Sweet Nothings Crochet: NEAT ONE-PIECE DRESS

NEAT ONE-PIECE DRESS - crochet pattern info from Sweet Nothings Crochet

Today we're making a front-open, light lacy delicate patterned crochet one-piece dress for a baby. This intermediate skill level pattern uses basic stitches in an unusual combination. We start at the neck and work top down. There is a opening from the top to the bottom of the dress which you can keep around the front or back.
A really neat idea for a crochet baby dress .. make a little girl’s dress in one-piece !
So, as you’ve guessed at the neckline and then proceed, after dividing for the armholes, working side-to-side in rows for the body of the dress. This is not just an easy dress to do, but also an easy one to slip onto your struggling squiggling little baby.

In case you have just joined me, know that you can access all of my earlier creations by checking under ‘categories’ on the right hand side of this blog under “Labels”.

How labels work : All patterns under a similar label can be found together so when you click on the label for say "crochet baby dress pattern", all my baby dress patterns are available - so scroll down to the very bottom and click on "Older Posts" to move onto the next post in the series. Before you reach that you have several other ways to find my blogs including blog links at the bottom of this blog
For your convenience, follow me here or on Facebook, You Tube, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram.
Oh, and may I add that the fastest way to find any of my blogs is via Pinterest and if you are looking for more children wear then come here
All my blogs can be printed. Find the print friendly (green) link on the right of this blog. You can also hit Control P (or Command P for Mac) on your keyboard, and the blog will go directly to the connected printer.
Remember that you only print if absolutely essential. Save paper – Save Our Earth.

Do remember to add my blog URL when you make and show off your creation.

Just copy the link on the search bar above - that's the blog URL.

To purchase this or similar yarn online, click the highlighted links below to buy your yarns online via Amazon. While you will still pay the same, I may get paid by Amazon as well. This is a free blog - so do pay it forward for me. Cheers.

Thanks for joining me once again as we work on and discover this new pattern together.

Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ about 150 gms of our lovely Indian Oswal acrylic yarn with a 3.25 mm crochet hook ; a little embroidery thread ; embroidery needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers ; poly-fill stuffing ; stocking net ; beads n more ; satin ribbon

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as Oswal 4-ply yarn ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn , Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.

Size made : Chest : 20” x Length : 18”

Gauge : 3-dc tog set (across) = ~ 1" x 3-dc tog row (high) = 0.5”

Size and gauge are only given as parameters for yarn estimation.

Skill level : Easy to intermediate

Stitches used : Using U.S terminology

Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY

Neckline chart : here

Abbreviations used :

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

fsc : Foundation Single Crochet

General Instructions :

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern. For your convenience there video tutorials through the blog too

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.

This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

This is not my original pattern and it’s just one of those wonderful free floating freebies over the net. I am, as usual, writing down my notes, and am sharing them with you. Pattern link here. Before we start let’s try and figure out our repeat counts and how we’re going to get to it.

As mentioned at the start, this is a top down dress - so we start with the neckline and work down the dress to the length needed.

I am working in one colour only but you could, like the designer has, choose to work the borders in a contrast colour.

For the sake of individuality and creativity, I am not going to mention colour change(s) - so go ahead, create and be different!

Please visit the blog for lots of photos and ideas on colours and the stitch pattern.

Instructions : (Using U.S terminology)

PART 1 : YOKE

Pattern link here

Now our stitch count is in multiples of 6, and with a 2 dc (placket) on each end, we need a multiple of (6 + 4).

However, if we start with this count, I found the neckline too wide.

So what I thought is I need about 100 sts – so I started with 66 fsc. I then worked 1 dc in the 1^st dc, and 2 dc in the next dc, all the way to the end = 99 dc and then an extra dc thrown in at the end to make the 100 dc I needed.

Not sure how the designer has worked her first line counts.. as the chart is a little misleading, methinks.

Some day I am going to revisit this pattern and see if I can figure out a clearer way.

In the meantime, if you figure how the count(s) are done, do add it to the comments and/or email me, so we can resolve this for future users.

Now as I'm not really sure what will work, I’m going to write it per chart.

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Start with fsc in multiples of 6 + 4. Turn.

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Row 1 : dc in 1^st fsc and each fsc till end. Turn.

Our “V”-st is (dc ; ch 2, dc) all in the same st or ch-sp.

What is a chain stitch ? https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY

Row 2 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

“V”-st in next dc ;

*(ch 2, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc) ;

ch 2, sk next 2 dc, “V”-st in next dc* ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

dc 3-tog : Double crochet 3-tog : [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 3 times (4 lps on hk) ; yo, draw through all lps on hk.

One dc 3-tog made.

Double crochet 3-tog : dc 3-tog : Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/qlnqXDB3OUM

Row 3 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

*[(dc 3-tog ; ch 2, dc 3-tog ;

ch 2, dc 3-tog) all in the next ch-2 sp of “V”-st] ;

ch 1, sk both ch-2 sps and sc , rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Row 4 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

*(ch 1, sk next dc 3-tog, dc in next ch-2 sp) ;

rep (to) once ;

[ch 1, sk next dc 3-tog, dc in next ch-1 sp]* ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Row 5 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

*2 dc in next ch-1 sp ; dc in next dc* ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Rows 6 - 8 : Rep Rows 2 – 4.

Row 9 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

*(2 dc in next ch-1 sp ; dc in next dc) ;

[dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc] ;

rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Rows 10 - 12 : Rep Rows 2 – 3.

Note : Quick size check here : Yoke measures ~ 5”.

Now the chart here is a bit different from the lovely photos posted.

So I am going per photo.

The designer seems to have stopped increasing yoke and after a quick ‘edging’ for this yoke, she’s moving on to the skirt portion of our dress.. and that’s what I am going to do too.

Row 13 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

*ch 3, sk next dc-3 tog, sc in the next ch-sp* ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Row 14 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

*ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 sp* ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Right, we’re done with our little lacy edge for the yoke, so we’ll now start on the skirt portion.

We’ll work on the 1^st five 3-dc tog sets, sk a few sets for the armhole, then do the back 11 3-dc tog sets, sk the sets for the armhole and then work on the last five dc-3 tog sets. OK?

So first let's place our markers :

Place first maker at the end of the 1^st five dc-3 tog sets

(so the ch-3 sp after the 15^th dc-3 tog , which is the last of the fifth dc-3 tog) ;

sk the next five dc-3 tog sets and place marker in the next ch-3 sp.

Now go to the other side and count off the 1^st five dc-3 tog sets from this end

(so the ch-3 sp after the 15^th dc-3 tog , which is the last of the fifth dc-3 tog),

and place a 3^rd marker here ;

and sk the next five dc-3 tog sets and place last marker in the next ch-3 sp.

So we now have 2 front pcs, 2 armholes and 1 back – divided by these four markers.

Row 15 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

ch 2 , dc in 1^st ch-3 sp ;

*ch 2, dc in the next ch-3 sp* ;

rep *to* till you’re at the first marker ;

ch 6, sk dc-3 tog sets till the next marker and dc in the next ch-3 sp ;

rep *to* till the next marker ;

ch 6, sk dc-3 tog sets till the next marker and dc in the next ch-3 sp ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in those last 2 dc. Turn.

Note : ch 6 is the number of chain shown per chart for under the armhole.

If you feel that this is insufficient for the armhole for child you’re making this project for, suggest you increase in multiples of 6.

Row 16 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

2 dc in 1^st ch-2 sp and in each ch-2 sp ;

dc in each dc ; 6 dc in the two ch-6 sps ;

dc in each dc till end. Turn.

Note : Check that you have a multiple of six.

Good, you remembered!

Rows 17- 19 : Rep Rows 2 - 4 once.

Row 20 : dc in 1^st 2 dc ;

*dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc* ;

rep *to* till last 2 dc ;

dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Rows 21- 23 : Rep Rows 2 - 4 once.

Row 24 : Rep Row 20 once.

Rep Rows 21 - 24 till your dress is of the length you desire ; ending with Row 3.

Finishing : Rep Rows 13 and 14 once.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Attach a row of buttons along the front placket.

Block as per yarn instructions.

Dress your beautiful baby girl and show off on social media.

Enjoyed this ?? I sure did.. Come back right here for more freebie patterns

Remember to share this blog post when you share your photos with me on Facebook.

I’d love to feature your photos on my FB page. Cheers.

If you're visiting me here for the first time, and have liked the experience, do add me to your mailing list (for your convenience) , and all my future free patterns will come straight to your mail box.

I’d appreciate if you could credit my blog (and link the original pattern link) when you make your own creation. Thanks.

Check out my awesome pins on Pinterest at https://in.pinterest.com/shyamanivas/

OR just my free patterns at https://in.pinterest.com/shyamanivas/free-patterns-made-by-me/

Join me on YouTube at http://youtube.com/shyamanivas

And on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Nothings-Crochet/ for more patterns.

Do follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ShyamaNivas

Do follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweetnothingscrochet/

Have a great day and see you soon.

.. and if you want to take a look at my earlier dress patterns, here you go.