Cool, whisper-soft, and silky, this breezy lace cover-up is as comfortable to knit at the beach as it is to wear there. Worked in soft, gently luxuriant Lorna’s Laces Pearl, a 50/50 silk and bamboo blend, Splash knits up quickly with a simple old shale lace pattern that coaxes excellent mileage from the luxury yarn. (And yes, it’s named for the 80s mermaid-themed romantic comedy, but don’t feel pressured to wolf down a whole lobster or flop around in the bathtub when you wear it.)

Worn over a simple cotton slip or sundress, it’s equally at home away from sun and sand. It’s fetching over a short slip that shows leg through the lace or over a longer sundress that peeks out from below the hem.

Splash is knit seamlessly from the top down, with increase rounds that widen the lace pattern along the shoulders every 4 repeats. The same swelling pattern is repeated along just the sides of the body for a subtle flare. The lace is softly clingy, with a gentle drape.

Sizing Tips
Each of the two sizes fit a wide range. Bust measurement may have positive or negative ease depending on your size, as the soft, lacy fabric will drape elegantly over a smaller bust or expand willingly over a generous bustline. You can get a sense of the range of each of the two sizes from the two models: Charlene (blonde) wears a size 6 and measures 36-28-38, while I (brunette) wear a size 10-12 and measure 40-31-44. I also tested it with a padded push-up bra (taking me up to 43-inch bust) and the fit was still excellent and relaxed.

Do keep in mind that the wider your bust and hips, the shorter the dress will be on you. Also remember that silk knits often get longer over time. While this minidress won’t become a ball gown, it may creep closer to your knees with wear. Of course, the top-down design means you can frog any excess if you decide later on that you’d prefer it shorter.