Marilleva Dress in Adriafil Azzurra - Downloadable PDF

Marilleva Dress in Adriafil Azzurra – Free Knitting Pattern (Downloadable PDF)

The Marilleva Dress is an elegant, structured knitted dress designed using Adriafil Azzurra yarn, a fine 4-ply weight yarn that lends itself beautifully to detailed stitch work and a polished, refined finish. This free downloadable PDF pattern delivers a sophisticated garment featuring a rich combination of classic knitting stitches and a striking cable panel, making it a rewarding project for intermediate to experienced knitters.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a full knitted dress sized for a size 48 (with adjustments for 44–46). The design combines textural stitch panels with elegant ribbing details and a cable motif, creating a garment with both visual interest and a flattering, structured silhouette. The dress is finished with six grey buttons, 2 cm in diameter, adding a classic, tailored touch to the overall design.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Adriafil Azzurra in grey (shade no. 48) – 600 g total
• Knitting needles: sizes 2 and 3 (standard straight needles)
• Circular knitting needles: 60 cm length, size 2
• Cable needle: size 3
• Notions: 6 grey buttons (2 cm diameter), tapestry needle for finishing

Adriafil Azzurra is a fine 4-ply yarn, and its lightweight nature makes it ideal for a dress-length garment without adding unwanted bulk. The combination of needle sizes 2 and 3 allows the knitter to achieve both firm ribbing sections and a slightly more relaxed fabric in the main body panels.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this pattern. Working over a 10 x 10 cm swatch on size 3 knitting needles, the pattern requires 30.5 stitches and 40 rows in both knit stitch and in the combined purl stitch and cable stitch sections. The consistent gauge across different stitch patterns ensures that the cable panel and plain fabric sections sit evenly within the finished dress.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Marilleva Dress incorporates a thoughtfully curated selection of knitting stitches and techniques, ranging from foundational ribbing to a more advanced cable construction:

• Elastic rib – used at the beginning and end of sections to provide stretch and structure
• K1/P1 rib stitch – a classic single rib for neat, flexible edges
• K2/P2 rib stitch – a double rib that creates a more pronounced textural band
• Knit stitch – used across main body panels to create a smooth, even fabric
• Purl stitch – worked alongside the cable to frame and highlight the central motif
• Cable stitch – worked over 26 stitches, this is the centrepiece technique of the design
• Knit stitch trim – used to finish the elastic ribbing neatly
• Chain stitch worked with needle – an embellishment or finishing technique applied with a tapestry needle

Cable Stitch Detail

The cable stitch panel is worked over 26 stitches and spans a 15-row repeat, making it a moderately complex but clearly structured cable. The construction is as follows:

• Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11: k6, p14, k6 – establishing the cable columns flanking a central purl field
• Row 2 and all subsequent even rows: stitches are worked as they present, maintaining the established pattern
• Row 13 (cable crossing row): a rightwise cross over 6 stit