Lorca Dress in Berroco Modern Linen - Downloadable PDF

Lorca Dress Knitting Pattern in Berroco Modern Linen — Downloadable PDF

The Lorca Dress is a beautifully constructed knitted dress designed by the Berroco Design Team and worked in Berroco Modern Linen yarn. Rated as an intermediate skill level project, this pattern offers a relaxed, wearable silhouette with thoughtful colorwork built into its construction. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and covers nine sizes, making it accessible to a wide range of knitters.

What Is Being Made

The Lorca is a full-length knitted dress with a generous, flattering fit. It features a color-blocked stripe sequence worked across the body, giving it a modern, artisan aesthetic. The finished garment has a bust measurement ranging from 36 to 68 inches (91.5–172.5 cm) and a hip measurement ranging from 40½ to 70 inches (103–178 cm), with a length of approximately 38 to 41 inches (96.5–104 cm) depending on the size. The sample shown is knitted in size 2 (40½" / 103 cm bust) and is modeled with approximately 6½ inches of positive ease. The recommended ease for this design is 2–4 inches / 5–10 cm of positive ease, allowing for a comfortable, relaxed drape.

Construction Techniques

The Lorca Dress is constructed using a straightforward and beginner-friendly structural approach that is well within reach for intermediate knitters. Key construction details include:

• Flat knitting: Both the Back and Front pieces are worked flat, meaning knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round.
• Seaming: Once the individual pieces are complete, they are joined together using seaming techniques, creating a clean and structured finish.
• Color sequence striping: A deliberate color sequence is built into the pattern, beginning with 9 inches worked in Color 1 and then transitioning through subsequent colors in a defined stripe arrangement. This creates the dress's signature color-blocked look without requiring complex colorwork techniques such as stranded knitting or intarsia.
• Circular needle usage: A 16-inch circular needle in size 2 / 2.75 mm is used for specific sections, likely for finishing details such as necklines or cuffs.
• Blocking: Gauge is measured after blocking, making wet or steam blocking an essential step in achieving accurate finished measurements.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure of the Lorca Dress is clean and classic, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to build confidence with garment construction:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The entire body of the dress is worked in stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, flat fabric with excellent drape — particularly well-suited to the linen-blend yarn used in this pattern.
• Ribbing or edging stitches may be used at finishing areas, consistent with standard garment construction at necklines and hems (referenced through the use of smaller needles).

Sizing

The pattern includes nine sizes grouped into three brackets:

• Sizes 1, 2, 3 — Bust: 36, 40½, 44 inches
• Sizes 4, 5, 6 — Bust: 48½, 52, 56½ inches
• Sizes 7, 8, 9 — Bust: 60, 64½, 68 inches

This broad size range makes the Lorca Dress an inclusive pattern suitable for a wide variety of body types.

Yarn and Materials

The Lorca Dress is knitted in Berroco Modern Linen, a yarn celebrated for its breathable, lightweight quality and beautiful natural drape — ideal for a dress-length garment. Each hank weighs 100 grams. The pattern uses four colors in a stripe sequence:

• C1 — #11363 Rosy