Cocktail and Ball Dresses for 18-inch Doll

Free Doll Dress Crochet Pattern

You can purchase the white dress or the blue dress from my Etsy shop.

This crochet pattern includes two dresses for 18-inch dolls—a short cocktail dress and a full-length ball gown. Both dresses are made seamlessly from the top down, starting with a round yoke and flowing into a flared skirt. The cocktail dress features a fitted waist and a knee-length skirt, while the ball gown has a long, elegant skirt with a ribbon belt. The pattern uses basic and lace stitches to create a stylish look for any special occasion. Clear instructions make it easy to follow, and you can customize the colors to suit your doll’s wardrobe.

Skills Required/Techniques Used:
- Basic crochet stitches: chain (ch), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), slip stitch (sl.st)
- Decreasing with double crochet: 2 double crochet cluster (2dccl)

FINISHED SIZE: to fit 18-inch dolls, such as American Girl Doll, My Life As, Our Generation and other dolls with similar bodies.

Materials: Aunt Lydia (affiliate link)'s Crochet thread Classic 10, 100% Mercerized Cotton, for the short dress - 350 yds - teal 1 ball (MC), white 1/5 ball (CC); for the long dress 2 balls of any color

Hook: 1.5 mm OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE.

Gauge: 8 dc = 1" (2.5 cm)

Notions:
- 5-6 sew-on snaps, size 2/0;
- Tapestry needle to weave in yarn ends;
- Any small embellishments to your taste;
- Sewing needle and thread of matching color to attach snaps and embellishments

Abbreviations:
st, sts - stitch, stitches
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
ch, chs - chain, chains
sp – space
ch-2-sp - chain-2-space
sl.st. - slip stitch
V-stitch - here (1 dc, ch2, 1 dc) in the indicated stitch
MC - main color
CC - contrast color
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
MC – main color
CC – contrast color

Short Overview of the Pattern:

The dress is worked top down, back and forth till hip line, with the opening on the back. Then the work is joined into round, and the skirt is worked in rounds.


Dress

Yoke

With CC (white) thread chain 62.

Row 1: ch 1, insert hook in the second ch from the hook, 1 sc in each ch to the end of the row. (62)

Row 2: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into each of the next 2 sc, *ch2, skip 2 sc, 1 dc in the next sc, repeat from * 19 times, 1 dc in each of the last 2 sc.

Row 3: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 2 over ch-2-space, 2 dc in the next dc, repeat from * 18 times, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc. (80)

Row 4: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in the next dc, ch1, 1 dc in the next dc - repeat from * 18 times, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc. (98)

Row 5: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in the next dc, 1 dc in ch-1-space, 1 dc in the next dc - repeat from * 18 times, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc. (98)

Row 6: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in the next dc, 2 dc in the next dc, 1 dc in the next dc - repeat from * 18 times, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc. (116)

Row 7: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc - repeat from * 18 times, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc. (116)

Row 8: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, ch 1, 1dc in each of the next 2 dc - repeat from * 18 times, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc. (134)

Row 9: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, 1 dc in ch- 1-space, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc - repeat from * 18 times, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc. (134)

Row 10: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, (ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc) twice, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in the next 3 dc, (skip 2 dc, 7 dc in ch-2 space, skip 2 dc, sc in the next dc) 3 times, skip 2 dc, 7 dc in ch-2-space, skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, (ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc) 4 times, ch 2 over ch-2 space, 1 dc in the next 3 dc, (skip 2 dc, 7 dc in ch-2 space, skip 2 dc, sc in the next dc) 3 times, skip 2 dc, 7 dc in ch-2-space, skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, (ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc) twice, ch 2 over ch-2 space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc.


Divide for sleeves and bodice

Row 11: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, (ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc) twice, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, ch 9, skip 4 fans, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, (ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc) 4 times, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, ch 9, skip 4 fans, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, (ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc) twice, ch 2 over ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc, (98)

Row 12: ch 1, 1 sc in each stitch across.

Repeat row 12 ten more times (rows 13-22). For the 2-colors dress repeat row 12 five more times with CC thread (rows 13-17) and 5 more times with the MC thread (rows 18 - 22).

Row 23 (eyelet row): ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 sc, *ch 1, skip 1 sc, 1 dc in the next sc - repeat from * to last 3 sc, ch 1, skip 1 sc, 1 dc in each of the last 2 sc.


Skirt

Row 24 (RS): ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, *V-st (1dc-ch2-1dc) in ch-1-space - repeat from * to last 3 dc, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc.

Row 25: ch 3 (counts as first dc),1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each V-st across, 1 dc in each of the last 3 dc.

Repeat row 25 one more time.

Row 27/round 1: Repeat row 26 till the last 3 dc. Overlap the 3 dc in the beginning of the row. Make 1 dc in the next dc, insert hook into the first dc of the right bb, connect with slip stitch, repeat with remaining 2 dc.

Round 2: with sl st move to the first ch-2-space, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in the same ch-2-space, ch2, 2 dc in the same ch-2-space, (2 dc, ch2, 2dc) in each ch-2-space around till last 3 dc, (2dc, ch2, 2 dc) in the second dc, join with sl.st.

Round 3: with sl st move to the first ch-2-space, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in the same ch-2-space, ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2-space, (2 dc, ch2, 2dc) in each ch-2-space around, join with sl.st.

Round 4: with sl sts move to the second dc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in the ch-2-space, ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2-space, 1 dc in the next dc, *skip 2 dc, 1 dc in the next dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in the ch-2-space), 1 dc in the next dc - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Round 5: with sl sts move to the second dc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in the next dc, 1 dc in the ch-2-space, ch 2, 1 dc in the same ch-2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, *skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in the ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Repeat round 5 four more times

Round 10: with sl sts move to the second dc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in the next dc, (2 dc in the ch-2-space, ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, *skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in the ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Round 11: with sl sts move to the second dc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, (1 dc in the ch-2-space, ch 2, 1 dc in the same ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, *skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in the ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Repeat round 11 four more times (rounds 12-15).

For the short dress only:

Round 16: with sl st move to ch-2-space, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in the same ch-2-space, ch 5, 2 dc in the same ch-2-space, *ch 2, skip 4 dc, 1 dc under the arc between the forth and the next dc, skip 4 dc, (2 dc, ch 5, 2 dc) in the same ch-2-space - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Round 17: ch 1, 1 sc in each stitch around, join with sl. st. Tie off.

For the long dress:

Round 16: with sl sts move to the second dc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, (2 dc in the ch-2-space, ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, *skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in the ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Round 17: with sl sts move to the second dc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, (1 dc in the ch-2-space, ch 2, 1 dc in the same ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc, *skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc, (1 dc, ch 2, 1dc in the ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Repeat round 17 four more times (rounds 18-21).

Round 22: with sl sts move to the second dc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in the next 3 dc, (2 dc in the ch-2-space, ch 2, 2 dc in the same ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc, *skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2dc in the ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Round 23: with sl sts move to the second dc, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc, (1 dc in the ch-2-space, ch 2, 1 dc in the same ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc, *skip 2 dc, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc, (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in the ch-2-space), 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc - repeat from * around, join with sl st.

Repeat round 23 four more times (rounds 24-27).

The last round: 1 sc in each stitch around.

Tie off. Cut thread.


Belt

You can insert a ribbon into the "eyes" formed by ch-3-space in row 15, or you can crochet the belt. Chain a string of necessary length and make a row of sc in each chain across.

Finishing

Weave in all yarn ends. Sew the snaps on the button bands formed by 2 dc in the beginning and end of each row.
Add embellishments to your taste.

Have fun!