Intermediate
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Baby Clothing 15 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Coral sunset baby dress with fan lace skirt crochet pattern
Baby dress pattern: two flat bodice panels, fan lace skirt in joined rounds, G-6 / 4.0 mm hook.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 10-16 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 4.0 mm
- Rounds
- 15
Worsted
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
15
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
This dress builds in four stages: two flat bodice panels worked in single crochet and shell stitch, straps joined with slip stitches at the back neckline, and a skirt worked downward in joined rounds using an 11-stitch fan lace repeat. Have both yarn colors wound and ready, a G-6 / 4.0 mm hook, and 4 to 6 stitch markers on hand before you begin, since the waist round depends on an exact stitch count of 66 to keep the fan repeat even.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Waist stitch count off before Round 1
- Count the Setup Round twice before joining. If the total is not exactly 66, add an sc2tog or skip a stitch now rather than adjusting mid-lace.
- Shells crowding or distorting the yoke
- Work all 5 double crochet stitches into the same stitch or space without letting the base stitch spread; keep the working loop snug after each dc.
- Straps twisted before joining to back panel
- Pin the strap flat to the corresponding back neckline corner before sl st-ing the live stitches down, checking that the strap has not rolled.
The materials list
- Yarn
- Main Color (MC): Worsted weight (weight category 4) yarn, 100% cotton or cotton-blend, approximately 300 yards / 274 meters, in coral or peach
- Contrast Color (CC): Worsted weight (weight category 4) yarn, 100% cotton or cotton-blend, approximately 80 yards / 73 meters, in cream or natural white
- Recommended Yarn Options
- Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Terracotta (MC) and Ecru (CC) offers excellent stitch definition and washes beautifully. Paintbox Yarns Simply DK held double works well too, giving a lighter hand with lovely sheen. Drops Paris in Coral and Off White provides sturdy construction with a matte finish.
- Any smooth, tightly spun cotton or cotton-blend will work. Avoid fuzzy fibers like mohair or angora because they will obscure the lace pattern in the skirt.
- Hook
- US size G-6 / 4.0 mm crochet hook (or size needed to meet gauge)
- Notions
- Yarn needle for seaming and weaving ends
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (4 to 6)
- Pins for blocking
- Tape measure
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 21 short forms
Front Bodice Panel
With MC, make a foundation chain.
Round 1
(WS): Chain 38. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and into each ch across. Turn. (37 sc)
Round 2
(RS): Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn. (37 sc)
Round 3
through 6: Rep Row 2 four more times. (37 sc each row) Checkpoint: After Row 6, your front panel should measure approximately 1.25 inches / 3 cm tall from the foundation edge.Now work the shell yoke accent rows.
Round 7
(RS): Ch 1, sc into first 3 sts, (skip 2 sts, 5 dc into next st, skip 2 sts, sc into next 3 sts) 4 times, sc into last 2 sts. Turn. (37 sts)
Round 8
(WS): Ch 1, sc into each st across (working 1 sc into each of the 5 dc of each shell, flattening the texture). Turn. (37 sc)
Round 9
through 14: Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn. (37 sc each row) Checkpoint: After Row 14, the front bodice panel measures approximately 4 inches / 10 cm tall.Waist Gather Row (Row 15, RS): Ch 1, (sc2tog, sc into next 3 sts) 7 times, sc2tog. Turn. (29 sc)
Round 16
(WS): Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn. (29 sc)
Round 17
(RS): Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn. (29 sc) Fasten off. This completes the front bodice panel. Set aside.
Straps
The dress has two wide straps connecting the front neckline to the back neckline over the shoulders.
Strap 1 (Right Strap, Front to Back): With MC and RS facing, join yarn at the right-hand corner of the front neckline (Row 1 edge).
Round 1
Ch 1, sc into next 6 sts along neckline edge. Turn. (6 sc)
Round 2
through 14: Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn. (6 sc each row) After Row 14, the strap should be approximately 3.5 inches / 9 cm long. Do not fasten off. Pin strap to the corresponding right corner of the back neckline. Sl st strap end to back panel using the live stitches. Fasten off.
Strap 2 (Left Strap, Front to Back): Rejoin MC at the left-hand corner of the front neckline with RS facing.
Work as Strap 1, Rows 1 through 14. (6 sc each row)
Attach to the left corner of the back neckline with sl sts. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: Both straps are attached. The neckline opening between the straps measures approximately 6 inches / 15 cm wide across the front.
Skirt
The skirt is worked in joined rounds, beginning at the waist opening of the assembled bodice.
With RS facing, join MC at one side seam at the waist with a sl st.
Setup Round: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire waist opening, placing 1 sc into each available stitch and approximately 1 sc per row along the row-end edges of the bodice panels. The goal is 66 sc total around the waist. Adjust by working sc2tog or skipping 1 stitch if needed to arrive at exactly 66. Join with sl st to first sc. (66 sc)
Note: 66 is divisible by 11, which is the fan lace repeat width. This gives you 6 fans per round.
Round 1
Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc into same st, ch 1, skip 1 st, (2 dc into next st, ch 1, skip 1 st) around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (66 dc total)
Round 2
Ch 1, sc into first ch-1 sp, (sc into each dc and each ch-1 sp around). Join with sl st to first sc. (66 sc)Skirt Round 1 (Fan Round): Ch 1. (Sk 1 st, Shell into next st, sk 2 sts, sc into next st, sk 2 sts, sc into next st, sk 3 sts) 6 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (30 dc in shells, 12 sc)Skirt Round 2: Ch 1. Sc into same st. (Ch 3, sc into 3rd dc of shell, ch 3, sc into next sc between shells) around, ending last rep with ch 3, join with sl st to first sc. (24 sc, 24 ch-3 sps)Continue in the established fan lace pattern, working Round 1 and Round 2 alternately for a total of 14 to 16 rounds, or until skirt measures approximately 7 inches from waist.
Back Bodice Panel
Work exactly as the front bodice panel through Row 14. (37 sc)
Round 15
Waist Gather (RS): Ch 1, (sc2tog, sc into next 3 sts) 7 times, sc2tog. Turn. (29 sc)
Round 16
Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn. (29 sc)
Round 17
Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn. (29 sc) Fasten off. Set aside.
Strap and Neckline Trim
With CC (cream), join with sl st at the right shoulder seam (top of right strap, back edge).
Work Picot-Scallop Border around each outer strap edge and across the full neckline edge: (Sl st into next st along edge, ch 3, sl st into base of ch-3 just made to form picot, skip 1 st) across entire strap edge, across front neckline, down second strap edge. Work 3 sl sts around corners for coverage.
Along the back neckline, work (sl st into next st, ch 3, sl st into base) across.
Join with sl st to starting point. Fasten off. Weave ends.
Work the same Picot-Scallop Border along the inner armhole openings: join CC at the top of the side seam, work along the open armhole edge, end at the bodice top. Fasten off.
Hem Border
With CC, join at any point along the hem edge.
Work the Picot-Scallop Border around the entire hem: (Sl st into next st, ch 3, sl st into base of ch-3, sk 1 st) around. Join with sl st. Fasten off. Weave ends.
Roses and Leaves
Make 2 crocheted roses in CC following the special stitch instructions above.
Make 4 to 6 small leaves in green yarn (or CC if preferred) following the special stitch instructions.
Using MC or CC and a yarn needle, sew the roses to the center front waistline. Arrange the leaves on either side of the roses and stitch in place. Weave all ends securely.
Assembly, in order
Step 1Block the finished dress by wet-blocking: soak in cool water for 10 minutes, press out water gently, pin to measurements on a foam mat, and allow to dry flat.
Step 2Blocking opens the lace pattern dramatically and evens the fabric. Do not skip this step. The skirt will look so much better after blocking.
Step 3Weave in any remaining ends. Trim excess yarn.
Check these before you start
- The waist opening must total exactly 66 stitches before Round 1 of the skirt begins; use sc2tog or a skipped stitch during the Setup Round to correct any drift, since 66 divides evenly into six 11-stitch fan repeats.
- Keep tension consistent across the six plain single crochet rows of the Front Bodice Panel, since any looseness there will show once the shell yoke rows sit above them.
On one line
| Rounds | 15 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 7 |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Time | 10-16 hours |
| Hook | 4.0 mm |
| Yarn | Worsted |
Set-up
- Confirm you have at least 300 yards of MC and 80 yards of CC on hand before starting the skirt, since running short mid-lace means an awkward color break.
- Read the Setup Round for the skirt now, before you finish the bodice, so you understand how the waist stitches need to land on exactly 66.
- Work a small shell-stitch swatch with your hook to check that five double crochet stitches sit into one stitch without crowding or gapping.
- Place a stitch marker at the side seam of each bodice panel before seaming, so the skirt's Setup Round has a clear starting point.
Finishing
- Weave in all ends from the bodice panels, straps, and skirt rounds before blocking, trimming excess yarn close to the fabric.
- Wet-block the finished dress: soak 10 minutes in cool water, press out water gently, pin to measurements on a foam mat, and let dry flat to open the fan lace.
- Attach any finished roses and leaves after blocking, once the lace and straps hold their final shape.
Construction
The bodice panels are worked flat in rows rather than in the round because the front and back differ in row count (8 rounds versus 3), and flat construction lets each panel be shaped and seamed independently before the skirt begins.
The skirt's Setup Round converts an irregular row-end and stitch-based waist edge into a fixed count of 66, which is a deliberate join point: it lets the 11-stitch fan repeat start clean at Round 1 regardless of how the bodice edge was shaped.
Time per section
| Front and Back Bodice Panels | about 3 to 4 hours because the front panel alone runs 8 rounds including the shell yoke rows |
|---|---|
| Straps and seaming | about 1 to 2 hours because each strap is only 2 rounds but joining with live stitches wants care |
| Skirt in fan lace | about 6 to 10 hours because the 11-stitch repeat takes several rounds to settle into rhythm and the skirt is the largest single section |
Common questions
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.