Summer Stream Dress for 18-inch Doll

Free Doll Dress Crochet Pattern

This free-fitting, warm-weather dress flows like a forest stream, hence the name.

It features a raglan-style shoulders and a high waist. The length of the dress is easy to adjust. As described, it reaches to just above the knees. I added some flowers to the bodice for decoration.

Materials: Stream by Willow Yarns lace weight yarn, 437 yd (400 m) / 1.7oz/50 g (70% wool, 30% silk) (we used small amount of turquoise, color A and 1 ball of cornflower, color B)
Metallic or plastic sew-on snaps.

Hook: 2.25mm OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE.

Gauge: 28 dc x 16 rows = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm)

Abbreviations:
ch - chain
dc - double crochet
V-st- (1 dc - ch 2 -1 dc) in a designated stitch
V-st in V-st - V stitch in the ch-2-space of the V-st from the previous row
3-3-shell - (3 dc - ch 2 – 3 dc) in a designated stitch
V-st in 3-3 shell - V-st in the ch-2-space of the 3-3 shell from the previous row
3-3 shell into V-st - 3-3 shell into ch-2-space of the V-st from the previous row
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
bb – button band


Dress

The dress is worked top-down back and forth to the hip line, leaving an opening at the back. Then, you can either continue in rows, or, if you are an experienced crocheter, in rounds. Here I describe how to work the skirt in rows.

The groups of 3 dc in the beginning and 3 dc at the end of each row form a button band.

Feel free to substitute colors to your taste.

Chain 3 in the beginning of each row counts as 1 dc.

Chain 68 with color A: 10 back - 1 raglan - 14 sleeve - 1 raglan - 16 front - 1 raglan - 14 sleeve - 1 raglan - 10 back.

Row 1 (RS): ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), insert hook in the forth chain from the hook, 1 dc in each of the next 9 chains, V-st (dc, ch 2, dc) in the next chain (the first raglan line), 1 dc in each of the next 14 chains, V-st (dc, ch 2, dc) in the next chain (the second raglan line), 1 dc in each of the next 16 chains, V-st (dc, ch 2, dc) in the next chain (the third raglan line), 1 dc in each of the next 14 chains, V-st (dc, ch 2, dc) in the next chain (the forth raglan line), 1 dc in each of the last 10 chains. Turn.

Rows 2-6: ch 3 , 1 dc in each dc, V-st in V-st on raglan lines.


Divide for sleeves and bodice: (bodice and skirt are worked in multi-colored yarn).

Row 7(RS): ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 15 dc, 1 dc in the ch-2-space of the first raglan line, ch 10, skip all sleeve sts, insert hook in the ch-2-space of the second raglan line, work 1 dc in the ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 28 dc, 1 dc in the ch-2-space of the third raglan line, ch 10, skip all stitches of the second sleeve, 1 dc in the ch-2-space of the forth raglan line, 1 dc in each of the last 16 dc. Turn.

Row 8: ch 3, 1 dc in each stitch across. Turn. = 84 sts

Row 9: ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, skip 2 sts, * 3-3 shell (3 dc-ch 2- 3 dc ) in the next st, skip 4 sts - repeat to last 7 sts, 3-3- shell, skip 2 sts, 1 dc in each of the last 4 dc. Turn.

Row 10: ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, *V-st (1 dc - ch 2 -1 dc) in the ch-2-space of the next 3-3 shell, 3-3 shell (3 dc- ch 2 – 3 dc) in the next ch-2-space, - repeat to last 4 sts, 1 dc in the last 4 dc. Turn.

Row 11: ch 3, 1 dc in the next 3 dc, *3-3-shell into V-st, V-st into 3-3 shell - repeat to the last 4 sts, 1 dc in the last 4 dc. Turn.

Row 12: ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, *V-st in the next 3-3 shell, 3-3 shell in the next V-st, - repeat to last 4 sts, 1 dc in the last 4 dc. Turn.

Repeat rows 11 and 12 to desired length. I crocheted 3 repeats of these rows, for the dress you see pictured.

The last 3 rows are worked in solid color yarn (A).

The first and the second of the last 2 rows: ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, 3-3 shell into each ch-2-space across, 3 dc in the last 3 dc.

The last row: ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, 6 dc in each ch-2-space across, 3 dc in the last 3 dc.


Finishing

Weave in yarn ends, sew small snaps to the button band. Sew the back opening from the hem up to the hip line.

Decorate the yoke with embroidery, beads or small crochet flowers, as described below.


Small Flower.

You will need a small amount of fingering weight yarn and a 1.5 mm – 1.7mm hook.

Chain 5, join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: * ch3, 2 dc in the ring, ch 3, slip stitch in the ring – repeat 5 times. Tie off. Weave in all yarn ends. You can also use the yarn ends to sew the flowers onto the dress.

Have fun!