Baby Dress

A light, breezy little dress worked in two textures: a soft shell stitch for the bodice and an airy V-stitch for the skirt. The straps tie at the shoulders so the fit grows with the baby. I made mine in pastel yellow and misty violet, but it would be lovely in any pairing you like.

Materials

• Yarn: Super fine, weight 1 cotton (I used Friends Cotton 8/4 from Hobbii)
• Hook: 3 mm
• Yarn colors: Pastel Yellow and Misty Violet
• Tapestry needle: for weaving in ends
• Scissors

Abbreviations

• DC: double crochet
• SC: single crochet
• HDC: half double crochet
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sk: skip

Top section: shell pattern

Foundation row: Chain in multiples of 6 + 2. For example, for a 6 to 8 month old baby, chain 56 (that is 54 + 2).

Row 1: SC in the second chain from the hook. *Sk 2 chains, work 5 DC in the next chain (this forms a shell), sk 2 chains, SC in the next chain.* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. The last stitch will be an SC. Turn your work.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as the first DC), work 2 DC in the same stitch. *Sk 2 stitches, SC in the next stitch, sk 2 stitches, work 5 DC in the next stitch (shell).* Repeat from * to * until 6 stitches remain, sk 2 stitches, SC in the next stitch, sk 2 stitches, and end with 3 DC in the last stitch. Turn your work.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the bodice reaches the length you want. I worked 17 rows.

Bottom section: V-stitch variation

Row 18: Ch 3 (counts as the first DC), work 1 DC in the same stitch. *Sk 2 stitches, work (2 DC, ch 2, 2 DC) in the next stitch to make a V stitch, sk 2 stitches.* Repeat from * to * until 3 stitches remain, sk 2 stitches, and end with 2 DC in the last stitch. Turn your work.

Row 19: Ch 3 (counts as the first DC), work 1 DC in the next stitch. *Sk 2 stitches, work (2 DC, ch 2, 2 DC) in the next stitch (V stitch), sk 2 stitches.* Repeat from * to * until 3 stitches remain, sk 2 stitches, and end with 2 DC in the last stitch. Turn your work.

Repeat Row 19 until the skirt reaches the length you want. I worked 33 rows in total.

Border

Ch 3 (counts as the first DC), work 1 DC in the next stitch. *Work 5 DC in the ch-2 space of each V stitch, then work 1 SC in the space between the two V stitches.* Repeat from * to * across, and finish with 1 DC in each of the last 2 stitches.

Assembly

• Make two panels of the same pattern, one for the front and one for the back.
• Sew up the sides.

Straps

• Starting from the 3 SC of Row 1 of Panel 1, chain 3, sk 2 stitches, work 5 DC in the next DC (the middle of the shell), sk 2 stitches, work 1 DC in the next chain, turn. Repeat this until the strap reaches the length you want.
• Repeat to make a second strap on the other side.
• Repeat this process for the back panel. These straps tie at the shoulders so the fit is adjustable for the baby.

Tie near the waist

• Make a foundation chain of 200 (adjust the length as you like).
• Turn and HDC across the entire chain.
• Cut the yarn and weave in the ends.
• Attach it to the dress near the waist, weaving it through the spaces between the shells or V stitches wherever you prefer.

That is it. Weave in any remaining ends and your little dress is ready. If you make one, I would love to see it.