SUNFLOWER
SUNDRESS
This
dress has been on my “to-do” list for a while.. the combination of white with
the green border and the large flowers has been tempting me and I’m thrilled to
be working on this creation today. This
dress will truly bring out the creativity in you – there is so much scope to
make something so beautiful and I’m sure you’re gonna love it.
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Thanks for joining me once again as we work on and discover this new pattern together.
Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ about 140 gms of unbranded knitting cotton or with a 3 mm crochet hook ; a little embroidery thread ; embroidery needle
For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as Oswal & Vardhaman acrylic yarns ; 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.
Abbreviations used :
ch : Chain sp(s) : Space(s)
dc : Double crochet hk : Hook
st(s) : Stitch(es)
sk : Skip sp : space
rep : repeat
fsc : Foundation single crochet
Stitches used :
How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY
Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw
What is a chain stitch ? tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY
Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k
First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M
Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro
Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA
Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg
Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8
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
Double Triple Crochet : dtrc : wrap yarn three times around hook, insert hk into st ; yo (4 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] three times. One trc made.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/XyPrnAtOs3U
Once you have made as many squares as you want for your blanket, use one of these joining methods for a neat join.
Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA
Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM
Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI
How to change colors seamlessly : https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno
How to carry your yarn when using two colors : https://youtu.be/NuascBU3pxQ
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.
Instructions : (Using U.S terminology)
As
I started writing the pattern, I chanced to show what I was working on with a
friend, and she said there was this ready-made pattern for it.. so here you go.
Visit
http://www.laleh-crochet.com/2013/05/next-project-cute-dress-for-little-nay.html for this
lovely pattern.
The
pattern however starts with a fixed number of stitches, and I think it is for a waist size 21.5”.
I
am making this for a one year old, so I had to figure out how to change this a
bit.
Here are my notes, which as always, give you a stitch count.
As long as you get the stitch count right,
you can make this to any size, using any yarn and suitable hook.
Important
notes :
1) Please
read through all the instructions before you pick up your hook.
2) Please note
that I start all my rows / rounds with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
3) Please check
the top of this blog for easy video tutorials of all the stitches used
in this pattern.
We
are going to follow the basic pattern given by the designer.
I
am just going to give you tweak ideas to make it to any size.
Yes,
there is some calculation involved, but you can do
it !
Right
then.. what did I do differently?
1)
As
always, I work on stitch count and the stitch count for the yoke is in multiples
of 5
2) The yoke has
two patterns – one is the lacy/holey pattern (in red in my case) and then the
white and red bit that go all the way to the shoulders.
3) For
convenience (mainly of keeping the stitch count), I worked
*4 dc ; ch 1, sk next dc* in the
white and red part of dcs.
The pattern sheet reads 5 dc, but
the designer has given number of stitches to start with too.. if that works for
you great.. else I’m hoping that my general calculation will work for all
sizes.
4) I worked
fewer rows of the red holed pattern, and then worked lesser rows of the 4-dc
sets of white and red. How do you know
how many rows.. you wing it. You take a
look at the given charts for body sizing, or keep a well-fitting dress of the
child you are making this for (as I always say), and then see how many rows you
think you need for each section. At the
end of the day, this is your creation and your creativity at play – so don’t
worry about “how many rows”
5) Once you are
done with the front and back yoke, we will start on the skirt portion. I have kept the same Shell and Split shell
ideas as given by the designer. I also
worked the first row in the same way. However
if you have not started with the designer’s stitch count, you will not work
that first row of shells 39/40 times. So
how do we get that right? I just ensured that for the skirt portion, you have
stitches in multiples of three.
6) Why do we
need multiples of 4 for skirt portion ?
The designer has worked shell stitches and then a split shell st on her
7th round. I worked the same
thing on my 4th round. I
worked 2 shell sts and then 1 split shell st all around. If you have shells in multiples of 4, you
will get this done perfectly. You then
work the pattern as given. Remember
though, if you are making this for a younger child, you just check with the
length needed and tweak the number of round repeats till you get it to the
length you need for your skirt section.
7) What do I do
if I want more of a flared skirt?
This is an Advanced
skill requirement but you can do it too.
Our stitch count is in multiples of 3.
After you
have your stitches done in the first sc round
(working in white for the first
round of skirt section),
you will work a *Shell st in the 1st st ; sk
next 2 sts
and work a Shell st in the next st* ;
so instead of skipping 3
sts as given in the pattern sheet, you skip two and work the Shell
st all around.
Furthermore, when you come to the pattern sheet Round 7 for
the split
shell st ;
you work 2 shell sts and the work a split shell st in the next
st.
You will then continue with the
pattern as given.. just that you have ‘taken off’ one shell st – the pattern
sheet reads 3 shell sts in between two split shell sts, but you will have only
two shell sts and then a split shell st.
So if you can understand this and get this right, you will get the
slightly flared look for this stunning dress .. this is what I’ve done.
8) For the rest
of the dress, I have worked the same pattern – I just worked it for as much as
I needed for my baby’s dress length (skirt length + 10.25” for me)
9) I changed my last few rows a little bit.. so
for the last section (that starts with the red round, then the yellow one and
then the bigger red section
10) For the
lovely flower, I used a slightly different pattern – so you now have a choice
of the one given in the designers’ sheet and this one. Fun choices, huh?
Flower pattern
Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro
Start Round 1 : (using
yellow or orange)
with a magic circle and 6 hdc in that circle.
Join with
a sl-st to the 1st st.
Pull
lightly to close.
In case
this video does not come on, go to https://youtu.be/Qo49Er10TUQ
Round 2 : 2 hdc
in the 1st hdc and each hdc till end.
Join with
a sl-st to the 1st st.
Fasten
off yarn
We will
now work on the flower petals.
So we
need to attach our white yarn, (or whichever colour you want for your flower
petals) on any st.
How to change colors seamlessly : https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno
Petals for flower
Start (using
white) with 9 ch. Turn.
We will
work all our petals in one continuous movement.
This means that we work the 9 ch and then work sts down that chain till
we reach the centre of the flower (the yellow we just made), and we work
another ch 9 and work the next petal – all continuously. Got it?
Row 1 :
(sc
in the 2nd ch from hook ; hdc in the next ch ;
dc in the next 4
chs ; hdc in the next ch ; sc in the last ch ;
*sl-st in
the next st ; ch 9 , Turn ;
rep (to) once* ;
rep *to*
all around. (12 petals)
Fasten
off and weave in ends.
This gives
you a lovely flower. In case you are
working with a thinner yarn, you could work on a fuller flower.
For that
you will be working two rounds of this same pattern.
For your
first round, you will work in the front loop of the st and for your second
round, you will use the back loop of the st.
This will
give you two rows of petals for your flower.
Fuller flower Row 1 :
(sc in the 2nd ch from hook ;
hdc in the next ch ;
dc in the next 4 chs ; hdc in the next ch ; sc in the last
ch ;
*sl-st in
the front loop of the next st ; ch 9 , Turn ;
rep (to) once*
;
rep *to*
all around ;
sl-st
into the back loop of the next st ;
rep *to*
st all around. (24 petals over two rounds)
Fasten
off and weave in ends.
I had a really fun creative day and
I do hope you did too.
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I have a few dresses already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go
and here are a few skirt patterns that you can use your belt for..
Here are some of my tops
Here are some of my bolero / jacket / vest creations. Have fun with these free patterns too
Here is a list of my earlier miscellaneous home use projects. Enjoy
