Imagine your little one looking absolutely precious in one of these handmade crochet dresses! This delightful design features a classic rounded yoke, a beautifully textured skirt using a V-stitch variation, and a charming scalloped hem. The pretty flower embellishment adds a perfect finishing touch. These dresses are perfect for photos, special occasions, or just adding a touch of handmade charm to everyday wear.
This pattern is suitable for intermediate crocheters, or adventurous beginners comfortable with basic stitches and shaping.
Yarn:
- DK (Double Knit) or Light Worsted Weight yarn in two contrasting colors (e.g., Pink and White, or Teal and Grey, as pictured). Choose a soft, baby-friendly yarn that is machine washable for easy care.
Hook:
- 3.5 mm (US E/4) crochet hook (adjust hook size if necessary to achieve gauge and desired fabric).
Notions:
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- Scissors
- Small buttons (2-3, for the back closure)
- Small flower embellishment (crochet or store-bought) with optional leaf (as pictured) and a pearl/bead for the center.
Gauge (Crucial for Sizing!):
- For the Yoke (DC): 18 DC and 10 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
- For the Skirt (V-Stitch/Shell): A section of the textured stitch should be approximately 0.75-1 inch wide.
- Please check your gauge before starting. Adjust hook size if needed. Achieving the correct gauge is vital for the dress to fit the intended size.
Finished Measurements (Approximate for 6-12 Months):
- Chest Circumference: 19-20 inches (48-51 cm)
- Dress Length (from shoulder to hem): 15-16 inches (38-41 cm)
- To adjust size, refer to a standard baby size chart and adjust initial chain/yoke increases and skirt length accordingly.
Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms):
- Ch: Chain
- Sl St: Slip Stitch
- SC: Single Crochet
- HDC: Half Double Crochet
- DC: Double Crochet
- Tr: Treble Crochet (or Triple Crochet)
- St(s):: Stitch(es)
- Sk: Skip
- Sp: Space
- FO: Fasten Off
- Yo: Yarn Over
- V-stitch (V-st): (DC, Ch 1, DC) in the same stitch/space.
- Textured Shell: (DC, Ch 1, DC) in the first stitch of a V-stitch, then (DC, Ch 1, DC) in the second DC of the same V-stitch. (This creates a fuller shell-like stitch within the V-stitch).
Pattern Instructions:
Part 1: The Rounded Yoke (Main Color – Pink or Teal)
The yoke is worked in rows, from the top down, increasing to form a rounded shape for the neckline and upper bodice. A small opening will be left at the back for buttons.
- Ch 68. (This forms the initial neck opening. Adjust for different sizes; more chains for larger, fewer for smaller, always an even number.)
- Row 1 (RS): DC in 4th Ch from hook (counts as 1st DC). DC in next 8 Ch (front panel: 9 DC). [2 DC in next Ch, DC in next 3 Ch]. Repeat from * to * 5 more times. 2 DC in next Ch. DC in remaining 8 Ch. (You will have increased stitches evenly across the row, creating a slight curve.) Ch 3 (counts as 1st DC), turn.
- Row 2 (WS): DC in each DC across. Ch 3, turn.
- Row 3 (RS – Increase Row): DC in first 2 DC. [2 DC in next DC, DC in next 4 DC]. Repeat from * to * around, adjusting the last few stitches as needed for evenness. Ch 3, turn.
- Row 4 (WS): DC in each DC across. Ch 3, turn.
- Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until the yoke measures approximately 4.5-5 inches (11-13 cm) from the neckline to the bottom edge. For this size, you’ll likely have 7-8 rows total. Ensure you end on a RS row.
- The image shows 5 visible rows on the yoke, so you might stop after Row 5 or Row 7 depending on your gauge.
Joining for the Body:
- Joining Round (RS): DC in each DC across the row to the very last DC. Sl St to the top of the beginning Ch 3 to join and form a continuous round. Ch 3 (counts as 1st DC).
- You have now joined the back opening to form the body of the dress.
- Count your total stitches now; this will be the stitch count for the top of your skirt. It should be approximately 100-120 stitches, depending on your increases and initial chain.
Part 2: The Skirt (Main Color – Pink or Teal)
The skirt uses a beautiful textured V-stitch/Shell variation, which creates the lovely fabric seen in the picture.
- Round 1 (Main Color – Pink/Teal): Ch 3 (counts as 1st DC). DC in next stitch. Sk 2 stitches, work (DC, Ch 1, DC) in next stitch (V-Stitch made). Repeat from * to * around. Adjust the last few skips if necessary to end with a V-stitch. Sl St to top of beginning Ch 3.
- Ensure your total stitch count from the yoke is a multiple of 3 (for Sk 2, V-Stitch) for even V-stitch placement. If not, make minor adjustments by skipping 1 or 3 stitches occasionally to make it work.
- Round 2 (Textured Skirt Pattern): Sl St into the Ch-1 sp of the first V-stitch. Ch 3 (counts as 1st DC). DC in same Ch-1 sp. Work Textured Shell (DC, Ch 1, DC in first DC of next V-Stitch, then DC, Ch 1, DC in second DC of same V-stitch). Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to top of beginning Ch 3.
- This specific stitch creates the lovely openwork with a subtle texture.
- Round 3: Sl St into the Ch-1 sp of the first (DC, Ch 1, DC) set. Ch 3, DC in same Ch-1 sp. Work Textured Shell into the next available Ch-1 space (usually the second Ch-1 space of the previous round’s textured shell). Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to top of beginning Ch 3.
- Repeat Round 3 until the skirt measures approximately 12-13 inches (30-33 cm) from the yoke join, or desired length for a 6-12 month baby, stopping about 1 inch before the desired final length for the ruffle.
- To make the skirt flare more for larger sizes, you can occasionally add an extra V-stitch every few rounds or increase the number of stitches within the shells (e.g., (DC, Ch 2, DC) instead of Ch 1).
B. White Ruffled Edge:
- Change to Contrast Color (White): Join White yarn with Sl St to any stitch on the last round of the skirt.
- Round 1 (Shell Ruffle): Ch 3 (counts as 1st DC). 4 DC in same stitch (first Shell made). Sk 2 stitches, Shell (5 DC) in next stitch. Repeat from * to * around, adjusting skips slightly for an even number of shells. Sl St to top of beginning Ch 3.
- Round 2 (Shell in Shell): Sl St into the center DC of the first Shell. Ch 3, 4 DC in the same center DC (first Shell made). Sk 4 DC, Shell (5 DC) in the center DC of the next Shell. Repeat from * to * around. Sl St to top of beginning Ch 3. FO.
Part 3: The Flower Embellishment (White & Contrast Color)
The image shows a flower with multiple layered petals and a small leaf.
A. White Layered Flower:
- Start with white yarn. Ch 4, Sl St to first Ch to form a ring.
- Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1st HDC). 11 HDC into the ring. Sl St to top of beginning Ch 2. (12 HDC)
- Round 2 (Petals): Ch 2, 2 DC into next HDC, Ch 2, Sl St into same HDC. Repeat from * to * 5 more times around the circle. (6 petals total).
- Round 3 (Behind Petals): Push the petals from Round 2 forward. Working behind the petals, SC into each Sl St from Round 1, and SC into the base of each Ch-2 space between petals. Sl St to first SC. (This creates a new base row for a second layer of petals).
- Round 4 (Larger Petals): Ch 3, 3 Tr into next SC, Ch 3, Sl St into same SC. Repeat from * to * around. (6 larger petals). FO, leaving a tail for sewing.
B. Small Leaf (Make 1 in the dress’s accent color, e.g., Teal/Grey):
- Ch 6.
- Row 1: Sl St in 2nd Ch from hook. SC in next Ch. HDC in next Ch. DC in next Ch. Tr in last Ch. FO, leaving a tail for sewing.
Finishing Your Dress:
- Weave in all loose ends neatly with your tapestry needle.
- Back Closure:
- Button Band: Along one side of the back opening (where you joined the yoke), Ch 1 and SC evenly up the edge. On the other side, Ch 1 and SC evenly up the edge, creating 2-3 Ch-2 spaces evenly spaced for buttonholes as you go.
- Sew 2-3 small buttons onto the opposite side of the back opening to align with your buttonholes.
- Armhole Edging (Optional but Recommended): Join Main Color (Pink/Teal) yarn to one armhole. Ch 1. SC evenly around the armhole opening. Sl St to first SC. Repeat for the second armhole.
- Attach Flower: Assemble your flower by sewing the leaf to the back of the white flower. Then, sew a small pearl or bead to the center of the flower. Position the completed flower embellishment on the center front of the dress, just below the yoke seam. Securely stitch it in place.
- Block (Optional but Recommended): Gently wet the dress, reshape it to the correct measurements, and pin it to a foam board or towel. Allow it to air dry completely. This will even out your stitches and give the dress a beautiful drape and professional finish.
Video tutorial
Congratulations! You’ve just created a stunning handmade crochet dress perfect for a precious little one. This dress is sure to be cherished for years to come.
Happy crocheting!
