This crochet baby dress pattern is one of those makes I keep coming back to. The rainbow stripes make it so cheerful, and the fact that it comes in four sizes, from 6 months all the way up to 4 years, means it works for so many little ones in your life. I made mine in Aran-weight cotton and the fabric came out thick enough to hold its shape but soft and breathable too, which is exactly what you want for a baby crochet dress they can wear all through summer.
The tunic-style silhouette is roomy and comfortable, and the buttoned yoke at the back makes it so much easier to get on and off. I added a few rows of V-stitch in the yoke section and the texture it gives is just beautiful. If you are looking for a fun crochet baby dress to make as a gift or just because, this one is a great choice.
Materials and Tools
- DROPS Paris (100% cotton, 50g/75m) or any Aran weight yarn, 1 ball of each colour:
- Red (12)
- Orange (13)
- Strong Yellow (14)
- Opal Green (11)
- Dark Turquoise (10)
- Light Purple (05)
- 4mm (US G/6) crochet hook
- 3 (3: 3: 4) buttons, 14mm
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Gauge and Finished Size
Gauge: 11 stitches and 7 rows to 10 x 10cm (4 x 4in) over treble crochet using a 4mm hook.
Please check your gauge before starting. A correct tension will give you the right finished size and a fabric that drapes well.
Sizes: 6 months, 12 months, 2 years, 4 years. Numbers in brackets refer to each size in order throughout the pattern.
Pattern Notes
This crochet baby dress is made in one piece, worked from the top down. The Yoke is worked back and forth in rows. Once the armholes are divided, the Lower Section is joined into the round and worked continuously until the hem.
Button bands are added to the centre back Yoke opening after the main body is complete. If you want to make the dress longer, you can add extra rounds before the final 3 rounds of the Lower Section.
A 1 turning chain is used on htr rows and 2 turning chains on tr rows. These do not count as stitches throughout.
This pattern is written in UK terminology. See the abbreviations section below for a full list.
Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- ss – slip stitch
- dc – double crochet (UK) / single crochet (US)
- htr – half treble crochet (UK) / half double crochet (US)
- tr – treble crochet (UK) / double crochet (US)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- RS – right side
- ch-sp – chain space
- rep – repeat
Special Stitches
V-st: Work (tr, ch1, tr) all in the stitch indicated, or in the ch-1 space of the previous V-st.
Colour Sequence for the Crochet Baby Dress
Follow this colour sequence throughout the entire pattern:
- 3 rows Red
- 1 row Orange
- 1 row Red
- 2 (3: 3: 3) rows Orange
- (1 row Strong Yellow, 1 row Orange, 2 rows Strong Yellow) 1 (1: 1: 2) times
- 1 row Opal Green
- 1 row Strong Yellow
- 2 (2: 3: 3) rows Opal Green
- 1 row Dark Turquoise
- 1 row Opal Green
- 2 (2: 3: 3) rows Dark Turquoise
- 1 row Light Purple
- 1 row Dark Turquoise
- 3 rows Light Purple
This gives a total of 8 (9: 10: 11) rows for the Yoke and 16 (16: 20: 20) rounds for the Lower Section, totalling 24 (25: 30: 31) rows/rounds.
Crochet Baby Dress Pattern Instructions
Yoke
Chain 57 (57: 65: 65).
Row 1 (RS): Htr in second ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn. [56 (56: 64: 64) sts]
Row 2: Ch2, 7 (7: 8: 8) tr, V-st in next st, 12 (12: 14: 14) tr, V-st in next st, 14 (14: 16: 16) tr, V-st in next st, 7 (7: 8: 8) tr, turn. [60 (60: 68: 68) tr and 4 ch-sps]
Sizes 6 and 12 Months Only
Row 3: Ch2, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 4 times, V-st in V-st, ch1, skip next st, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 6 times, tr in next st, V-st in V-st, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 8 times, V-st in V-st, ch1, skip next st, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 6 times, tr in next st, V-st in V-st, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 3 times, tr in last 2 sts, turn. [39 tr and 33 ch-sps]
Sizes 2 and 4 Years Only
Row 3: Ch2, (tr in next st, skip next st) 4 times, tr in next st, V-st in V-st, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 8 times, V-st in V-st, ch1, skip next st, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 8 times, tr in next st, V-st in V-st, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 8 times, V-st in V-st, ch1, skip next st, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) 3 times, tr in last 2 sts, turn. [43 tr and 37 ch-sps]
All Sizes
Row 4: Working in each st and ch, ch2, 9 (9: 10: 10) tr, V-st in V-st, 16 (16: 18: 18) tr, V-st in V-st, 18 (18: 20: 20) tr, V-st in V-st, 16 (16: 18: 18) tr, V-st in V-st, 9 (9: 10: 10) tr, turn. [76 (76: 84: 84) tr and 4 ch-sps]
Row 5: Ch2, (tr in each st to V-st, V-st in V-st) 4 times, tr in each st to end, turn. [84 (84: 92: 92) tr and 4 ch-sps]
Repeat Row 5 a further 2 (3: 4: 5) times. [100 (108: 124: 132) tr and 4 ch-sps]
Divide for Body and Armholes
Next row: Ch2, 13 (14: 16: 17) tr, 1 (1: 1: 2) tr in ch-sp, skip next 24 (26: 30: 32) sts for armhole, 1 (1: 1: 2) tr in ch-sp, 26 (28: 32: 43) tr, 1 (1: 1: 2) tr in ch-sp, skip next 24 (26: 30: 32) sts for armhole, 1 (1: 1: 2) tr in ch-sp, 13 (14: 16: 17) tr, ss to top of first tr to join into the round. [56 (60: 68: 76) sts for Body]
Lower Section
From this point, continue working in the round. If needed, turn to the RS before beginning the first round, then continue working from the RS throughout.
Round 1 (RS): Ch2, 2tr in each st around, ss to first tr. [112 (120: 136: 152) sts]
Round 2 (RS): Ch2, tr in each st around, ss to first tr.
Repeat Round 2 a further 11 (11: 15: 15) times.
Next round: Ch2, (tr in next st, ch1, skip next st) repeat around, ss to first st.
Next round: Ch2, tr in each st and ch-sp around, ss to first st.
Next round: Ch2, htr in each st around, ss to first st.
Fasten off.
Button Band and Buttonhole Band
Button Band
With Red, rejoin at the neckline edge of the centre back opening with RS facing.
Row 1 (RS): Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), 15 (17: 19: 21) dc evenly into row ends, turn. [15 (17: 19: 21) sts]
Rows 2 to 3: Ch1, dc in each st to end, turn.
Fasten off.
Buttonhole Band
With Red, rejoin at the Lower Section edge of the centre back opening with RS facing.
Row 1 (RS): Ch1, 15 (17: 19: 21) dc evenly into row ends, turn. [15 (17: 19: 21) sts]
Row 2: Ch1, 2 (4: 1: 3) dc, ch2, skip next 2 sts, (3dc, ch2, skip 2 sts) 2 (2: 3: 3) times, dc in last st, turn. [3 (3: 4: 4) buttonholes]
Row 3: Ch1, dc in each st and 2dc in each ch-2 sp. [15 (17: 19: 21) sts]
Fasten off and sew buttons to the Button Band, lined up with the buttonholes.
Tips for Making This Crochet Baby Dress
Keep a colour note handy. The stripe sequence has a lot of steps. I write it out on a sticky note and tick each row as I go. It saves a lot of guessing.
Carry colours loosely. When switching between stripes, carry the yarn up the side of the work rather than cutting after every row. It saves time on weaving in ends and keeps the tension tidy.
Check your gauge. Cotton yarn can be less forgiving than acrylic, so a quick tension square before you start will make a real difference to the finished size.
Make it longer. If you want a longer dress, just add extra rounds in the Lower Section before working the final 3 rounds. This is especially handy if you want it to last through a growth spurt.
Weave in ends as you go. With so many colour changes, end-weaving adds up fast. I found it much easier to deal with a few ends after each session rather than facing a pile of them at the finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skill level is this crochet baby dress pattern? This pattern is suitable for confident beginners and intermediate crocheters. You need to be comfortable with treble crochet, working in rows and rounds, and basic colour changes. The V-stitch is simple once you get the hang of it.
What weight yarn is used for this crochet baby dress? The pattern uses Aran weight cotton yarn. DROPS Paris is suggested, but any Aran weight cotton will work well. Cotton is a great choice for baby garments as it is breathable and easy to wash.
Can I make this crochet baby dress longer? Yes. You can add extra rounds to the Lower Section before working the final 3 rounds at the hem. This is an easy way to extend the length or get a bit more wear out of the garment as the child grows.
What sizes does this baby dress pattern come in? The pattern is written in four sizes: 6 months, 12 months, 2 years, and 4 years. Numbers in brackets throughout the pattern correspond to each size in that order.
Is this pattern written in UK or US crochet terms? This crochet baby dress pattern is written in UK terminology. A treble crochet (tr) in this pattern is the same as a double crochet (dc) in US terms, and a double crochet (dc) in this pattern is a single crochet (sc) in US terms.
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