Knit a Stunning Wedding Dress

I wasn’t that into knitting when I got married, but it never would have occurred to me at the time to knit a wedding dress. Now I’m a little sad there weren’t a lot of homemade elements in our celebration, but it doesn’t stop me from admiring people who do knit or crochet or otherwise make their own dresses, flowers and other things for their big day.

This dress is billed as the Peacock Wedding Dress from Nikarra Palmer-Simmons, but if I knit such a thing you can bet I’d be wearing it on any occasion I could think of just to show it off.

This gorgeous design is worked in lace weight yarn from the top down. The bodice is fitted and has decorative eyelets as well as a bit of beading. The full skirt features peacock feather lace and other lace designs, and it can be beaded as well. You’re going to want to click through to this pattern on Ravelry just so you can see the closeups.

Nikarra says the pattern was originally inspired by a design from Army of Knitters, but as it evolved it also includes some of Meg Swansen’s Spanish Peacock chart and the skirt is “heavily based” on a design from Irina Makarova.

She also notes that the dress is designed to be worn over an underdress and with a full tulle skirt to support its weight, particularly if you use the beads.

The pattern has four sizes, but the small and medium haven’t been tested at the time of this writing. The designer notes this pattern is best for intermediate to advanced knitters because of all the lace and the sheer size of the project. Lace is charted and written but comfort reading charts would help a lot with this project.

The pattern is free on Ravelry so if you’ve ever had a hankering to knit a wedding dress, or a dress fancy enough to be a wedding dress but you’re just wearing it to Costco, check it out. I would love to hear if you try it!

[Photo: Nikarra Palmer-Simmons]

Next Pattern:

I’ve been writing about knitting online for a long time, and a lot of things have changed. But one good thing I think has changed over the years is that fewer people see knitting as a seasonal activity. Most people don’t seem to think anymore that there’s a time when it’s too hot to knit or too hot to wear knits.

I don’t know if the proliferation of knit tank top patterns caused that shift or is the result of it, but either way, summer knitters and knitwear-wearers are the beneficiaries, and every year there seem to be more great tank top knitting patterns to share.

How about the super cute Fleur Cami from Woolbirdx on Etsy? This sweet V-neck with thin straps features vertical panels of eyelets and ribbing. It’s worked from the bottom up in the round and is available in nine sizes. It calls for super fine yarn.

Or there’s the knitted lace V-neck top from Exotic Works Hub. This one has lace panels on the front at the center and is otherwise worked mostly in stockinette stitch. It’s worked from the bottom up in fingering weight yarn and comes in six sizes.

The Mixed Rib Cami from Florence Miller is another on that caught my eye. Worked in light fingering weight yarn, it is worked from the top down using twisted rib stitches and optional waist shaping. It’s finished with I-cord edges for a super clean look. The pattern has nine sizes available and you can find it on Ravelry.

Stine HoelgaardJohansen’s Golden Girl top is a cute sport weight top with a round neckline that’s deeper in the back, and worked from the bottom up in broken rib. There are nine size options (and six languages) and you can grab it for free on Ravelry.

Prefer a sporty look? Andrea Gaughan’s Sumac tank is worked in fingering weight yarn from the top down with contrasting edges. The pattern has 10 sizes and two fit profiles, graded to a traditionally masculine or feminine frame respectively. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?