Girls Smocked Tunic and
Leggings
Designed by Tina Barrett for Blacker Swan 4-ply
www.blackerdesigns.co.uk
©
Girls Smocked Tunic and Leggings
Designed by Tina Barrett for Blacker Swan 4-ply www.blackerdesigns.co.uk
Level of difficulty: easy – requires smocking but otherwise only stocking stitch and picot edge hems
This adorable ensemble of tunic and leggings, designed in 4-ply Blacker Swan yarn by Tina Barrett, will make all
little girls twice as lovely. The tunic is made for children from 0-6 months up to 7-8 years old because we love it so
much it’s a shame to leave it just for babies. The leggings are sized only up to 2 years. With a little adapting, you
may wish to lengthen the leggings and leave off the picot edges at the hems, to have extra warm and stylish leggings
for older girls. See also last page for a dungaree option. The sleeves can also be lengthened and simplified if
desired. In addition, there is always the option of adding a contrast colour for the smocking and edges and/or some
embroidered flowers scattered along the hem of the tunic.
Tunic approximate age: 0-6 months (6-12months, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years)
Finished Chest: 48 (51, 56, 64, 69, 74) cm, 19 (20, 22, 25, 27, 29) inches
Armhole Depth: 9 (10, 11, 13, 14, 15) cm, 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6) inches
Dress Length from shoulder: 33 (38, 41, 43, 51, 58) cm, 13 (15, 16, 17, 20, 23) inches
Sleeve Seam: 2.5 (2.5, 4, 4, 5, 5) cm, 1 (1, 1.5, 1.5, 2, 2) inches
Leggings approximate age: 0-6 months (6-12months, 1-2years)
Leg length on leggings: 8 (10, 13) cm, 3 (4, 5) inches
Waist: 51 (51, 56) cm, 20 (20, 22) inches
Materials:
The pattern pieces require the following amounts of Blacker Swan 4ply knitting yarn:
Smocked Tunic: 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) 50g balls
Leggings: 2 50g balls. The original was worked in Sorrel, but the colour options are any that suit, from the
naturals through to the lovely dyed shades.
One pair each 2.75mm and 3.25 mm needles
Stitch holders (4)
1 small button
Elastic for legging waistband
Tension/Gauge
26sts x 36 rows over 4in/10cm using 3.25mm needles and working in stocking stitch
32sts x 36 rows over 4in/10cm using 3.25mm needles over smocked stitches
Adjust needle size to give correct tension.
Abbreviations
st, sts = stitch, stitches
k = knit
p = purl
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
yf = yarn forward
k2tog = knit next 2 sts together knitwise
ssk = slip 1, K1, psso
psso = pass slipped stitch/es over
kfb = increase by knitting into front and back of next st
Leggings (make 2 pieces alike, then join) Continue to work on these sts for a further 17 (20, 20)
First Leg: Using 2.75mm needles, cast on 27 (31, 33) sts cm, 6.5 (7, 7) inches ending on a RS row
Beginning with a k row, work 2 rows in stocking stitch Next row: Turning Row: knit
Eyelet Row: k1, (yf, k2tog) repeat to end of row Casing: Work 6 more rows in stocking stitch
Work 3 more rows in stocking stitch Cast off.
Change to 3.25mm needles and continue working in
stocking stitch for a further 8 (10, 13) cm, 3 (4, 5) inches Making Up:
ending on a purl row** Sew side seams of bottoms. Fold down waistband casing to
Leave sts on a holder WS of trousers. Pin and slip stitch in place leaving a small
opening for elastic. Attach elastic to a safety pin and feed
Second Leg: Work as for first to ** through casing. Adjust to correct size, sew ends of elastic
Next row: knit across the 27 (31, 33) sts of second leg, firmly and close opening.
cast on 6sts, knit across the 27 (31, 33) sts of the first leg, Fold picot edge to WS of work and slip stitch into place.
making 60 (68, 72) sts total Sew inside leg and gusset seam.
Please respect our copyright on this design
Blacker Sheep Limited trading as Blacker Designs | Registered office: Pipers Court, Pennygillam Way, Launceston, Cornwall PL15 7PJ
Telephone: 01566-777635 | email: [email protected] Page 1
©
Girls Smocked Tunic and Leggings
Designed by Tina Barrett for Blacker Swan 4-ply www.blackerdesigns.co.uk
Row 3: knit
Row 4: k2, p to end
Repeat last 2 rows until armhole measures 9 (10, 11, 13,
14, 15) cm, 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6) inches, ending on a purl
row
Shape Neck and Shoulders
Row 1: knit k16 (17, 18, 22, 24, 26), turn and leave
remaining 9 (10, 12, 12, 13, 14) sts on holder
Row 2: p1, p2tog, p to end
Row 3: k to last 3sts, k2tog, k1, to make 14 (15, 16, 20,
22, 24) sts
Purl 1 row
Cast off.
Second Shoulder
With RS facing, rejoin yarn and knit across remaining 22
(25, 28, 32, 35, 38) sts
Row 1: p to last 2sts, k2
Smocked Tunic Row 2: k
Back Repeat last 2 rows until armhole measures 9 (10, 11, 13,
Using 2.75mm needles, cast on 100 (108, 118, 126, 134, 14, 15) cm, 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6) inches, ending on a knit
140) sts row
Beginning with a k row, work 2 rows in stocking stitch Next row: purl 14 (15, 16, 20, 22, 24), leave remaining 8
Eyelet Row: k 0 (0, 1, 0, 0, 0), (yf, k2tog) repeat to end (10, 12, 12, 13, 14) sts on holder
of row Next row: k1, k2tog, k to end
Work 3 more rows in stocking stitch Next row: p to last 3sts, p2tog, p1, to make 12 (13, 14,
Change to 3.25mm needles and work 6 rows in stocking 18, 20, 22) sts
stitch Cast off.
Decrease Row (RS): k12, sl1, k1, psso, k to last 14sts,
k2tog, k12 Front
Work 5 rows in st st Work as for back to **
Repeat the last 6 rows nine times until you have 80 (90, Smocking set up row: decrease 4 (10, 10, 6, 4, 2) sts
98, 106, 112, 118) sts evenly across the next row, to make 76 (80, 88, 100,
Continue straight until back measures 24 (28, 29, 30, 37, 108, 116) sts
43) cm, 9.5 (11, 11.5, 12, 14.5, 17) inches, ending on a p Next row: purl
row ** Ribbed Stitch for smocking:
Row 1 (RS): (p3, k1) repeat to end
Decrease for bodice Row 2: (k1, p3) repeat to end
Size 1: k2 *(k2tog, k2), repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2, to Repeat these 2 rows for 2.5cm, 1 inch
make 61 sts
Size 2: k1 *(k2tog, k2), repeat from * to last st, k1, to Shape Armholes
make 68 sts Cast off 6sts at beginning of next 2 rows, leaving 64 (68,
Size 3: k1 *(k2tog, k2) to last st, k1, to make 74 sts 76, 88, 96, 104) sts
Size 4: k5, *(k2tog, k2) repeat from * to last 5 sts k5, to Continuing in ribbed stitch, decrease each end of next and
make 82 sts every following alternate rows until 60 (64, 70, 82, 90,
Size 5: k8, *(k2tog, k2) repeat from * to last 8 sts, k8 to 98) sts
make 88 sts
Size 6: k11,*(k2tog, k2) repeat from * to last 11 sts, k11 to
make 94 sts
Continue straight for a further 2.5cm, 1inch
Shape Armholes
Cast off 6sts at beginning of next 2 rows 49 (56, 62, 70,
76, 82) sts
Decrease each end of next and every following alternate
rows until 49 (56, 62, 70, 76, 82) sts remain
Work even until armhole measures 5 (6, 8, 9, 10, 11) cm,
2 (2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5) inches, ending on a purl row
Back Neck Opening
Row 1: (RS) k23 (25, 28, 32, 35, 38) sts, turn and work
on these sts only for first side of neck shaping leaving
remaining sts on stitch holder
Row 2: Cast on 2sts, p to end
Please respect our copyright on this design
Blacker Sheep Limited trading as Blacker Designs | Registered office: Pipers Court, Pennygillam Way, Launceston, Cornwall PL15 7PJ
Telephone: 01566-777635 | email: [email protected] Page 2
©
Girls Smocked Tunic and Leggings
Designed by Tina Barrett for Blacker Swan 4-ply www.blackerdesigns.co.uk
Work even until armhole measures 5 (6, 8, 9, 10, 11) cm, 57, 57, 61, 64) sts
2 (2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5) inches, ending on a WS row Work even until sleeve cap measures 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, 10) cm,
2.75 (3, 3, 3.5, 3.5, 4) inches, ending on a WS row
Shape Neck and Shoulders Decrease puff as follows: k0 (0, 1, 1, 1, 0), (k2tog) repeat
Pattern in ribbed stitch for 20 (21, 23, 28, 31, 34) sts, brackets to end, to leave 28 (28, 29, 29, 31, 32) sts
turn and work on these sts only, leaving remaining sts on Decrease each end of next and every following row to 20
holder (20, 23, 23, 25, 26) sts
Decrease 1 st on neck edge on next and every following Cast off.
alternate rows until 18 (19, 20, 22, 26, 28) sts
Work even in ribbed stitch pattern until armhole measures Finishing
9 (10, 11, 13, 14, 15) cm, 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6) inches, Darn in loose yarn ends and steam pieces into shape.
ending on a WS row
Cast off Hand Smocking:
With RS facing, slip centre 20 (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) sts onto With a tapestry needle and either the main colour or a
a holder and pattern across remaining 20 (21, 23, 28, 31, contrast yarn, draw alternate k1 ribs together at every
34) sts 8-10 rows. Stagger the rows like brickwork using the
Decrease 1 st on neck edge on next and every following photo as a guide.
alternate rows until 18 (19, 20, 22, 26, 28) sts remain Join shoulder seams.
Work even in ribbed stitch pattern until armhole measures
9 (10, 11, 13, 14, 15) cm, 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6) inches, Neckband
ending on a WS row Using 2.75 mm needles, with RS of back facing and
Cast off. beginning at left side of neck, knit across the 8 (10, 12,
12, 13, 14) sts of holder, pick up and knit 10sts down left
Sleeves (make 2) front neck, knit across 20 (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) sts of front
Using 2.75mm needles, cast on 51 (51, 53, 53, 55, 57) sts stitch holder, pick up and knit 10sts up right front neck,
Beginning with a k row, work 2 rows in stocking stitch knit across the 9 (10, 12, 12, 13, 14) sts of right back
Eyelet Row: k1, (yf, k2tog) repeat to end of row holder, to make 57 (62, 68, 70, 74, 78) sts
Work 3 more rows in stocking stitch
Buttonhole row: knit to last 5sts, k1, yok2tog, k2
Change to 3.25mm needles and increase for puff as Work a further 3 rows
follows: Cast off loosely in garter stitch
Increase Row: k0 (0, 2, 2, 1, 0), (k2, kfb), k3 repeat Sew on button.
brackets to end, to make 68 (68, 69, 69, 73, 76) sts
Work even in stocking stitch for 2.5 (2.5, 4, 4, 5, 5) cm, 1 Hems and seams: fold up picot edging on sleeves and
(1, 1.5, 1.5, 2, 2) inches, ending on a WS row slip stitch to wrong side of work. Pin and sew sleeves into
armholes. Sew sleeve and side seams of tunic.
Shape Armholes Fold up picot edging of lower hem and slip stitch to wrong
Cast off 6sts at beginning of next 2 rows, to leave 56 (56, side of work.
Care advice: Hand wash in cool water using a liquid wool
wash. Spin dry. Do NOT tumble dry. Spread to dry on a
towel or drying rack, hand pressing garment to shape and
correct size. Garments may be hung to dry on a hanger
or over a clothes or ceiling airer once they have been
spun, but with a hanger you may get hanger marks at the
shoulders and the garment may “grow” if too damp before
hanging; and with bars you should move a little several
times to avoid dent marks.
Stocking stitch garments may benefit from light pressing
(never press rib areas as they will lose their stretch!).
Store folded.
Dungaree variation for leggings: you can omit the picot
edgings and add a stocking stitch front bib and garter
stitch straps to make a pair of dungarees. In this case, on
one of the pieces, work 15 sts, leaving on a stitch holder,
then the bib upwards on the centre 30 (38, 42) sts, leaving
the other 15 sts on a holder, then work the 6 row stocking
stitch casing for the elastic on the two sets of 15 sts from
the stitch holders and thread elastic around leaving front/
bib flat. Why not finish the bib with a sewn-on sheep
motif or use the sheep design from our Feeling Sheepish
pullover pattern? You can use one sheep on the smallest
size but two will fit on the larger sizes.
Please respect our copyright on this design
Blacker Sheep Limited trading as Blacker Designs | Registered office: Pipers Court, Pennygillam Way, Launceston, Cornwall PL15 7PJ
Telephone: 01566-777635 | email: [email protected] Page 3
