EASY VANILLA CROCHET DRESS – STEP BY STEP – ALL SIZES

Dress your little sunshine in this adorable crochet dress, perfect for warm weather and special occasions! Inspired by the charming yellow dress in the picture, this pattern features a comfortable solid yoke transitioning into a beautifully lacy, flowing skirt, adorned with a lovely crocheted bow. It’s a project that combines classic techniques with delicate openwork, making it a joy to create and wear.

Skill Level: Intermediate (requires knowledge of basic stitches, increasing, decreasing, working in rounds, and some familiarity with lace patterns).

Materials:

Yarn: DK (Light Worsted) weight yarn (cotton or cotton blend recommended for comfort and drape).
- Main Color (MC): Pale Yellow (or your chosen primary color) – approx. 200-300 yards, depending on size.
Crochet Hook: Size G/6 (4.0 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
Yarn Needle: For weaving in ends and attaching the bow.
Scissors
Stitch Markers: Very helpful for marking increase points, armholes, and the beginning of rounds.
Small Buttons: 2-3, for the back closure (optional, as the picture doesn’t clearly show them but a back opening is common).

Gauge (Crucial!):

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the dress to fit properly.

Bodice Gauge: 4 rows of hdc should measure approximately 1 inch.
Skirt Gauge: 3 shell rows should measure approximately 2 inches.
Adjust your hook size if necessary to meet these gauges.

Finished Size (Approximate, 12-18 Months):

Chest Circumference: 19-20 inches
Length (Shoulder to Hem): 16-18 inches
Adjustments for other sizes: Guidance will be provided.

Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms):

ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
sk: skip
sp: space
st(s): stitch(es)
beg: beginning
rep: repeat
inc: increase (work 2 sts in the same st)
dec: decrease (work 2 sts together)
Shell: (dc 2, ch 1, dc 2) in same st/sp (adjust for denser or lacier shell if desired)
( ): repeat instructions in parentheses a specified number of times
[ ]: total stitches in a round/row

Pattern for Sunny Days Crochet Baby Dress

Part 1: The Bodice (Working from the Top Down)

We’ll start with the neckline and work downwards, forming the yoke.

Initial Chain: Ch 76 (for 12-18 months). Adjust this number to fit around the widest part of the baby’s head comfortably, ensuring it’s a multiple of 4 plus 4 for symmetry of the yoke divisions.

Row 1 (Neckline/Foundation): Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. [74 hdc] Do NOT join. You’ll work in rows for the back opening.

Row 2 (First Yoke Row – Increases): Ch 2 (counts as hdc). Hdc in first st. Hdc in next 10 sts (Right Back Panel). (Hdc 2 in next st, ch 1, Hdc 2 in next st) in next st (Corner 1). Place stitch marker in ch-1 sp. Hdc in next 15 sts (Right Sleeve). (Hdc 2 in next st, ch 1, Hdc 2 in next st) in next st (Corner 2). Place stitch marker in ch-1 sp. Hdc in next 20 sts (Front Panel). (Hdc 2 in next st, ch 1, Hdc 2 in next st) in next st (Corner 3). Place stitch marker in ch-1 sp. Hdc in next 15 sts (Left Sleeve). (Hdc 2 in next st, ch 1, Hdc 2 in next st) in next st (Corner 4). Place stitch marker in ch-1 sp. Hdc in next 10 sts. Hdc 2 in last st (Left Back Panel). [86 hdc, 4 ch-1 sps] Ch 2, turn.

Row 3 (Yoke Increases): Hdc in first st. Hdc in each hdc until you reach the first ch-1 sp. (Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp, ch 1, Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp) in ch-1 sp (Corner 1). Hdc in each hdc until you reach the next ch-1 sp. (Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp, ch 1, Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp) in ch-1 sp (Corner 2). Hdc in each hdc until you reach the next ch-1 sp. (Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp, ch 1, Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp) in ch-1 sp (Corner 3). Hdc in each hdc until you reach the next ch-1 sp. (Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp, ch 1, Hdc 2 in ch-1 sp) in ch-1 sp (Corner 4). Hdc in each hdc until last st. Hdc 2 in last st. Ch 2, turn.

Repeat Row 3 for approximately 2-4 more rows, or until the yoke (measured across the widest part of the baby’s chest) reaches the desired width. Typically, 5-7 total yoke rows are sufficient for this age group. The dress in the picture has a relatively deep yoke, so about 6-7 rows.

Joining for Armholes & Body:

Next Row: Ch 2. Hdc in each hdc until you reach the first corner ch-1 sp. Hdc 1 in corner ch-1 sp. Ch 2 (this creates the armhole space). Sk ALL sts between this corner and the next corner. Hdc 1 in the next corner ch-1 sp. Hdc in each hdc across the Front Panel until you reach the next corner ch-1 sp. Hdc 1 in corner ch-1 sp. Ch 2 (this creates the second armhole space). Sk ALL sts between this corner and the next corner. Hdc 1 in the next corner ch-1 sp. Hdc in each hdc until the end of the row. [Number of sts will depend on yoke size, approx. 60-70 hdc plus 4 chs for armholes]. Sl st to the first hdc of the row to join. You will now work in rounds for the skirt.

Part 2: The Lacy Skirt (Working in Rounds)

The skirt is the main feature, with a beautiful openwork pattern. The picture shows a pattern of V-stitches and possibly shells.

Transition from Bodice: After your last hdc bodice round, ensure your stitch count is a multiple of 6 for the skirt pattern. Adjust with small increases/decreases (e.g., sc2tog or 2sc in one st) if needed in the first round of the skirt, or in a preliminary sc round.

Round 1 (Foundation for Lace): Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in each st around. Sl st to join. [Same stitch count as bodice transition, or adjusted to multiple of 6]

Round 2 (First Lace Row – V-stitches): Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1). Dc in same st (forms first V-st). *Sk 2 sts, (dc 1, ch 1, dc 1) in next st (V-st made).* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4 to join.

Round 3 (Shells in V-sts): Sl st into the ch-1 sp of the first V-st. Ch 3 (counts as dc). (Dc 1, ch 1, dc 2) in same ch-1 sp (first Shell made). *Shell (dc 2, ch 1, dc 2) in the ch-1 sp of next V-st.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3 to join.

Round 4 (V-stitches in Shells): Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1). Dc in same st (forms first V-st, placing it in the ch-1 sp of the shell). *Sk 2 dc, (dc 1, ch 1, dc 1) in the ch-1 sp of the next Shell.* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4 to join.

Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 alternately until the skirt reaches your desired length. The picture shows quite a long skirt for a baby dress, indicating many repeats (perhaps 15-20 total rounds).

Final Skirt Round (Optional – for a solid hem): Ch 1. Sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp around. Sl st to join. Fasten off MC.

Part 3: Finishing Touches

Neckline Edging: Join MC yarn to the top right corner of the back opening. Round 1: Ch 1. Sc evenly around the entire neckline opening. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sleeve Edging: Join MC yarn to the bottom of one armhole. Round 1: Ch 1. Sc evenly around the armhole opening. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat for the second sleeve.

https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-

Back Closure: Button Loops: On one side of the back opening (e.g., the right side when looking at the back of the dress), join MC yarn at the top. Ch 3-4 (to form a loop), sl st into a nearby stitch to create a small button loop. Make 2-3 loops evenly spaced down the back opening. Buttons: Sew 2-3 small buttons onto the opposite side of the back opening, aligning them with the button loops.

Crocheted Bow (Using MC):

Bow Body: Ch 21 (or desired length for your bow).
- Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. [19 hdc]
- Row 2-4: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), turn. Hdc in each st across.
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Bow Center: Ch 7.
- Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. [6 sc]
- Fasten off, leave a long tail.

Assembling the Bow:

Take the Bow Body piece. Fold the short ends towards the center, overlapping slightly.
Pinch the center of the folded piece tightly to create the bow shape.
Wrap the Bow Center piece tightly around the pinched center of the bow body. Use the tail to sew the ends of the center piece together on the back, pulling it tight to cinch the bow.
Use the remaining tail from the Bow Body to securely sew the finished bow to the front of the dress, at the waist, as seen in the picture.

Final Touches:

Weave in all remaining yarn ends securely.
Block the dress gently to open up the lace pattern and ensure evenness.

Video Tutorial

Adjusting for Different Sizes:

Initial Chain: Adjust the initial chain to fit the head circumference, always ensuring it’s divisible by 4 (or whatever your yoke increase formula requires).
Yoke Rows: Add or subtract yoke increase rows (Row 3 repeats) to achieve the desired chest circumference and armhole depth. Measure regularly!
Armhole Chain: For larger sizes, you might need to chain 3-4 stitches for the armhole bridge instead of 2.
Bodice Stitches: The number of stitches between increases in the yoke will naturally grow.
Skirt Length: Add or subtract repeats of Rounds 3 and 4 of the skirt pattern to achieve the desired length.
Bow Size: Adjust the initial chain and number of rows for the bow body and center to make it larger or smaller.
Gauge Swatch: ALWAYS make a gauge swatch for garments to ensure the correct fit!