Sweet Nothings Crochet: CHANDRA’s lil DRESS

CHANDRA’s lil DRESS

I was pleasantly surprised when the door bell rang and the postman handed me this pretty large box with a lovely stash of yarn from White Rose Yarns. This is a box of sample yarns sent by a friend .. So I thought I’d make something and “pay-it-forward”.

Thank you for joining me.

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”. Then, for your convenience, follow me here or on Facebook, You Tube, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram.

Check out all my social media handles at the bottom of this blog

Oh, and may I add that the fastest way to find any of my blogs is via Pinterest.

All my blogs can be printed. Find the printer friendly (green) link at the bottom 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 here 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.

My friend gave me two choices for the dress and her first choice was a tutu dress. With the yarns in hand, I’d manage a cute yoke very easily, so this is what I’ve made with crochet.

For the base, tulle or light chiffon gathered into the skirt, for the lower part of the dress, will do the trick.

As I work on this pattern, I’ve written down my notes that I share with you.

Materials used : Today I’ve used unbranded knitting cotton yarn, with a 3 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue to seal ends ; stitch markers ; embroidery needle ; sewing needle ; buttons ; wooden buttons

For Indians : You could use Anchor or Red ros e knitting cotton 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, 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.

Size made : I’ve made this for a 3-year old (Chest size 22”) and used about 70 gms of knitting cotton

Stitches used : Using U.S terminology

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

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

Here is a sizing chart for general neck sizing

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279838234527/ OR

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279842061521/

Here is a sizing chart for general body sizing

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837597366/

or https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837560772/ and

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279838533503/

Abbreviations used :

ch : Chain sp(s) : Space(s)

dc : Double crochet hk : Hook

st(s) : Stitch(es) sl-st : slip stitch

sk : Skip sp : space

rep : repeat

fsc : Foundation single crochet

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.

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.

Quick analysis of what we’re going to do here today.

Our tutu dress is in two parts. We start at the round chest (just above armhole) and work up towards the shoulders with our yoke first.

We will then attach some tulle for the lower portion of our tutu dress.

For the yoke, depending on what size you’re making, I’d suggest that we work the first few rows back and forth in rows, keeping a small opening at the back to allow for one hook or button, and then we around the back and work in rounds.

As always we will work on a stitch count / pattern repeat and you can make this dress any size you wish, just changing the count to match the chest size.

Our stitch count repeat for the Yoke is in multiples of 6 + 3.

YOKE

The pattern for the front and back of the yoke is the same, so work two yoke sections.

The only difference is the depth (or how deep) of the neckline.

Depending on this, you will adjust the requirement for buttons at the back.

In case you decide to have buttons on the back of the yoke, then you will divide the top part of the back in half, and work the last say 2 rows in half and add on buttons later.

If, like shown in the chart, you decide to have a slightly deeper neckline and similar front and back depth, then you will be working same yoke pattern for both back and front.

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Start : with fsc in multiples of 6 + 3.

You work this for the Round Chest measure, and you need to decide on the (back) button placket length. Work in rounds till the point you decide to keep that back placket opening, and then you will work in rows, back and forth.

As it is difficult to decide where each of us is working that back, I am going to write the pattern instructions in rounds, but you work in rows where it suits you.

Pattern instructions do not change if working in rows or rounds – just that your last st instruction will be a Turn for rows as against a join with a sl-st for rounds.

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

{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times. One dc 2-tog made.

This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease.

Sometimes we work the dc 2-tog in the same stitch, to use as a decorative stitch.

Visit this video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCQOBc83Vxo

In the following row we’ll work our dc 2-tog.

Now through this pattern, we’re using a special dc 2-tog. Now with a regular dc 2-tog, you work half the dc on one st, and the second leg of the dc 2-tog on the next stitch, right?

So with our special dc 2-tog here, we will work the 1^st leg of the dc 2-tog in one st, sk the next st and then work the 2^nd leg of the dc 2-tog over the next st. So we have a dc 2-tog but over 3 sts, having skipped the stitch in the centre.

This will be our special dc 2-tog through this whole yoke.

Row 1 : dc in the 1^st 3 fsc ;

(ch 1, special dc 2-tog over the next 3 fsc ,

sk the fsc in the middle ; ch 1, dc in the next 3 fsc) ;

rep (to) till end. Turn.

Row 2 : dc in the 1^st 3 dc ;

(3 dc in the next special dc 2-tog ;

dc in the next 3 dc) ;

rep (to) till end. Turn.

Row 3 : dc in the 1^st 3 dc ;

(ch 1, special dc 2-tog over the next 3 dc ,

sk the dc in the middle ; ch 1, dc in the next 3 dc) ;

rep (to) till end. Turn.

Rep Rows 2 & 3 till your project reaches the neckline level , ending with a Row 3.

As we’re making this for a lil girl, there is no real armhole shaping. When we join the sides, we’ll just give it a neat finish with one round of sc.

Decide how deep you want your neckline. We will then just work for the two shoulder straps, one at a time.

Neckline decrease

For this portion, I am going to re-start our Row count from 1.

Neckline Row 1 : dc 2-tog over the 1^st 2 dc ; dc in the next dc ;

(3 dc in the next special dc 2-tog ; dc in the next 3 dc) ;

rep (to) once ;

3 dc in the next special dc 2-tog ;

dc in the next dc. Turn.

Neckline Row 2 : dc in the 1^st dc ;

(ch 1, special dc 2-tog over the next 3 dc , sk the dc in the middle ;

ch 1, dc in the next 3 dc) ;

rep (to) once ;

ch 1, special dc 2-tog over the next 3 dc ,

sk the dc in the middle ; dc 2-tog over the last 2 dc. Turn.

Neckline Row 3 : dc in the 1^st dc ; (3 dc in the next special dc 2-tog ; dc in the next 3 dc) ; rep (to) once ; 3 dc in the next special dc 2-tog ; dc in the next dc. Turn.

Rep Rows 2 and 3 till you reach the shoulders, ending with a Row 2.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Re-attach yarn for the other side and mirror these instructions for the second side.

Once you complete both back and front, attach both the sections at the shoulder.

Go up to the top of this blog for a “how-to” explanation on attaching two sections.

And just like that we’re done with the crochet portion of our dress.

For the lower portion, I am going to measure 1.5 – 1.75 times the Round Waist measure and cut my tulle. I will then run a few rows of loose machine stitch along one side of the cut piece, to gather it up. Attach the gathered part to the lower part of our yoke and our dress is fully done.

As this is a cute frilly tutu dress, you could add several layers of tulle for the dress, and add some layers in shade. The lower part will then stand out and will give your lil girl a lovely feel when she twirls.

Give yourself a big pat on the back as this one has really been yet another great project .. and so different from the others we’ve worked on together.. and once again, totally worth it, I’m sure you’ll agree.

And that’s done.. yet another project brilliantly executed !

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

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 https://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/

Find me on Ravelry at ravelry.com/projects/shyamanivas/

Do also visit me at http://www.craftsy.com/user/2573073/pattern-store?_ct=cx-buvjdql&_ctp=my-pattern-store,manage

Have a great day and see you soon.

I have a few girls dresses already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/10/enchanting-dress.html