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Knitting tension: 16 sts x 20 rows with 1 thread of each yarn quality in stocking stitch on needle size 5.5mm = 10 x 10 cm
Crochet tension: 1 diamond using crochet hook size 5.5 should measure 15 x 15 cm

Decreasing tips (applies to armhole and neck): Decrease within 2 edge sts from the right side. Dec as follows after 2 edge sts: slip 1 st as if to knit, K1, psso. Dec as follows before 2 edge sts: K2 tog.

Dress: The dress is knitted in several pieces. Start with the skirt (front and back piece), then knit the top (front and back piece). Crochet the diamonds for the waistband and sew this to skirt and top pieces.

Skirt: Cast on 80-86-94-102-110 sts (inclusive of 1 edge st each side, edge sts are knitted in garter st throughout) on needle size 5.5 with 1 thread of each yarn quality (= double thread). Knit 1 row from the wrong side and continue in stocking stitch. When piece measures 5-5-5-6-6 cm dec 1 st each side on every 2 cm a total of 12 times = 56-62-70-78-86 sts. When piece measures 29-30-31-32-33 cm knit 1 row from the wrong side and cast off. Knit another piece and sew pieces together at sides within 1 edge st.

Top front piece: Cast on 56-62-70-78-86 sts (inclusive of 1 edge st each side) on needle size 5.5 with 1 thread of each yarn quality (= double thread). Knit 1 row from the wrong side and continue in stocking st. When piece measures 3-3-4-4-4 cm inc 1 st each side on every 2 cm a total of 5-5-4-4-4 times. At the same time, when piece measures 10-10-11-11-12 cm divide the piece mid front for neck and put half the stitches on a thread. Now decrease for V-neck - see Decreasing tips: on every 4th row 1 st a total of 8-8-8-9-9 times and then on every other row 1 st 4 times. At the same time when piece measures 15 cm dec 4-5-6-8-10 sts at side for armhole. Now dec 1 st for armhole on every other row – see Decreasing tips – a total of 8-9-11-12-13 times. After all decreases for armhole and neckline have been made, there are 9-10-10-10-11 sts remaining. Continue until piece measures 31-32-33-34-35 cm and cast off. Repeat the other side. NB! Knit 1st row from mid front. Start by picking up a st in the first st on the other piece and knit this together with 1st st on row (to avoid a “hole” at the bottom of the V-neck).

Top back piece: Cast on and knit as top front but without the decreases for V-neck. Cast off for armhole as for front piece = 42-44-44-46-48 sts. Continue until piece measures 29-30-31-32-33 cm. Now cast off the middle 22-22-22-24-24 sts for neck. Dec 1 st towards neckline on next row = 9-10-10-10-11 sts left on each shoulder. Continue until piece measures 31-32-33-34-35 cm and cast off.
Sew shoulder and side seams within 1 edge st.

Crochet diamonds for waistband: Crochet 4-5-5-6 diamonds as explained below. Crochet the diamonds together to form a ring and attach to skirt and top pieces.

1 diamond: Crochet 4 ch using crochet hook size 5 mm and 1 thread of each yarn quality (double thread) and form a ring with a sl st.
1st round: 3 ch (= 1 tr), 11 tr in ring and finish with 1 sl st in 3rd ch from beginning of round = 12 tr
2nd round: *4 ch, 1 tr in the first of the 4 ch, skip 1 tr, 1 sl st in next tr*, repeat from *-* a total of 6 times but finish with 1 sl st in sl st from the end of previous row (instead of in next tr) = 6 leaves
3rd round: 3 ch, 1 dc at the top of first leaf, *7 ch, 1 dc at the top of next leaf*, repeat from *-* a total of 6 times but finish with 1 sl st in first dc from beginning of round (instead of a dc at the top of next leaf) = 6 ch-loops
4th round: *4 ch, 1 tr in the first of the 4 ch, 1 dc in ch-loop, 4 ch, 1 tr in the first of the 4 ch, 1 dc in dc between ch-loops*, repeat from *-* a total of 6 times but finish with 1 sl st in sl st from the end of previous round (instead of a dc in dc between ch-loops) = 12 leaves
5th round: 3 ch, *1 dc at the top of first leaf, 4 ch, 1 dc at the top of next leaf, 4 ch, 1 dc at the top of next leaf, 4 ch, 1 dtr in dc between the next 2 leaves, 4 ch*, repeat from *-* a total of 4 times and finish with 1 sl st in first dc from beginning of round = 4 corner dtr and 16 ch-loops
6th round: *2 ch, 1 dc in ch-loop, 2 ch, 1 dc at the top of leaf, 2 ch, 1 dc in ch-loop, 2 ch, 1 dc at the top of leaf, 2 ch, 1 dc in ch-loop, 2 ch, 1 dc in corner tr, 2 ch, 1 dc in corner tr, 2 ch, 1 dc in ch-loop, 2 ch, 1 dc at the top of leaf* , repeat from *-* a total of 4 times but finish with 1 sl st in sl st from the end of previous round (instead of 1 dc at the top of leaf) = 36 ch-loops with 2 ch.
7th round: *6 ch, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc (over leaf), 6 ch, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, 6 ch, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc, 4 ch, 1 dc in next dc (= corner), 6 ch, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in next dc*, repeat from *-* a total of 4 times but finish with 1 sl st in sl st from the end of previous round (instead of 1 dc in next dc),
Cut the thread.

Assembly: Crochet the diamonds together as follows:

Size S + M + XL: 1 dc in ch-loop at the corner of first diamond, 1 dc in ch-loop at corner of second diamond, 2 ch, 1 dc in next dc in first diamond, 1 dc in next dc in second diamond, *6 ch, 1 dc in next dc of first diamond, 1 dc in next dc of second diamond*, repeat from *-* a total of 4 times, 2 ch, 1 dc in ch-loop at corner of first diamond, 1 dc in ch-loop at corner of second diamond. Cut the thread.
Size L +XXL: Crochet as described for sizes S/M/XL but replace each dc with a tr (i.e. crochet 1 tr in ch-loop at corner of first diamond, 1 tr in ch-loop at corner of second diamond, etc).

When all diamonds are joined as described above, you’ll have a ring of diamonds. Sew the ring to skirt and top pieces – joined them so that the ring of diamonds are on top of the pieces, i.e. hides the edges.

Crochet border at neck and armholes: Using crochet hook size 5mm and 1 thread of each yarn quality: 1 dc in first st, *1 ch, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st*, repeat from *-* and finish with 1 ch and 1 dc in first st from beginning of round – the edge should be even and not wavy.

Crochet border at skirt bottom edge: Use crochet hook size 5 mm and 1 thread of each yarn quality:
1st round: 1 dc in first st, *1 ch, skip approx 2 sts (1-1.5 cm), 1 dc in next st*, repeat from *-* and finish with 1 ch and 1 sl st in first dc from beginning of round.
2nd round: 1 ch, 1 sl st in first ch, *4 ch, 1 tr in the first of the 4 ch just crochet, skip 1 ch, 1 dc in next ch*, repeat from *-* but finish with 1 sl st in sl st from beginning of round (instead of 1 dc in next ch).
3rd round: 3 ch, 1 dc at the top of loop, *3 ch, 1 dc at the top of next loop*, repeat from *-* and finish with 3 ch and 1 sl st in first dc from beginning of round.
4th round: crochet sl st to the middle of ch-loop, *4 ch, a tr in the first of the 4 ch just crochet, 1 dc in next ch-loop*, repeat from *-* and finish with 1 sl st in first sl st from beginning of round.

Hairpin with flower: Use crochet hook size 3mm and 1 thread of Cotton Viscose:
Crochet 4 ch and form a ring with a sl st.
1st round: 3 ch (= 1 tr), 11 tr in ring and finish with 1 sl st in 3rd ch from beginning of round = 12 tr
2nd round: 1 ch, *3 ch, 1 tr in the first of the 3 ch just crochet, skip 1 tr, 1 dc in next tr*, repeat from *-* a total of 6 times and finish with 1 sl st in first ch from beginning of round = 6 leaves.
Sew flower to hairpin.

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