Lace Nightie

Yarn
Patons Silk Bamboo (70% bamboo/30% silk; 102 yds/65g); plum; 6 skeins
Needles
US4 32" circular and 5 dpn
Notions
stitch markers: 4 markers in one color, 1 in another color, 1 in another color
stitch holders
tapestry needle
Gauge
23 sts X 29r = 4" X 4" in St st
Finished Size

Stitch Guide: Feather Pattern
Row/Rnd 1: (RS when working back and forth in rows) k2tog, yo, k1 [yo, ssk, k7, k2tog, yo, k1] 4 times, yo, k2tog
Even-numbered Rows/Rnds 2-10: (WS when working back and forth in rows) Work even in St st (knit on RS; purl on WS).
Row/Rnd 3: k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1, yo, k1] 4 times, yo, k2tog.
Row/Rnd 5: k2tog, yo, k1, [yo, k2, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k1] 4 times, yo, k2tog.
Row/Rnd 7: k2tog, yo, k1, [yo, k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k1] 4 times, yo, k2tog.
Row/Rnd 9: k2tog, yo, k1 [yo, k4, sl1 kwise, k2tog, psso, k4, yo, k1] 4 times, yo, k2tog.

Notes
When working on the feather border, rep the portion of the feather patt in brackets throught the whole rnd.

Lower Body
With cir needle, CO216 sts using 2-needle CO. Place marker (pm) and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts. Knit 1 rnd. Work Rnds 1-10 of feather patt 4 times--41 rnds completed; piece measures about 4" from CO. Establish feather panels and side "seam" markers on next rnd as foll: K27, pm, work Rnd 1 of feather panel over next 53 sts for center front, pm, k29, pm for right side "seam," k27, pm, work Rnd 1 of feather panel over next 53 sts for center back, pm, k29--end-of-rnd m is at left side "seam." Cont feather panel patt in marked center sections, working rem sts in St st, until Rnds 1-10 of feather panel have been worked a total of 5 times, ending 3 sts before end-of-rnd m in final Rnd 10--50 rnds total of feather panel; piece measures about 11" from CO. Dec Rnd (Rnd 1 of patt) Ssk, k1, sl end-of-rnd m, k2tog, work in patt to 3 sts before right side-seam m, ssk, k1, sl m, k2tog, work in patt to end--212 sts; 2 sts dec'd at each side. Work 9 rnds even in patt, ending with Rnd 10, and ending 3 sts before end-of-rnd m. Rep Dec Rnd once more--208 sts. Work 12 rnds even in patt, ending with Rnd 3. Next Rnd: (Rnd 4 of patt) Removing right side m as you come to it, work in patt, to marked center-back sts, remove m, BO53 center-back sts, remove next m, knit to end-of-rnd m--167 sts rem.

Upper Back and Front
Row 5: k1, k2tog, cont in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. Cont in this dec patt for next 5r, ending with Row 10 of patt--161 sts rem. Next row: (Row 1 of patt) K3, place 3 sts just worked on holder for left-back strap, work in patt to end. Next row: p3, place 3 sts just worked on holder for right-back strap, work in patt to end--155 sts. Next row: k1, k2tog, cont in patt to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. Next row: p all sts. Rep last 2r for 16 more r, ending with Row 10 of patt--137 sts rem. Next row: k1, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before marked patt section, ssk, sl m, work 53 sts in patt, sl m, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1--133 sts rem. Next row: p all sts. Rep last 2r 29 more times, ending with Row 10 of feather panel--77 sts rem. Next row: (RS) K3 and place 3 sts just worked on holder for left-front strap. BO next 71 sts, knit to end--3 sts rem.

Front Straps
Place 3 sts on dpn for right-front strap, and work I-cord until strap measures 11" or desired length. BO all sts. Return 3 held sts of left-front strap to dpn, and work I-cord for 11" or same length as other strap. BO all sts.

Back Straps
Work each set of held back sts in 3-st I-cord as for front straps until back straps measure 20" or desired length. BO all sts.

Finishing
Weave in loose ends. Block. To wear, cross back straps in back and tie right-back strap to left-front strap, and vice versa.