Butterfly Dress in Rowan Kidsilk Haze - ZM72-00046-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Butterfly Dress and Top in Rowan Kidsilk Haze by Jennie Atkinson

The Butterfly pattern by designer Jennie Atkinson, published by Rowan (pattern reference ZM72-00046-DEP), is a downloadable PDF offering two exquisite lace knitting projects: a full-length Butterfly Dress and a coordinating Butterfly Top. Both designs are crafted in the iconic Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a supremely fine lace-weight yarn that lends an ethereal, gossamer quality to the finished fabric. Rated as advanced difficulty, this pattern is best suited to experienced knitters who are comfortable with complex lace techniques, decorative edgings, and bead placement.

The Butterfly Dress

The Butterfly Dress is the centrepiece of this pattern, a flowing, romantic garment designed to drape beautifully thanks to the delicate properties of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. The dress is worked in a repeating lace border pattern that forms the foundation of its decorative character. The construction includes a distinctive double ruffle edging — both an outer and an inner ruffle border — which are worked separately and then layered together, with the outer ruffle placed right-side down against the right side of the inner ruffle so that the finished edges align neatly. This layered ruffle technique creates a lush, dimensional hem that is a hallmark of the design.

Sizing and Fit

The Butterfly Dress is offered in five sizes to fit bust measurements of 81, 86, 91, 97, and 102 cm (XS, S, M, L, XL). Knitters should work a tension swatch before beginning to ensure accurate sizing.

Yarn and Colourways

The dress uses Rowan Kidsilk Haze in two colours:

• Colour A – Majestic 589: the primary colour, used for the main body and lace border pattern, requiring 3 to 4 balls of 25 g depending on size
• Colour B – Smoke 605: used for the inner ruffle border, requiring 1 ball of 25 g across all sizes

The dress is also photographed in Pearl 590, offering knitters an alternative colourway to consider for a softer, more neutral palette.

Beads

Beaded embellishment is a key decorative feature of the Butterfly Dress. Approximately 500 beads in Code 601 and Code 606 from Debbie Abrahams (size 8) are required. Beads are placed using a specific technique described in the pattern as 1P, which involves bringing the yarn to the front of the work and placing a bead in a precise manner before continuing to knit. This adds a subtle shimmer and texture to the lace fabric that elevates the finished garment.

Lace Border Pattern and Techniques

The border pattern repeats over 8 rows and incorporates a rich vocabulary of lace knitting techniques. Knitters will work a combination of:

• Yarn overs (U) to create decorative eyelets and increase stitches within the lace motif
• Standard right-leaning decreases (knit 2 together / 2 M re zus-str) to shape the lace
• Left-leaning twisted decreases (2 M re verschr zus-str) for directional shaping within the pattern
• Double yarn overs (2 U) worked across two stitches in subsequent rows, creating larger, more open eyelets
• Double decreases (2übzAbn), which are central double decreases used to create the pointed, butterfly-wing-like formations in the lace
• Purl decreases including 3 M li zus-str (purl 3 together) and 2 M li verschr zus-str (twisted purl 2