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Delilah dress is primarily constructed using fundamental knitting stitches combined into a structured stitch pattern. The pattern incorporates stockinette stitch (STST) as the base fabric, which creates a smooth, classic appearance suitable for a fitted dress design. The pattern includes a named stitch pattern (PATT) that adds visual interest and texture to the garment.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Delilah dress requires DK weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that provides good stitch definition and drape for fitted garments. The total yardage needed is 200 grams of DK yarn for both size options, making this a relatively yarn-efficient project.

The pattern calls for two needle sizes to achieve proper tension and construction: 4mm needles are used as the primary needle size for the main fabric, while 3.25mm needles are used for sections requiring tighter gauge or ribbing. A small button is included as a finishing detail, and a small amount of elastic is required for the pants portion of the dress, providing comfort and secure fit around the waist or leg openings.

Gauge and Sizing

Proper gauge is essential for this advanced project. The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches to 30 rows using 4mm needles with DK yarn, which should measure 4 inches or 10 centimeters. Achieving this gauge is critical to ensure the finished garment matches the intended 18-inch or 20-inch chest measurements. Knitters should always knit a gauge swatch before beginning the project to verify their personal tension matches the pattern requirements.

Pattern Format and Resources

The Delilah pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF from Designs by Tracy D and includes a comprehensive abbreviation guide for all knitting terminology used throughout the instructions. Additionally, a YouTube video link is provided with the pattern to offer visual guidance for knitters who prefer video tutorials alongside written instructions, making this an accessible resource for advanced knitters tackling this fitted garment design.