Many of my readers enjoy sewing for their dolls, but it can also be fun to crochet for them. One of my most popular posts to date has been the “Tiny Crochet Lace” tutorial, which was published three years ago. Since then, it has racked up 2,500 views. That level of interest made me decide to develop another free crochet pattern for dolls. Special thanks to my pattern testers, Shelia Blalock Williamson, Nancy Roarke, and Alice Swann!
Click here to download the crochet dress pattern!
Sharleen’s Crochet Dress fits my “Kitty Friend” dolls as well as most 6 to 6.5-inch dolls like Hitty. This pattern is fairly easy to make if you have experience working with cotton crochet thread and steel crochet hooks. However, if you are used to working with larger weight yarns, it might take a little practice to adjust to the smaller thread. That is why I recommend this pattern for intermediate level crocheters.
Your dress might come out bigger or smaller than mine. If you tend to crochet with a lot of tension, it can make the final result smaller. And if you crochet looser, the dress will come out larger. You might need to adjust the hook size to get the result you want. A smaller steel hook size is actually a higher number. For example, size 10 is smaller than size 8. Keep that in mind if you need to make adjustments. Shelia’s dress was larger than mine, so she switched to a size 10 crochet hook.
Courtesy of Shelia Blalock Williamson.
You can modify the width of the dress by adding or subtracting stitches if needed. If you want a longer skirt, you can add a couple of extra V-stitch rows to the bottom. The pattern has a gauge of ten rows of 18 dc stitches to make a 2” square sample. If you are having difficulty achieving the size you want, it can be helpful to make up a sample ahead of time with the thread you are going to use.
I made two dresses with size 10 crochet cotton, but one came out smaller. The blue version was a softer thread, and that subtle difference was enough to affect the result.
The pattern makes a simple sleeveless dress which fits a variety of doll body types. My inspiration for the skirt came from the book, Knit and Crochet for Small Dolls by Marjory Fainges. The pattern called “Betty” (p. 44-46) used a similar V-stitch for the skirt. The skirt is easy to make because all the V-stitch rows are the same (no increases). The bodice has a rolled collar that covers the top of the doll’s shoulders. Feel free to modify the basic pattern. Nancy added an extra row of shells to the skirt (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) to create a scalloped hem.
Courtesy of Nancy Rourke.
If you want to make quick and easy crocheted tops, just crochet the bodice separately. Here are Sharleen’s friends Olivia and Maxine modeling their new summer tops.
Sharleen’s Crochet Dress Pattern Instructions
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Intermediate
GAUGE: Ten rows of 18 dc stitches makes a 2” square sample.
MATERIALS:
Size 10 cotton crochet thread
No. 8 (1.50 mm) steel hook
2 tiny buttons
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
ABBREVIATIONS:
Chain stitch = ch
Single crochet = sc
Double crochet = dc
Slip stitch = sl st
Chain space = ch sp
V stitch = work 1 dc, ch1, 1 dc in same stitch or space
PATTERN DIAGRAM
SKIRT:
Starting at the waist, ch 35.
Row 1: miss first ch, 1sc in each ch. Turn, ch3. (34)
Row 2: V stitch in each sc. Turn, ch3. (34)
Row 3: V stitch in each ch sp. Turn, ch3. (34)
Rows 4-13: repeat Row 3 ten times.
NOTE: If you want a longer dress, add 2 more rows. Leave a 10” long tail to sew back edges together when finished. Cut thread and draw it through loop to fasten off.
BODICE:
Rotate skirt 180 degrees and work from waist upwards. When you rejoin thread, the thread tails will be on the same side.
Row 1: rejoin thread with sl st. Ch 1, work 1 sc into each ch of skirt. Turn, ch1. (34)
Row 2: 1 sc in each sc. Turn, ch3. (34)
Row 3: 1 dc in each sc. Turn, ch1. (34)
Row 4: 1 sc in each dc. Turn, ch3. (34)
(Armhole Shaping)
Row 5: 1 dc in next 7 sc. Sl st in next 4 sc. 1dc in next 12 sc. Sl st in next 4 sc. 1dc in next 7 sc. Turn, ch3. (34)
(Bodice Back – First Side)
Row 6A: 1 dc in next 7 dc. Turn, ch1. (7)
Row 7A: 1 sc in next 7 dc. Turn, ch3. (7)
Row 8A: 1 dc in next 7 sc. (7)
Cut thread and fasten off.
(Bodice Center Front)
NOTE: When rejoining thread, always work on same side to keep stitches consistent.
Row 6B: rejoin thread with a sl st at first dc in center section. ch1, 1 sc in each dc. Turn, ch3. (12)
Row 7B: 1 dc each sc. Turn, ch1. (12)
Row 8B: 2 sc in first dc. 1 sc in next 10 dc. 2 sc in last dc. (14) Cut thread and fasten off.
(Bodice Back – Second Side)
Row 6C: rejoin thread with a sl st at first dc after last sl st. Ch3, 1 dc in next 7 dc. Turn, ch1. (7)
Row 7C: 1 sc in next 7 dc. Turn, ch3. (7)
Row 8C: 1 dc in next 7 sc. Turn. (7) Cut thread and fasten off. Weave in all loose ends in bodice.
(Bodice Collar)
Row 9: skip first two dc at center back. Join thread with sl st. Ch1, sc in next 5 dc; ch 4, join thread with sl st at corner of bodice front; ch1, sc in next 14 sc; ch 4, join thread with sl st at corner of bodice back; ch1, sc in next 5 dc. Turn, ch1. (32)
Row 10: sc in next 5 sc. 4 sc in ch sp; sc in next 14 sc; 4 sc in ch sp; sc in next 5 sc. Turn, ch4 (note the extra chain). (32)
Row 11: (dc, ch1) in each sc. Turn, ch3. (32)
Row 12: dc in next 9 ch sp; (ch1, dc) in ch sp 14 times; dc in next 10 ch sp. (32) Cut thread and fasten off. Weave in loose ends of collar.
FINISHING:
Make button loops on bodice back at neckline and just above waistline. Add buttons on opposite side of bodice back. If preferred, snaps can be used for closure. Partially sew up bottom 1.5” of back seam with the existing thread tail, leaving top open at waist.
Sources:
Fainges, Marjory. “Betty” pattern. Knit and Crochet for Small Dolls. Reverie Publishing, 2007, pp. 44-46.
