Crochet Dress
Sizes: 34/36 (38/40)
You will need:
- 450 (500) g beige Cotofine yarn (70% cotton, 30% polyamide, 90 m/50 g);
- 5 mm crochet hook.
Striped pattern, worked back and forth: number of foundation sts is a multiple of 4 + 1. Work from Chart 1. Begin each row with the stated number of chains instead of the first st, and with the sts before the repeat. Repeat the pattern repeat, and end with the sts after the repeat.
Attention! Work row 2 as follows: after 3 turning chains, *1 tr into the next (4th) foundation st, 3 ch, then 3 dc around the tr, repeat from *. Begin row 3 with 4 turning chains, *1 tr around the 3rd ch of the previous row (see also the arrow on the chart), 3 ch, 3 dc around the tr, repeat from *, end with 1 tr into the 3rd ch of the previous row. In row 4 work dc around the 3rd ch of the previous row. Work the following rows in height as described in the instructions.
Striped pattern, worked in rounds: number of foundation sts is a multiple of 4. Work from Chart 2. Begin each round with the stated number of chains for height, or instead of the first st, and with the sts before the repeat; repeat the pattern repeat, end with the sts before the start of the round and 1 sl st, as indicated. After round 1, move to the beginning of the next round with a sl st. Work rounds 1 and 2 following the same principle as rows 2 and 3 of the striped pattern worked back and forth. Work rounds 1 through 4 once. For clarity, the last round of the skirt is marked below the chart.
Gauge: Striped pattern (rows/rounds 1-5): 14.5 sts and 5 rows/rounds = 10 x 8.5 cm; striped pattern (rows/rounds 6 and 7 alternating): 14.5 sts and 7 rows/rounds = 10 x 10 cm.
Skirt: for the bottom band, chain 141 (153) sts, plus 13 turning chains, and work rows 1-5 of the striped pattern once: height of the bottom band = 8.5 cm = 5 rows. Mark the middle 12 dc sts of the bottom band; these form the edge for attaching the insert and remain unworked for now. Sew the short edges of the bottom band together to form the center back seam. To continue the skirt, join yarn on the wrong side of the work to the top edge of the bottom band after the 12 marked dc sts and, starting with 1 wrong-side row, work the top edge over the back center to the 12 marked dc sts in the striped pattern, working rows 6 and 7 once, then rows 2-7 once, then repeating rows 6 and 7 = 129 (141) sts. For shaping, evenly decrease 25 sts in row 20 (22) from the bottom band by skipping every 5th st (alternating every 5th and 6th st) of the previous row = 104 (116) sts. Finish after 30 cm = 20 rows (33 cm = 22 rows) from the bottom band.
Insert: chain 45 (49) sts + 3 turning chains and work in the striped pattern, working rows 1-5 once. Sew the insert to the front opening of the skirt, easing slightly if needed; sew the right short edge to the attachment edge on the bottom band. Join yarn at the top edge of the skirt to the last dc before the left short edge of the insert, work 12 sc around this short edge, and join to the first dc after the insert = 116 (128) sts for the top edge of the skirt. Do not cut the yarn; continue directly into the waistband.
Waistband: work the top edge of the skirt in rounds in the striped pattern = 29 (32) repeats. Finish after 8 cm = 4 rounds. Divide the top round of the waistband as follows: above the front insert, mark the middle 3 repeats, i.e. 12 dc sts + 2 (3) dc sts on each side = 16 (18) dc sts for the front neckline, mark 21 (23) dc sts on each side of these markers for the right and left front sections, and the remaining 58 (64) sts form the back. Finish all pieces separately.
Back: work the 58 (64) marked dc sts back and forth in the striped pattern, starting with 1 wrong-side row and repeating only rows 6 + 7; at the same time, for symmetry increase 1 st (= join with 1 dc, 3 turning chains, and work 1 dc into the same foundation st) = 59 (65) sts. At a back height of 13 cm = 9 rows, decrease 6 sts on each side for the armholes by working sl st over them at the beginning of the row and leaving them unworked at the end of the row = 47 (53) sts. Finish at a back height of 28.5 cm = 20 rows (31.5 cm = 22 rows), with the middle 19 (21) dc sts forming the neckline, and the outer 14 (16) dc sts on each side forming the waistband attachment point and shoulders.
Left front section: work the 21 (23) marked dc sts back and forth in the striped pattern, starting with 1 wrong-side row and repeating only rows 6 + 7. For the neckline slope, decrease from the beginning in every 2nd row (= every right-side row) 9 (10) times by 1 st, working the last 2 dc sts before the neckline together. Work the armhole on the right side as for the back. Finish at the back height on the remaining 6 (7) shoulder sts.
Right front section: work symmetrically, working the neckline slope after the 3 turning chains in every 2nd row by working 2 dc together 9 (10) times.
Neckline band (2 pieces): chain 41 sts, work 1 right-side row of sc, then work rows 2-4 of the striped pattern once, finish with 1 row of sc. Height of bands = 8.5 cm.
Finishing: sew the shoulder seams on 6 (7) sts. Sew the side seams. Place the bands right side down with the last row on the right side of the neckline slope, baste, and join both edges with sl st. Sew the top short edges to the remaining 8 (9) shoulder sts of the back; sew the bottom short edges halfway to the horizontal opening. Work around the bottom edge of the skirt with row 6 of the striped pattern, working it as a right-side row and finishing with 1 sl st into the 3rd turning chain.
