This free crochet pattern for a ‘first’ party dress for a little girl was originally published in 1947 in the Sultana Baby Book, Vol S17.
This adorable party frock is easily crocheted in a combination of smart filet mesh and shell stitch. It is very flattering to Miss Two to Three!
Follow the easy step-by-step instructions of this vintage crochet pattern to make this classic child’s party dress. There is absolutely no charge for personal use of this crochet girl’s clothes pattern.
Free Crochet Dress Pattern:
How to Crochet a Child’s Dress
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Sultana Beautysheen, 11 Balls White, 3 Balls Color
Steel Crochet Hook, Size 7
NOTE(s)
Size: This party dress is for a child of 2 to 3 years in age.
Measurements: Chest 26 inches, length to underarm 12 1/2 inches, length to back of neck 16 3/4 inches.
Gauge: 6 meshes = l inch; 9 rows = 2 inches
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
YOKE
With white, ch 316 for lower edge.
Row 1 — 1 dc in 6th st from hook, * ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st; repeat from * to end; 156 m.
Row 2 — Ch 4, turn, 1 dc in 2nd dc, * ch 1, 1 dc in next dc; repeat from *, end skip 1 ch, 1 dc in next st of turning ch.
Repeat row 2 until 8 rows from beginning.
FIRST HALF OF BACK
Row 9 — Ch 4, turn, work 34 m, dec. 1 m for armhole shaping as follows: ch 1, yo, draw up a loop in next dc, yo, through 2 loops, yo, draw up a loop in next dc, yo, through 2 loops, yo, through all loops on hook; 35 m. Ch 4, turn, work on these sts, repeating dec. at armhole edge every 2nd row twice. Work even on 33 m until 26 rows from lower edge. Fasten off.
Row 27 — Turn, skip first 13 m for neck edge, join, work next 20 m to armhole. Work 2 more rows on 20 m for shoulder. Fasten off.
FRONT
Row 9 — Working from same side as row 9 of back, skip 6 m from back for underarm, join in next dc; dec. 1 m as follows: ch 2 instead of ch 4 at be-oning of row, 1 dc in next dc, work next 69 m, dec. l m; 70 m in row. Dec. 1 m each side every 2nd row twice. Work 66 m until 22 rows from lower edge. Continue working first 20 m for 8 rows for shoulder. Fasten off. Leave next 26 m free for front neck edge; work next 20 m for 2nd shoulder to correspond.
SECOND HALF OF BACK
Row 9 — Skip 6 m for 2nd underarm, join, ch 2 for dec. Continue working to correspond to first half. Sew shoulder seams. Join at beginning of left back neck edge, working around neck edge, work 12 m, dec. 1 m at corner working a dec. over last m and first row of shoulder, work 9 m over next 9 rows, work a dec. over next row and first m of front, 1 m in each of next 24 m; continue around neck to correspond, ch 4, turn. Work 2nd row around neck edge decreasing 1 m at each corner. Fasten off.
Beginning at neck edge of right back opening, work 69 sc to lower edge. Work 2 more rows sc.
Row 4 — Work buttonloops as follows: 1 sc in first sc, * ch 4, skip 4, 1 sc in each of next 5 sts; repeat from *, end ch 4, skip 4, 1 sc in last st. Fasten off. Beginning at lower edge, work 3 rows sc on left back opening to correspond. Do not fasten off.
EDGING
Continue around neck edge working 2 sc in corner st, ch 4, 1 sc on top of last sc (1 picot), skip 1 row, 1 sc in next row, * 1 sc under next ch 1, 1 picot, 1 sc under next ch 1; repeat from *, end 1 sc, 1 picot, 1 sc over the overlap.
BEADING
Lap right back border over left back border and sew at lower edge. Join on last sc row at lower edge of yoke, working from right side, work on foundation ch as follows: ch 5, skip 1 sc row, 1 tr in next row, ch 1, skip 1 row, 1 tr in next st, * ch 1, 1 tr in same st as next dc below; repeat from *, end ch 1, join with slip st st in 4th ch. Ch 1, turn, 1 sc in joining st, * 1 sc under next ch 1,1 sc in next tr; repeat from *, end 1 sc under ch 1, join with slip st in first sc. Ch 5, turn, skip joining st and 1 sc, * 1 tr in next st, ch 1, skip 1 sc; repeat from * around, join with slip st in 4th st of turning ch. Do not turn.
SKIRT
Round 1 — (right side) — Ch 4, * 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, 1 dc in next tr, ch 1, 1 dc in same tr (an inc.), ch 1; repeat from *, end last repeat slip st in 3rd ch; 236 m in round.
Round 2 — Ch 4, turn, * 1 dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from *, end slip st in 3rd st of turning ch.
Repeat round 2 until 21 rounds from beading. Ch 1, drop white on wrong side. Join color in joining st.
Round 22 (shells) — Turn (wrong side), holding color not in use firmly on wrong side, 1 sc under first ch 1, * skip 1 m, 7 dc under next ch 1 (1 shell), skip 1 m, 1 sc under next ch 1; repeat from *, end last repeat slip st in first sc; 59 shells. Ch 1, drop color on wrong side.
Round 23 — Turn, pick up white, slip st in back loop of first dc, ch 3, working in back loop of sts, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, * ch 2, skip 1 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, skip next sc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc; repeat from *, end last repeat slip st in 3rd st of turning ch. Ch 1, drop white.
Round 24 — Turn, pick up color, * 1 sc in sp between 3rd and 4th dc of 6 dc group, skip next 3 dc, 1 shell under next ch 2, skip next 3 dc; repeat from * to end, join with slip st in first sc. Ch 1, drop color.
Repeat rounds 23 and 24 twice. Fasten off color.
Round 29 — Turn, pick up white, slip st in back loop of first dc, ch 4, * skip 1 st, 1 dc in back loop of next st, ch 1; repeat from *, end slip st in 3rd ch; 236 m. Work 6 rounds even in m.
Repeat rounds 22, 23 and 24 once.
Repeat rounds 23 and 24 three times more.
Repeat round 29.
Work 3 rounds even in m.
Round 49 — Ch 3, turn, * 1 dc under next ch 1, 1 dc in next dc, repeat from *, end 1 dc under ch 1, slip st in 3rd ch. Fasten off.
RUFFLE AROUND YOKE
Working from right side holding beading toward you, fold left back yoke on top of 18th row above beading; join white, insert hook under fold and work 1 sc under ch 1, * ch 1, 1 sc under next ch 1; repeat from * until 22 m are worked into, work around 2 sides of next m for corner, working ch 1, 1 sc, ch 1,1 sc, ch 1,1 sc all under next ch 1—; ch 1,1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc all under dc of same m toward the shoulder; continue working over the shoulder toward the front, working ch 1, 1 sc in each of 2 rows, ch 1, 1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc in 3rd row until 25 rows from corner; work next m as first corner, work ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 44 m, work next m for corner; finish right side to correspond; 174 sc.
Row 2 — Ch 3, turn, 1 dc under ch 1, * ch 1, 1 dc under next ch 1, ch 1, 1 dc under next ch 1, ch 1, 1 dc under same ch 1 (an inc.); repeat from * around, increasing in each of 4 ch 1 sp in corners, end 1 dc in last sc; 265 m.
Row 3 — Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in 2nd dc, * ch 1, 1 dc in next dc; repeat from *, end dc on top of turning ch.
Row 4 — Ch 3, turn, work as for row 3, working an inc. in each of 10 dc around each corner; 305 m.
Rows 5 and 6 — Work as for row 3. Fasten off.
Row 7 — Turn (wrong side of ruffle). Join color, work 1 sc between first 2 dc, * 1 sc under next ch 1, skip 1 m, 1 shell under next ch 1, skip 1 m; repeat from *, end 1 sc under last ch 1, 1 sc between last 2 dc. Fasten off.
RIGHT SLEEVE
Working from right side, join white at armhole edge of back yoke, in 9th row from shoulder seam; 1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc in next m, * ch 1, 1 dc in next m, ch 1, 1 dc in same m; repeat from * 13 times, ch 1, 1 sc in next m, ch 1, 1 sc in next m. Row 2—Ch 1, turn; 1 sc in first sc, ch 1, 1 dc in next sc, * ch 1,1 dc in next dc; repeat from *, end ch 1, 1 dc in next sc, ch 1, 1 sc in last sc, ch 1, 1 sc in next m of armhole edge, ch 1, 1 sc in next m.
Continue working m as for row 2, working into 2 more m of armhole edge at the end of every row until 15 rows from beginning.
Work edging as on neck, around sleeve and underarm edges.Work left sleeve to correspond.
Steam lightly. Trim with ribbon as illustrated.