Now, as we all know, knitting is pretty great, and is excellent for producing a wide range of fabrics for a variety of garments, but not all garments. In particular, skirts and dresses can be problematic (ask anyone who’s tried – I bet if they were successful, it took more than one attempt).
I have done some Thinking, and come to the conclusion that there may be a sneaky way to get around the knit dress issue: Lace. I know, I know, I hear you say “Michael, isn’t Lace your solution to EVERYTHING?” In my defence, not everything. Sometimes it’s cables (and lace), or basic texturing (with maybe a bit of lace), or even colourwork (which, believe it or not, looks really really good paired with lace). So you see, I’m not so biased!
But really, since starting to work on Teva Durhams Shetland Shawl Dress (yes, I’m still working on it. I promise it will be done soon. Ish.), I think it’s a really great idea! Pair it with a simple muslin or linen slip and you’ve got a great summer/picnic/barbecue piece. Trust me. So with that in mind, I’ve rounded up a few lace dresses that I think would be really great, with just the right execution.
First up is obviously the Shetland Shawl Dress by Teva Durham. Try it out of the recommend Louet Linen Lace (not listed in our store right now, but call, we’ve got it), for an incredibly durable, machine-washable layering piece that will only get softer and more comfortable with wear.
Next! this gorgeous “tea length” dress from Vogue’s Early Fall 2013 magazine. It calls for Koigu KPM, but you could easily substitute any fingering weight yarn (tosh-philes, I’m looking at you).
And now, a little bit different, a maxi dress from Noro. Now, I’m not always a big Noro fan, but in the right colourway, it would be just stunning. Or you know, substitute any aran weight yarn.
And finally, this one from Interweave is not technically a dress, but keeping the bodice as is, if you lengthened the bottom into a basic a-line shape, well, I would be fan. And of course, the Manos del Uruguay Serena is just luxurious and to die for (again, it’s not online, but we stock it, just call us)
So what do you think, will you try a lace dress this summer or fall? Or next spring?