Lydia's Tunic Knitting Pattern Download

I started reading Pride and Prejudice when I was seventeen and finished when I was thirty-three. I know, I know. After I had (finally) finished the book, I obsessively watched as many adaptations as I could get my hands on. The best part, for me, was the costumes! In the 1995 BBC miniseries, Lydia Bennett's dress caught my eye. Among other lovely details, it had a contrasting band of fabric near the hem.

Lydia's Tunic attempts to re-create that look in a practical tunic for little girls and includes the detachable long sleeves that were sometimes used in Regency times. Linen fabrics were common then, and linen yarn is delightful it has a paperlike quality that softens as it is worn. The tunic is constructed from the bottom up, with decreases and a pleat creating the empire waist. Short sleeves are knitted separately and joined to the body, and raglan decreases shape the yoke. Increases, decreases, and a shoulder pleat form the puffed sleeves. A decorative eyelet round doubles as buttonholes for the separate long sleeves.

Finished Size: 2T (4T, 6, 8, 10 years).

Yarn: Louet Euroflax Sport (100% linen; 270 yd [247 m]/3½ oz [100 g]): #14, Caribbean blue (MC), 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) skeins; #01, champagne (CC), 1 skein.

Needles: Size 5 (3.75 mm): 16 (24, 24, 24, 24)" and 40" circular (cir) and set of 5 double-pointed (dpn), size 4 (3.5 mm) 40" cir and set of 5 dpn. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions: Markers (m); stitch holders or waste yarn; tapestry needle; 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) ½" buttons, tapestry needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 28 rows = 4" in St st after blocking (see Notes).

Originally Published: Jane Austen Knits Fall 2012