BABY DRESS
Shell stitches are picked out in pink within Pat Strong’s pretty baby dress design
For the more adventurous crocheter, try adding different pops of colour to other rows of the dress for a dotty effect.
NOTES
Yoke is made first from bottom up in separate pieces for Front and Back. Back piece is slightly larger to allow overlap for buttonholes at side and shoulder openings.
Skirt is worked top down in the round to join Front and Back, working from opposite side of foundation ch of Yoke.
When choosing the size to work, refer to finished dimensions and check tension. Please ensure buttons are securely attached.
DRESS
FRONT YOKE
Ch21 (23: 26) with Yarn A, change to Yarn B and ch22 (24: 27).
Working with Yarn A in the Yarn A sts and Yarn B in the Yarn B sts throughout:
Row 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn. [42 (46: 52) sts]
Row 2 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in each st to end, turn.
Rep Row 2 until there are 8 (10: 12) rows in total. Fasten off.
DIVIDE FOR ARMHOLES
With RS facing, and keeping colour blocks as set for remainder of Yoke:
Foundation row (RS) Ch19 (21: 23), skip first 4 sts of Front Yoke and work 17 (19: 22) dc, change colour, 17 (19: 22) dc leaving last 4 sts unworked, ch20 (22: 24), turn.
Row 1 Dc in second ch from hook and in each st to end, turn. [72 (80: 90) sts]
Row 2 (Dec row) Ch1, 18 (20: 22) dc, dc3tog, 30dc, dc3tog, 18 (20: 22) dc, turn. [68 (76: 86) sts] Mark the dec st. On foll dec rows the dc3tog will have the marked st as the centre st.
Row 3 Ch1, dc in each st to end, turn.
Rep Dec row 7 (8: 9) times more. [40 (44: 50) sts] Rep Row 3 once more.
Fasten off.
BACK YOKE
Ch24 (26: 29) with Yarn A, change to Yarn B and ch25 (27: 30).
Keeping colour blocks as set throughout Yoke: Row 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook and in each st to end, turn. [48 (52: 58) sts]
Row 2 Ch1, dc in each st to end, turn.
Row 3 Ch1, dc in next st, ch1, skip next st, dc to last 2 sts, ch1, skip next st, dc in last st, turn. [2 buttonholes made]
Row 4 Ch2, dc in each st and ch-sp to end, turn. Cont working in dc as set until there are a total of 8 (10: 12) rows, repeating Row 3 on Row 6 for 3 months, on Row 8 for 6 months, and Rows 6 and 9 for 18 months.
DIVIDE FOR ARMHOLES
Foundation row (RS) Ch22 (24: 26), skip first 7 sts, 17 (19: 22) dc, change colour, 17 (19: 22) dc, leaving last 7 sts unworked, ch23 (25: 27), turn. Row 1 Dc in second ch from hook and in each st to end, turn. [78 (86: 96) sts]
Row 2 (Dec row) Ch1, 21 (23: 25) dc, dc3tog, 30 (34: 40) dc, dc3tog, 21 (23: 25) dc, turn.
[4 sts dec]
Mark the dec st. On foll dec rows the dc3tog will have the marked st as the centre stitch. Row 3 Ch1, dc in next st, ch1, skip next st, dc to last 2 sts, ch1, skip next st, dc in last st, turn. [2 buttonholes made]
Rep Dec row 7 (8: 9) times more, working buttonholes in same position as on Row 3, on Rows 6 (6: 7) and 9 (9: 11). [46 (50: 56) sts] Rep Row 3 once more.
Fasten off.
SKIRT
Work 2 rounds with Yarn A and 2 rounds with Yarn B.
Yarn C shells are placed randomly throughout the Skirt. Change colour on the last yrh of the previous st.
Join Yarn A with RS facing in the opposite side of the Yoke foundation ch at the centre Back. In foll row, work shell patt as described leaving last 3 sts of Back Yoke unworked for button band. Being careful not to twist work, cont around Front Yoke, leave first 3 sts of Back unworked for button band and cont around Back to join at centre.
Foundation round (RS) Ch1, (dc in next st, skip next st, 5tr in next st, skip next st) around, ss to first st. [21 (23: 26) shells]
Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as first tr throughout), 2tr in same st, (dc in centre st of next shell, 5tr in next dc) rep to last shell, dc in centre st of last shell, 2tr in base of beg ch-3, ss to top of beg ch-3.
Round 2 Ch1, dc in top of beg ch-3, (5tr in next dc), dc in centre st of next shell) rep to last dc, 5tr in last dc, ss to first dc.
Rep Rounds 1 and 2 until Skirt measures 22 (28: 30)cm, placing pink shells randomly throughout.
Fasten off.
TO MAKE UP
Weave in all ends and block if desired. Attach buttons to correspond to buttonholes.