Weddings are some of the most heartwarming celebrations one can experience in their life. The profound bond between two people, celebrated with a beautiful ceremony, is something many couples eagerly anticipate.
However, weddings also come with months of planning, stress, and even more planning. The one item a bride cannot go without is her special dress. Whether it’s white, maroon, black, fluffy, frilly, or form-fitting, it has to make the wearer feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
Some brides take the bold step of crafting their own dresses, either for the challenge, the love of the craft, or both. Today, we delve into the story of Veronika Lindberg Heino, better known as Kika, who knitted her remarkable wedding gown in just six weeks. She generously shared her journey with us, so let’s dive into her inspirational story!
Veronika Lindberg Heino, who goes by the nickname Kika, decided to embrace the challenge of knitting her own stunning wedding dress.
Image credits: kutovakika
Given 2.5 kg of yarn and 250 hours, what would you create? Perhaps a blanket or a 3D portrait, or maybe, like Kika, a knitted wedding dress. Kika documented the creation of her unique white dress, sharing her journey with followers on Instagram and YouTube.
This ambitious project unfolded while Kika and her husband-to-be were moving house and planning an impromptu wedding, making for an especially hectic seven weeks.
Image credits: kutovakika
Despite the chaos of moving and wedding planning, Kika decided to add another challenging project. “I do love a challenge and I’m often a bit over-ambitious,” Kika told Good Morning America. “I ordered 2.5 kg of pure silk yarn and announced my plan on Instagram. There was no turning back!”
With the yarn ordered and her plans publicly announced, Kika embarked on her design journey, drawing inspiration from Dior, Chanel, and Ulla Johnson. She sketched and planned, and when all was ready, the knitting began!
Image credits: kutovakika
Image credits: kutovakika
Finding time to knit amidst moving, wedding planning, and publishing her first book was no small feat.
Image credits: kutovakika
Despite the challenges, Kika found that knitting kept her grounded during this tumultuous time. “The process was intense, and the biggest struggle was finding enough time for knitting,” said Kika. “But, I enjoyed it immensely and loved seeing my vision come to life.”
Image credits: kutovakika
Then came a significant setback—the bodice was too large, requiring her to start over. Additionally, the sleeves kept slipping off, which became time-consuming to fix.
Image credits: kutovakika
Two weeks in, Kika realized the bodice was too big. She had to unravel all her work and start again, a frustrating moment that brought her to tears. The sleeves slipping off brought more challenges, but Kika filmed her mistakes to keep her viewers in the loop.
Encouraging messages from her followers kept her spirits high. Additionally, her determination to see if she could realize her vision and the desire to have a unique memory kept her going.
Image credits: kutovakika
Undeterred, Kika finished her dress just four days before the wedding and finally got some well-deserved rest.
Image credits: kutovakika
When the dress was done, Kika felt more tired and frustrated than anything, but wearing it for the ceremony made her extremely happy. She married Jukka Heino on September 10 at their new home, just four days after completing her dress. Her husband was impressed and proud, praising her persistence.
Image credits: kutovakika
Kika and Jukka met in Spring 2020 after she moved back to Finland from London due to the pandemic. Their first date involved walking around Helsinki for hours, as all cafes and bars were closed. They bonded over shared humor and enthusiasm for life.
She married Jukka Heino on September 10 at their new home, surrounded by loved ones who admired her dress and effort.
Image credits: kutovakika
“Guests kept coming up to me, feeling the dress and commenting on it,” Kika said. “It sometimes felt like they were more interested in the dress than in me, but I didn’t mind as I love talking about knitting.”
The dress took about 45 days, roughly 250 hours, and 1.5 kg of pure silk yarn, costing 300 euros (around $295), a bargain compared to average wedding dress prices. Her 149k Instagram followers loved the journey, offering support and suggestions whenever needed.
The 46-minute vlog of the entire process garnered over 3.4M views on YouTube, inspiring hundreds of people to take up or go back to the craft.
Image credits: kutovakika
Kika’s story has inspired countless people to pick up knitting or return to it. “Knitting was mainly done by men at some point in history, so it’s interesting that it’s now associated mostly with femininity. Knitting is not just for grandmas!”
Image credits: kutovakika
What began as a bonding activity with her grandmother when she was 5 has evolved into a lifestyle, uniting like-minded individuals globally. Kika’s grandmother taught her to be playful with knitting instead of seeking perfection, a lesson she cherishes.
Kika hopes to inspire others to embrace ambitious creative projects. “Even if it seems a bit ambitious, go for it!” Kika advises.
We wish Kika and Jukka all the best for their future together and look forward to many more of Kika’s wonderful projects!
Image credits: kutovakika
Knitting has made a comeback, helping people manage anxiety, relieve stress, and even build communities. It also leads to cute creations, like hats and mittens!
“Knitting teaches patience and makes you think about the garments you want to wear,” said Kika. “When you spend 40-60 hours making a sweater, you want it to last—a sustainable practice.”
We wish Kika and Jukka all the best in their future endeavors and can’t wait to see what’s next! Share your thoughts on the dress in the comment section below!
People have absolutely loved this project and the final dress. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
