Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Clematis Lace Dress Knitting

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Clematis Lace Dress

What is Being Made

The Clematis Lace Dress is a knitted linen dress designed by Lidia Karabinech, available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X. This garment features a fitted silhouette with lace patterning throughout, offering bust measurements from 34 inches (Small) to 59½ inches (3X) and lengths ranging from 33 to 36½ inches depending on size. The dress combines both solid and lace sections to create visual interest and breathability in a lightweight summer garment.

Techniques Used

The Clematis Lace Dress is constructed using several key knitting techniques that build a sophisticated finished garment:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The dress is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing for straightforward shaping and the ability to try on the garment as it progresses
• Worked Flat: The main body pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, then seamed together at the sides and shoulders
• Lace Patterning: Decorative lace stitches are incorporated throughout the design, creating an open, airy fabric perfect for warm-weather wear
• Seamed Construction: Pieces are joined using seaming techniques, including a three-needle bind-off method for shoulder seaming that creates a decorative finish on the right side of the garment
• Armhole Shaping: Strategic decreases are worked to shape the armholes, with bind-offs at the beginning of rows followed by gradual single-stitch decreases
• Neckband Addition: A circular needle is used to pick up and work a neckband, providing a finished edge at the neck opening
• Crochet Details: A crochet hook is employed to create sleeve fringe and a drawstring, adding decorative and functional elements

Stitches Used

The pattern centers on a Lace Pattern worked over a specific stitch and row repeat. The gauge is established at 19 stitches and 25 rows equaling 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working the Lace Pattern on smaller needles with both yarn colors held together. The pattern also incorporates basic knitting stitches including knit, purl, decreases, and bind-offs. The three-needle bind-off is used as a special joining technique, where two pieces are held with right sides facing each other and stitches are bound off while simultaneously joining the pieces together, creating a decorative seam visible on the right side of the garment.

Materials

The Clematis Lace Dress is knitted using Stacy Charles Fine Yarns ALICIA, a 100% linen yarn available in two colors for this pattern: #09 cherry (A) and #10 iris (B). Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and yields 180 yards (165 meters). The yardage requirement ranges from 6 balls (approximately 1,080 yards for the Small size) to 11 balls (approximately 1,980 yards for the 3X size), with both colors used together throughout the garment.

The pattern requires two pairs of straight needles: size 5 (3.75mm) needles for working the lace pattern and size 6 (4mm) needles for other sections. A size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches (40 centimeters) is needed for the neckband. Additionally, a size H-8 (5mm) crochet hook is used for creating the sleeve fringe and drawstring. Standard knitting notions including stitch markers, stitch holders, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends complete the required materials.