Fleurette Dress in Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK - 867 - Downloadable PDF

Fleurette Dress – Pattern Summary (Design #867 by Julie Turjoman)

The Fleurette Dress, pattern #867 designed by Julie Turjoman, is a charming knitted children's dress worked in Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK. Sized to fit girls from 6–12 months through 10–12 years, this delightful pattern combines a decorative scalloped lace hem and body with a classic Garter stitch yoke, making it an ideal project for knitters who want a beautiful result without an overwhelming level of complexity. The finished dress is designed with 0 to ½ inch of positive ease, giving it a neat, comfortable fit through the chest.

What Is Being Made

The Fleurette Dress is a knitted girls' dress featuring a full skirt with a scalloped lace pattern, a smooth Garter stitch yoke, and pretty picot-edged cap sleeves and neckline. It is available in seven sizes:

• 6–12 months – Finished chest: 16¼", hem circumference: 21¾"
• 1–2 years – Finished chest: 18", hem circumference: 25½"
• 2–4 years – Finished chest: 20½", hem circumference: 29"
• 4–6 years – Finished chest: 21¾", hem circumference: 29"
• 6–8 years – Finished chest: 23", hem circumference: 32¾"
• 8–10 years – Finished chest: 25¾", hem circumference: 36¼"
• 10–12 years – Finished chest: 26¾", hem circumference: 36¼"

The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in Size 6–8 years in color 19 (Misty Lilac), showcasing how the lace and finishing details come together in a soft, feminine palette.

Construction Techniques

The Fleurette Dress is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-in-the-round method. This means knitting begins at the hem of the skirt and progresses upward toward the yoke and neckline, with circular needles used throughout the main body to avoid seaming and create a smooth, continuous fabric. Working in the round is a popular technique in garment knitting because it eliminates the need for side seams and allows the knitter to always work on the right side of the fabric, which is particularly helpful when working lace patterns.

The bottom-up construction approach also allows the knitter to try the dress on a child as the work progresses, making length adjustments straightforward before committing to the yoke shaping. The transition from the lace body to the Garter stitch yoke provides a natural visual break and a structural element that frames the neckline beautifully.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

• Scalloped lace pattern – The primary decorative stitch used throughout the skirt and body of the dress. Despite its intricate appearance, this lace pattern is described as one that only looks complicated, making it very accessible for knitters at a beginner-to-intermediate level who want to explore lace knitting.
• Garter stitch – Used for the yoke section of the dress. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row (or, when working in the round, alternating knit and purl rounds), producing a ridged, textured fabric that lies flat and adds a classic, tidy finish to the upper portion of the garment.
• Picot edging – Applied to the cap sleeves and neckline as a finishing detail. Picot edges are created using a series of yarn-overs and bind-offs to produce a delicate, decorative scalloped border that echoes the lace motif of the skirt.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner level, making it a wonderful introduction to lace knitting and circular garment construction. The scalloped lace pattern is straightforward enough for newer knitters to follow with confidence, while the picot finishing details offer a satisfying and polished result that looks far more advanced than the skill required.