Friday 20 July 2012

CROCHET SUNDRESS

LITTLE SUNDRESS PATTERN, newborn to age 12           
COPYRIGHT, 2012,
M. E. Harrington

You may sell your finished items.
Permission is not granted to copy or distribute this pattern in any manner.

MATERIALS:
Worsted weight yarn, or 100% cotton worsted weight yarn
Crochet hook, size 6mm. (US J 10)
Ribbon (1 inch silky ribbon was used in this design, you will need approx. 3 yards)
 (1/4 inch ribbon was used to pass through the bottom of the dress.  You will need approx 3 yards,  perhaps more for larger sizes.)
Yarn needle
Buttons or beads optional (for the barefoot sandals).

INSTRUCTIONS (Gauge is not important in this design.)
1.  First construct the bodice in the ribbing stitch.  (The bodice is worked from side to side.)
     NEWBORN, 3 TO 6 MONTHS,   AND 16 TO 12 MONTHS: Chain 12.   
     AGE 1 to 6: Chain 14,
     AGE 6 to 10 YEARS:  Chain 16,
     AGE 10 to 12 YEARS: Chain 20
   
    Single crochet in the 2nd  stitch from the hook, and in each stitch of the chain.
*Chain 1 and turn, working in the back side of the stitch only, (ribbing stitch), single crochet in each stitch across the
    row.  Repeat from * until the work measures as follows:  (or is long enough to wrap around the chest, without
    stretching the work too much.  A little bit is fine, but in order for the dress to fit in an appealing way, it should not
    have to totally  stretch out the ribbing stitch.)
   
    NEWBORN: 18 to 19 inches
    inches
    inches
    to 22 inches
    3 YEARS: 22 inches
    4 YEARS: 23 inches
    5 YEARS: 24 inches
    6 YEARS: 25 inches
    7 YEARS: 26 inches
    8 YEARS and inches
    10 YEARS and
    12 YEARS: 30 inches

     When the ribbing is long enough, bring the two ends together, and slip stitch to join. (Tube formed)

2. Chain 2, and begin working along the opening of the tube.  Make 2 double crochet in each stitch around, slip stitch to
     join.  (For a really full skirt, repeat this step once more.  The sample shown (in newborn size)  did not repeat the
     step, however for  larger sizes, this would be an option.)

3.  *Chain 2 and turn, double crochet in each stitch around, slip stitch to join.  Repeat from * for:
     NEWBORN: 5 more rows.
     3 TO 6 AND 5 TO 12 MONTHS: 6 more rows.
     more rows.
     more rows.
     more rows.
     more rows.
     (If working for tall children, add more rows here.)

4. *Chain 3 and turn, single crochet in the next stitch, repeat from * around, slip stitch to join.

5. * Chain 3, single crochet in the next loop, repeat from * in each stitch around, slip stitch to join.
    Repeat the row above for:
     NEWBORN, and 3 TO 6 MONTHS: 3 more rows.
     6 TO 12 MONTHS: 4 more rows.
     1 to 2 YEARS:  5 more rows.
     3 YEARS: 6 more rows; 4 YEARS: 7 more rows, 5 YEARS: 8 more rows, 6 AND 7 YEARS: 9 more rows,
     8 AND more rows, All other sizes: 11 more rows.
     More rows of loops can be added for taller children, or to make the dress longer.

6.  Make the picot edge along the bottom of the dress:
     Chain 1, in each loop around make: single crochet, double crochet, chain 5, slip stitch in the top of the last double
     crochet formed, double crochet, single crochet.  (Picot shell formed.)  At the end of the row, slip stitch to join and
    fasten off.  Weave all yarn ends into the finished work.
  
    The finished dress can be blocked by steaming with a steam iron.


FINISH OFF:
Sew a ribbon on the front and back of the top of the bodice to form straps.  Tie the two ribbons together at the shoulder to form a strap.  (You will need to sew on 4 ribbons, 2 in front, and 2 in back.)
Optional substitute: crochet straps, using the easy headband directions, and attach one strap on each side of the top of the bodice.

Attach a bow to the center front of the bodice.

Pass ½ inch ribbon in any 2 rows along the bottom of the skirt.  Either sew the ribbon ends together and sew a bow over the join, or tie into bows.


 END OF DRESS PATTERN.





Video Tutorial:

8 comments:

  1. Emi, this dress is absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait to make it! I just have one question; what does it mean when it says the dress can be blocked?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cherish! Blocking is a process usually done with knitting, where you either dampen the item with water, and arrange it on a thick towel for instance, and let it dry the way you would like it to be. Or you can do the same thing more quickly with a steam iron. Arrange the dress flat, and then steam it, and allow it to dry in that position. It just makes for a more professional finished garment. (After all, when you purchase a knitted garment in retail-ready-to-wear garments, they have all been blocked.) Hope that's clear and that I haven't confused things.
      Have a great day! Emi

      Delete
    2. Oh, excellent! That definitely makes sense. I'm just learning new terms. Thank you for clarifying for me. You are just so wonderful and talented!

      Delete
  2. Emi, I can't seem to be able to print the patten...

    Thank you,
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sherry! You will probably have to copy and paste it into a word doc... it's not a pdf file, I don't think I can post them on my blog... at least I haven't found a way yet.

      Delete
  3. Em, this dress is adorable and I started it, but when starting on the skirt part doing the double crochets in the tube how do you know where to put the stitches?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Z's Mom! Sure thing! That's an easy one to answer! Each row is one stitch. Easy peasy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't wait to make this for a baby shower gift. How much yarn would be needed for 3-6 month size?

    ReplyDelete

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