Sweet Iris Bloom Dress: A Free Crochet Pattern

Isn’t this little dress simply charming? Featuring a clean white yoke and a beautiful lavender skirt with a lacy pattern, this “Iris Bloom” dress is perfect for any little one. The contrasting colors and textured skirt make it truly stand out, and the optional little flower adds a delightful touch.

This pattern is designed for intermediate beginners or intermediate crocheters. If you’re comfortable with basic stitches and working in the round, you’ll find this a rewarding project!

Let’s get started on creating this adorable dress!

Skill Level: Easy-Intermediate Yarn Weight: DK (light worsted) yarn in two colors: White (Color A) and Lavender/Purple (Color B). Hook Size: 4.0mm (G/6) crochet hook (or size needed to obtain gauge) Other Materials:

Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Stitch markers (helpful for working the yoke)

Gauge: 5 dc and 3 rows = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in double crochet (for the yoke). It’s important to check your gauge to ensure the dress will be the correct size. Adjust your hook size if necessary.

Finished Size (approximate): 0-3 months (with notes for adjustments) For larger sizes, you’ll need to adjust your starting chain for the yoke and the number of rows/rounds for both yoke and skirt.

Stitches Used:

ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
V-stitch (V-st): (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch/space
Shell Stitch (Shell): (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the same stitch/space (for the skirt border)

Pattern Notes:

The dress is worked from the top down, starting with the yoke, then splitting for the body and sleeves, and finally working the skirt in the round.
Ch 2 at the beginning of a dc row/round counts as a dc. Ch 1 does NOT count as a stitch unless specified.
Always join rounds with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-2 (or first stitch if ch 1).
For the skirt, you will be working the V-stitch into the ch-1 space of the V-stitch from the previous round.

Let’s Begin! The Yoke (Color A: White)

We’ll start by crocheting the yoke in rows, which will then be joined.

Starting Chain: Ch 58 (Adjust as needed for desired neck opening and chest circumference. This will be the top edge of the yoke).

Row 1 (RS): Dc in the 3rd ch from hook (counts as 2 dc). Dc in next 6 ch, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch (first corner). Dc in next 9 ch, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch (second corner). Dc in next 16 ch, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch (third corner). Dc in next 9 ch, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next ch (fourth corner). Dc in last 8 ch. Turn. (56 dc, 4 ch-2 spaces)

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in next dc. Dc in each dc to ch-2 space, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 space. Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Dc in each dc to end of row. Turn. You are increasing 2 dc at each of the 4 corners in every row.

Repeat Row 2 until you have approximately 10-12 rows for the yoke, or until the yoke measures about 4.5-5 inches from the neckline down, and it is wide enough to comfortably fit around the baby’s chest and armholes. Make sure the piece lies flat. For a 0-3 month size, this usually means around 60-70 stitches between the front and back sections before splitting.

Separating for Body and Sleeves

Once your yoke is the desired size, it’s time to create the armholes.

Next Row: Ch 2, dc in each dc across the first front section. Skip all stitches for the first sleeve (you’ll be skipping the stitches between the first and second ch-2 spaces). Dc in each dc across the back section (stitches between the second and third ch-2 spaces). Skip all stitches for the second sleeve (stitches between the third and fourth ch-2 spaces). Dc in each dc across the second front section. Turn.

You have now joined the front and back sections, creating the armholes. Count your stitches to ensure an even number for the body section. You’ll now join this into a round.

Join to Round: Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-2 of the same row to form a circle.

The Skirt (Color B: Lavender)

Now we’ll work the beautiful V-stitch pattern for the skirt of the dress.

Attach Color B (Lavender): Join Color B yarn to where you just joined the round.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as dc). Skip 1 st, V-st in next st. Skip 2 sts, V-st in next st. Repeat from * to * around. Skip 1 st, dc in the last st. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-2.

Round 2: Ch 2, dc in the first st. V-st in each ch-1 space of the V-stitches from the previous round across. Dc in the top of the turning chain. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-2.

Repeat Round 2 until the skirt reaches your desired length (typically around 9-10 inches from the shoulder for 0-3 months), before adding the white border.

The Skirt Border (Color A: White)

Attach Color A (White): Join Color A yarn to the last stitch of the previous round.

Round 1 (White Shells): Ch 1, sc in the first st. Skip 2 sts, Shell Stitch (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st, skip 2 sts, sc in the next st. Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc.

Round 2 (White Shell Edging): Sl st into the first dc of the first shell. Ch 1, sc in the ch-1 space of the first shell. Ch 3, sc in the ch-1 space of the next shell. Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.

Finishing

Sleeves Edging: Join white yarn (Color A) to the bottom of one armhole. Ch 1, sc evenly around the armhole opening. Join with a sl st. Fasten off. Repeat for the second sleeve.
Neckline Edging: Join white yarn (Color A) to the back of the neckline. Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire neckline opening. Join with a sl st. Fasten off.
Optional Flower Embellishment:
- With Color B (Lavender) and a smaller hook (e.g., 3.0mm):
  - Ch 2. 5 sc in the 2nd ch from hook. Join with a sl st to first sc.
  - (Ch 2, 2 dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st) Repeat 5 times around the circle, working into each sc. You’ll form 5 small petals.
  - Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
- Sew the flower onto the front of the dress, at the join between the white yoke and the lavender skirt.
Weave in all ends: Use your yarn needle to neatly weave in all loose ends.