White Dress Knitting Pattern

White Dress in Rowan Kidsilk Haze by Jennie Atkinson

What is Being Made

This is an advanced-level knitted dress designed to fit bust sizes ranging from 81 to 127 cm (32 to 46 inches). The garment features a sophisticated lace pattern construction with integrated beadwork, creating an elegant piece suitable for special occasions. The dress is worked from the back and front pieces with raglan armhole shaping and detailed front neck shaping.

Techniques Used

This project employs several advanced knitting techniques that require experienced hands:

• Lace pattern knitting – The dress is constructed using a charted lace pattern that spans multiple rows (up to row 244 depending on size), requiring careful attention to stitch placement and yarn overs
• Bead integration – Approximately 2,080 to 2,480 clear beads (size 6) from Debbie Abrahams are incorporated throughout the garment, necessitating knowledge of bead-working techniques in knitting
• Raglan armhole shaping – The dress features raglan-style armholes with decreases worked at each end of rows to create the characteristic diagonal seam line from neckline to underarm
• Front neck shaping – Complex neck shaping is worked separately on each side of the front, with decreases at both the neck edge and raglan armhole edge worked simultaneously
• Pattern maintenance during shaping – Increases and decreases must be incorporated while keeping the lace pattern correct throughout construction

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches combined in a lace formation. Key stitches include knit stitches, purl stitches, yarn overs (which create the openwork characteristic of lace), and decreases such as knit two together (K2tog). These stitches are worked according to a detailed chart that guides their placement across each row, creating the overall lace design.

Materials Required

Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Cream 634 (or chosen colorway). The pattern requires 5 to 7 balls of 25-gram weight depending on the finished size, providing approximately 1,250 to 1,750 meters of yarn total. Kidsilk Haze is a luxurious blend yarn known for its delicate drape and subtle sheen, making it ideal for lace garments.

Needles: Two pairs of needles are required – 3¾mm (US 5) needles and 4mm (US 6) needles. The 4mm needles are used for the main fabric and are the needles over which tension is measured.

Beads: Approximately 2,080 to 2,480 clear beads, code 34, size 6 from Debbie Abrahams, depending on the chosen size.

Optional extras: 75 centimeters of narrow non-stretch tape such as seam binding tape or narrow satin ribbon may be used to stabilize seams or neckline edges.

Tension and Sizing

The pattern is designed to be worked at a tension of 22 stitches and 26 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over the lace pattern using 4mm (US 6) needles. Eight sizes are provided, accommodating bust measurements from 81 centimeters to 127 centimeters. The back length measures approximately 82 centimeters across all sizes.

Pattern Complexity Notes

This is classified as an advanced-difficulty project, appropriate for experienced knitters. The combination of intricate lace charting, bead placement, and simultaneous shaping requires strong foundational skills and the ability to read charts accurately while maintaining pattern continuity through decreases and increases. The pattern includes specific instructions for working with beads, and knitters should consult the information page provided with the pattern for detailed bead-working methodology before beginning.