Love Letter Dress

Watch the full video tutorial for this pattern on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8dbqmZlwo&t=27s The Love Letter Dress is a tribute to lace stitch patterns — a love letter written by a pair of knitting needles in the shape of a knitted fabric. This is the showstopper version of the Love Letter Top, taking the same all-over lace motif and letting it run the full length of a dress. The design was born from a desire to create something with an all-over lace motif that keeps changing all the time, and in this longer silhouette, that sense of constant change gets even more room to unfold. It's a true celebration of the textures and intricate shapes we can create with our knitting needles. The dress is worked top down: first the upper back and front are worked back and forth, then the body is worked in the round. Lastly, stitches are picked up around the neckline and armholes for an i-cord bind-off edge. **Finished garment measurements:** Bust circumference: 74 (82, 90, 98) (106, 114, 122) (130, 138) cm/ 29.5 (32.75, 36, 39.25)(42.5, 45.5, 48.75)(52, 55.25)". Waist circumference: 82 (91, 100, 109) (118, 127, 137) (145.5, 154.5) cm / 32.25 (35.75, 39.5, 43) (46.5, 50, 56) (57.25, 60.75) “. Hip circumference: 100 (110, 130) (140, 150, 160) (170, 180) cm / 39.25 (43.25, 51.25) (55.25, 59, 63) (67, 70.75)". Length from underarm to hem: 105 cm / 49” all sizes. The Love Letter Dress is designed to have about 0-5 cm / 0-2” of negative ease (the fabric is very flexible due to the stretchy nature of lace) around the bust, and about 10-30 cm/ 4-12" of positive ease around the hip. Sample in size M, Kika has a bust of approx. 89 cm / 35”. **Gauge:** 20 sts x 30 rows/rnds = 10 cm / 4” in seed stitch in the round on 3 mm (US2.5) needles, after blocking. 22 sts x 30 rows/rnds = 10 cm / 4” in lace stitch pattern A1 in the round on 3 mm (US2.5) needles, after blocking. **Needles:** 2.5 mm / US1.5: circular needle 40-60 cm / 16-24” for armhole and neck edge i-cord, and for hem rib. 3 mm / US2.5: circular needle 60-80-100 cm / 24-32-40”. **Notions:** 2 removable stitch markers, 2 regular stitch markers, tapestry needle, stitch holder or scrap yarn. **Sample knitted with yarns:** 650 (675, 700, 725) (750, 800, 825) (850, 875) g of Knitting For Olive Pure Silk (100% silk - 250 m / 273 yds / 50g) in the color Cherry Blossom. **Yarn suggestions** Choose a Sport or DK weight yarn for the Love Letter Dress, or hold 2 strands of fingering weight yarn together (like in the sample). Below are some further yarn suggestions: Drops Belle (53% Cotton, 33% Viscose, 14% Linen - 120 m / 131 yds per 50g) Drops Muskat (100% cotton - 100 m / 109 yds per 50 g) Sandnes Garn Tynn Line held double (53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen - 220 m/ 240 yds per 50 g) Knitting For Olive Pure Silk held double (100% silk - 250 m / 273 yds per 50 g)