Franklin Habit Dolores Drop Dead Red. Toy Knitting Pattern

Franklin Habit Dolores Drop Dead Red Evening Gown

What is Being Made

The Dolores Drop Dead Red is a full-length knitted evening gown designed by Nicole Winona Reeves for Franklin Habit. This sophisticated garment features a halter neckline paired with an elegant overlay, creating a striking silhouette suitable for formal occasions and red carpet events. The dress combines regal cable details with flirty design elements, offering both professional polish and eye-catching style.

Finished Measurements

• Dress hem circumference: 18 inches
• Halter strap length: 8 inches
• Overlay circumference at bust: 18 inches
• Overlay length: 8 inches

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs multiple advanced knitting techniques to achieve its sophisticated appearance. The construction uses bottom-up assembly, allowing the knitter to build the garment from the hem upward. The design incorporates cables as signature design elements that create regal texture and visual interest. Lace details add flirty, delicate contrast to the structured cable work. The garment is worked flat on circular needles and also includes sections worked in the round for seamless construction where appropriate. The pieces are seamed together to create the finished garment, requiring careful finishing work for a polished appearance.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern features two primary stitch gauges reflecting different pattern sections. The foundational fabric uses stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, refined base. The signature pattern combines cables and lace stitches, working together to create textural contrast and visual movement throughout the gown. These pattern stitches are more densely spaced than stockinette, requiring adjusted gauge measurements for proper fit.

Yarn and Materials

The Dolores Drop Dead Red requires 2 balls of Valley Yarns Valley Superwash Sport yarn in Color 23 Crimson. This yarn is composed of 100% Extrafine Merino fiber, offering softness, breathability, and easy care through machine washing. Each ball provides 153 yards, with a weight of 50 grams per ball, giving approximately 306 yards of total yardage for the complete project.

Needles and Tools

• One 16-inch (40cm) US size 3 (3.25mm) circular needle for main construction
• One additional US size 3 (3.25mm) needle for Three-Needle Bind-Off finishing
• Cable needle for working cable stitches
• Stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches during construction
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces

Gauge

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this fitted garment. In stockinette stitch, blocked, the gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters). In the cables and lace pattern, blocked, the gauge is 27 stitches and 33 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters). Knitters should swatch both stitch patterns and block their swatches to ensure accurate finished measurements, as blocking significantly affects the final dimensions of the completed dress.

Design Details

Designer Nicole Winona Reeves masterfully balances structural elegance with playful sophistication in this evening gown. The halter neckline provides a flattering, secure fit while showcasing the shoulders and décolletage. The cable details serve as the designer's signature element, adding visual richness and texture. The inclusion of lace patterns introduces airiness and movement, preventing the dress from appearing too heavy despite its full-length construction. The overlay piece adds an additional design layer, creating dimension and visual interest when viewed from different angles.