Free Crochet 'Peggy' Dress Pattern - How to Crochet a Child's Dress

This free crochet ‘Peggy’ dress pattern (size 3 years) was originally published around 1942 in “Lovely Creations for Baby“, No. S16.

Follow the easy step-by-step instructions of this vintage crochet pattern to make this classic child’s dress. There is absolutely no charge for personal use of this crochet pattern for a child’s dress.

How to Crochet a Girl’s Dress

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Saltana Beautysheen (All Rayon), 11 balls
Steel Crochet Hook, Size 5

NOTE(s)

Size of this Dress: 3 Years

Gauge Before Blocking:
2 patterns = 2 1/4 inches; 17 rows = 14 inches

Gauge After Blocking:
2 patterns = 2 1/4 inches; 4 rows = 1 inch

Measurements – Chest 23-24 inches. Width at lower edge, 36 inches. Length to underarm 12 1/2 inches. Length to back of neck, 16 1/2 inches. Sleeve – Width 8 inches.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Back Ch 227 for lower edge.

First row (right side) – 1 d c in 4th st from hook, 1 d c in each of next 2 sts, * ch 5, skip 7, 1 d c in each of next 7; repeat from * end last repeat 1 d c in each of 4 sts (16 patterns).

2nd row – Ch 3 (which counts as 1 d c), turn, 1 d c in 2nd st, 1 d c in each of next 2, * ch 2, 1 s c in center st of 7 skipped sts on foundation ch, working over ch 5 of first row, ch 2, 1 d c in each of next 7 d c; repeat from *, end 1 d c in each of last 3 d c, 1 d c in top of turning ch, working d c over the d c stripes and openwork over the openwork stripes.

3rd row – Ch 3, turn. 3 d c over 3 d c below, * a group of 1 d c, ch 4, 1 d c, all in next s c, 7 d c over next 7 d c; repeat from *, end with 4 d c.

4th row – Ch 3. turn, 3 d c over 3 d c, * ch 5, skip the group (1 d c, ch 4, 1 d c); 7 d c over next 7 d c; repeat from *, end with 4 d c.

5th row – Ch 3, turn, 3 d c over 3 d c, * ch 2, 1 s c under ch 4 in 2nd row down, also over ch 5 of row below, ch 2, 7 d c over next 7 d c; repeat from *, end with 4 d c. These last 3 rows complete the pattern.

Work even until piece measures 4 1/2 inches from beginning.

First dec. row – Ch 3, turn, work 1 d c, dec. 1 d c as follows: thread over hook, draw up a loop in next st, over and through 2 loops, over, draw up a loop in next st, over and through 2, over and through remaining 3 loops; work pattern to end, decreasing 1 st on each d c stripe, including d c stripe at end of row (17 decreases). (There will now be 3 d c in end stripes and 6 d c in other d c stripes.)

Work even until piece measures 9 inches from beginning

2nd dec. row – Dec. 17 sts as on first dec. row (2 d c in end stripes and 5 d c in other stripes).

Work even until 12 inches from beginning, or desired length to underarm, end with 5th row of pattern (50 rows).

Next row – Ch 1, turn, slip st over 2 d c, ch 3, slip st in each of next 3 d c (for armhole), ch 3, 1 d c in each of next 2 d c, continue pattern decreasing 2 sts in each d c stripe to within 1 full pattern of end, ending 1 d c in each of last 3 d c (1 full pattern left for other armhole).

Next row – Ch 3, turn, work even on the first 7 d c stripes, end with 2 d c in center (8th) d c stripe. Work even until there are 16 rows above underarm. Fasten off. Beg. in same place as last d c in first short row, work second side to correspond to first side.

Front

Work same as back until there are 12 rows above underarm shaping, end with 5th pattern row.

Next row – Ch 3, turn, work over 5 d c stripes (for left front), end with 2 d c in 5th d c stripe.

Work 5 more rows even in pattern (18 rows above underarm), end at armhole edge. Fasten off.

Skip 6 center patterns for neck edge, make a loop on hook, 1 d c in center d c of next d c stripe, continue to work right side to correspond to left; end at neck edge. Fasten off.

Sleeves

Ch 113 for lower edge.

First row – 1 d c in 4th st from hook, * ch 5, skip 7, 1 d c in each of 3; repeat from *, end ch 5, skip 7, 1 d c in each of last 2 sts (11 patterns).

Continue to work even in pattern as on upper part of dress until there are 8 rows from beg., end with 5th pattern row.

Next row – Ch 1, turn, slip st over first 2 d c, ch 3, slip st over next 2 d c, ch 3, 1 d c in next d c, continue pattern over 9 pattern stripes, end 2 d c.

Work even on 9 patterns until there are 20 rows from lower edge.

21st row – Ch 1, turn, slip st over first 2 d c, ch 3, slip st over next 3 d c, * 2 d c in next s c (omitting the ch 4), 1 d c in each of next 3 d c; repeat from * 5 times, 2 d c in next s c, slip st in next d c. Fasten off.

Collar

Ch 87 for outer edge of half of collar.

First row (right side) – 1 d c in 4th st from hook, 1 d c in next st, * ch 5, skip 7, 1 d c in each of next 5; repeat from *, end 3 d c.

Work 2 rows even (5 d c in each d c stripe).

4th row – Dec. in each d c stripe as before.

Repeat last row once. Work as for 21st row of sleeve, omitting slip sts on either side. Ch 1, turn, 1 s c in each st of row below, then down short side of collar (about 10 s c). Fasten off.

Work row of s c down other short side. Fasten off.

Make 2nd half of collar in same way.

Finishing

Sew seams. Sew in sleeves with seams at center underarm, holding in fulness at top. Steam.

Neck Edge

Make a loop on hook, working from right side and beg. at right neck edge work a row of s c along back opening (about 26 s c on each side).

2nd row – Ch 1, turn, 1 s c in first st, ch 2, skip 2, 1 s c in each of 10 sts, ch 2, skip 2, 1 s c in each st to end.

3rd row – Ch 1, turn, 1 s c in each st. Continue in s c along neck edge (16 s c across back, 10 s c on side of neck, 1 s c in next d c on front of neck, * 2 d c in next s c, 1 s c in each of next 3 d c; repeat from * 4 times, 2 d c in next s c, 1 s c in next d c, 10 s c on other side.

Final row – Ch 1, turn, 1 s c in each st around neck edge (81 s c). Fasten off. Sew collar in place with an overhand st, taking back thread of sts on wrong side of collar to form a ridge on right side, for turning.

Sew on buttons.

Draw 1/4 inch ribbon through the top row at the underarm as shown in the illustration. Draw ribbon through 3rd row on sleeves in the same way.