COWL BACK DRESS
A stylish and sophisticated design that’s deceptively easy by Hannah Cross
Summer is the perfect time to wear a dress, and making your own means it’ll t you perfectly. The cowl back on this design adds a touch of class for that special occasion.
PATTERN NOTES
Dress is made from 3 rectangles worked from side to side: 1 for the Back and 2 identical Front pieces. The 2 Fronts are seamed at the centre front to the base of the neckline, then each piece is gathered above the bust and extends over the shoulders to create the cowl at the back. The 2 short ends of the cowl are seamed. The Back is joined to the Fronts at each side seam, and a tie is threaded under the bust and through the top of the Back. You can add optional ties across the open Back and shoulders of the dress if you would like it to feel more secure.
Ch2 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch.
SIZING NOTES
The fabric is stretchy widthways, so there is plenty of ‘give’ in the figures given for the bust and hip measurements. Length from the gather just below the shoulder to the hem is given in the measurements table and is designed to give a knee-length Dress as shown in the images. If you want to adjust the length, then add or subtract the same multiple of 4 stitches on both the Front and Back panels. The depth of the neckline can also be adjusted depending on how far you seam the Front panels at the centre.
DRESS STITCH PATTERN
Row 1 Ch2, HBtr in next 9 sts, *ch1, skip next st, HBtr in next st; rep from * to last 10 sts, ch1, skip next st, HBtr in each st to end, turn.
Row 2 Ch2, HBtr in next 9 sts, *ch1, skip next st, HBtr in next 3 sts; rep from * to last 10 sts, ch1, skip next st, HBtr in each st to end, turn.
Row 3 As Row 2.
Row 4 As Row 1. Rows 1-4 set patt.
BACK PANEL
Ch105.
Foundation row HBtr in second ch from hook and each ch to end, turn. [103 sts]
Work Rows 2-4 of Stitch Pattern.
Work Rows 1-4 of Stitch Pattern 9 (10: 11: 13: 14: 15: 16) times.
Work Rows 1-3 of Stitch Pattern.
Final row Ch2, HBtr in each st across.
[44 (48: 52: 60: 64: 68: 72) rows] Fasten off.
FRONT PANEL MAKE 2
Ch209 (213: 217: 221: 221: 225: 225).
Foundation row HBtr in second ch from hook and each ch to end, turn.
[207 (211: 215: 219: 219: 223: 223) sts]
Work Rows 2-4 of Stitch Pattern.
Work Rows 1-4 of Stitch Pattern 4 (4: 5: 6: 6: 7: 7) times.
SIZES S, L, XL AND 3X Work Row 1 of Stitch Pattern.
SIZES M, 2X AND 4X
Work Rows 1-3 of Stitch Pattern.
ALL SIZES
Ch2, HBtr in each st across. [22 (24: 26: 30: 32: 34: 36) rows]
Final row Fasten off. TO MAKE UP
Lightly block all panels to measurements. Place a Front Panel and the Back Panel together with WS facing out. Sew or slip stitch 94 sts on the side of the Back Panel to the lower end of the Front Panel leaving the bottom 9 stitches open to create a side split at the side of the Dress. Repeat for the other Front Panel. With WS facing, seam 117 (119: 121: 123: 123: 125: 125) sts of the Front Panels together from the bottom of the Dress upwards, adjusting the length of the seam to adjust the neckline. With WS facing and taking care not to twist, seam the ends of the rows of the Front Panels together to form the cowl for the back.
TO FINISH
Make 300 (320: 340: 360: 380: 400: 440) fhtr to make a tie.
Fasten off.
Weave the tie through the top of the Back Panel and through the corresponding spaces at the Front to sit just under the bust.
Gather together and securely sew the Front Panels approx 15 sts above where you have inserted your tie to create the shoulder shape. The gather should sit below the shoulders as shown in the images, so you may need to adjust this distance according to your shape.