Our newest pattern the Heligan Dress is a summer staple!
An intermediate pattern and a perfect introduction to knitting your first cable. It’s the kind of project you can take with you, easy to pick up and put down
Light, form-fitting, and breathable, the Heligan Dress feels easy to wear on mid temperature days, with a texture that holds the eye without being fussy.
Flirty and elegant, the mix of cables and dropped stitches gives it both shape and airiness, offering just the right amount of coverage.
Construction
The dress is worked from the bottom up, starting with the skirt, which means you can measure as you go and decide exactly when the length feels right for you. We've made this process clear in the pattern, with guidance on when to begin the waist shaping once you're happy with the length.
It's worth noting that the fabric will open up once the dropped stitches are released, so it may appear tighter while you're knitting.
Shaping through the waist and bust creates a form-fitting, flattering silhouette, with the cables adding definition in all the right places. The double i-cord straps are delicate but strong, sitting securely across a medium-low back.
Knitting Tips
When it comes time to drop the purl stitches, you might find that some fibres catch slightly. This is completely normal, just pull the fluff apart gently with your fingers, or use the tip of a needle to ease it loose
For the cable section, if you don’t have a cable needle on hand, don’t worry. A spare double-pointed needle, circular needle, or even a crochet hook can be used just as easily to work the cables.
A spare double-pointed needle — slip the required stitches onto the DPN, hold it at the front, then knit the next stitches before returning to the ones on the DPN.
A circular needle — use one tip of a circular needle in the same way as a DPN. It works best with a shorter cable.
A crochet hook — place the stitches onto the hook and let them rest there while you work the next stitches. Then slide them back onto the left needle and knit them as usual.
Yarn & Styling
The Heligan Dress works well in any fingering weight yarn that offers good drape. We used Merino Single – Time Traveller for our sample, but Dashing Sassy is also a suitable choice.
Merino Single - Shrimp
Dashing Sassy - Praying Mantis
Dashing Sassy - Lapine
What makes this dress especially versatile is how easily it shifts between different looks. For a casual day, throw it on over your favourite t-shirt with trainers for an easy, laid-back feel. Then, when you want to dress it up, simply lose the t-shirt and slip on a pair of heels... just like that, you’ve got an elegant outfit ready for a party or evening out.
Because of the dropped stitches, the fabric can be slightly sheer in places. We recommend wearing a slip or skin-coloured underwear underneath to feel comfortable and confident, whatever your style.
The Heligan Dress is a simple, thoughtful design we hope will bring you as much enjoyment knitting it as we had designing it. It’s a pattern that welcomes you to try new techniques while creating something comfortable and wearable. We’re really proud of how it turned out and hope it becomes a trusted favourite in your wardrobe, ready to be worn through many seasons to come.
