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Simple Collar Dress

I’m excited to share my new free crochet dress pattern: the Simple Collar Dress. This dress has a fitted top with beautiful collar and a wide (slightly oversized) skirt. And the interesting part: it can be made with almost any yarn!

Get the free pattern below or purchase the ad-free PDF version of this pattern on Etsy and Ravelry. The PDF is designed for printing and this way you can support me!

Simple Collar Dress - free crochet dress pattern by Wilmade.com

About the design

I wanted to create a beginner-friendly crochet dress with a beautiful, elegant detail. I decided to add a collar which makes this simple dress look chic. I used a new technique which might look hard, but is actually very simple and beginner friendly.

The collar is made with single crochet stitches and the dress itself is made with half double crochet stitches. I used a gradient yarn cake to add a beautiful color effect, but you can make it with any other type of light worsted yarn. Just make sure the gauge is close to the gauge stated below.

The dress is perfect for warm summer days, but also for fall and winter when adding some extra layers. I made a second version of this dress for Christmas (colors red and black). I think it’s a perfect dress for parties as well!

Simple Collar Dress - collar - a free crochet dress pattern by Wilmade

About the fit

This crochet dress has a classic fit with some positive ease. The top has a comfortable fit which is slightly larger than average bust measurements. The lower part is slightly oversized which creates a beautiful drape. If you’re looking for a more fitted dress, take a look at my Simple Dress To Impress.

The pattern includes instructions for sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL. If you’re in between sizes, I suggest to size down.

Simple Collar Dress - a free crochet dress pattern by Wilmade

About the yarn

For this dress I used two 6-ply gradient yarn cakes (100% cotton, light worsted) which I bought at a local market.  This Etsy shop sells similar 6-ply cakes. As the dress is slightly oversized, you can use any similar yarn, even if it’s a bit lighter or heavier. Try to get close to the gauge stated below in the pattern. If you’re one stitch off (e.g. 15 stitches = 10cm/4″ instead of 14 stitches) that’s no problem.

Usable yarn from the USA (I have not tried them myself yet, but based on the labels/weight):
Shawl in a cake
ZZ Twist yarn
– Jeans® Colors Yarn
– Touch of Alpaca® Yarn

I made another version of this dress with completely different yarn: Katia Infinity Shawl (100% Merino Wool). Even though this yarn is fingering weight, I still could follow the pattern without problems. If the yarn is lighter, it won’t be a problem since the dress is slightly oversized. If you use yarn that is heavier, it might be better to size down.

Please let me know in the comments which yarn you used so I can add it to this list! 

Yarn used for Simple Collar Dress - free crochet dress pattern by Wilmade.com

Other free crochet patterns you might like

Simple Collar Dress pattern

  • Get the ad-free printable PDF version of this pattern on Etsy and Ravelry.
  • Save this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.
  • PIN this pattern to Pinterest for later here.

Materials

– Light worsted yarn: approx. 350 (375 – 400 – 475 – 575 – 625 – 675) g. If you’re working with cakes, make sure to have 2 cakes of the same colors (one for the front panel and one for the back panel). > Read more about gradient yarn cakes

Usable yarn from the USA (I have not tried them myself yet, but based on the labels/weight):
Shawl in a cake
ZZ Twist yarn
– Jeans® Colors Yarn
– Touch of Alpaca® Yarn

Please let me know in the comments which yarn you used so I can add it to this list! 

Crochet hook 5.5mm (US I/9 hook)

Tapestry needle

Stitch markers

Measuring tape

Sizes

XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL

For reference, model is 1.68m/5’6″ tall with a 38” bust and wearing the crochet dress in size Medium. If you are between sizes, please size down as the dress is slightly oversized.

Dimensions

In the following tables you can find an overview of the measurements that are used.

In centimeters

XS S M L XL 2X 3X
Chest 76 86 97 107 117 127 137
Shoulder 37 38 41 43 45 46 46
Armhole 17 18 19 21 22 23 24
Length 61 63 65 67 70 72 74

Inches

XS S M L XL 2X 3X
Chest 30 34 38 42 46 50 54
Shoulder 15 15 16 17 18 18 18
Armhole 7 7 7 8 9 9 9
Length 24 25 26 26 28 28 29

Gauge

14 HDC stitches equal 10 cm / 4”
10 rows equal 10 cm / 4”

Stitches & abbreviations (US terms)

– st: stitch
– ch: chain
– sc: single crochet
– hdc: half double crochet

* *: repeat what is between the asterisks as many times as directed
( ) within instructions: work a group of stitches all in the same stitch
( ) at end of a row: amount of stitches you should have at the end of that row

Notes

– This pattern is written in US terminology

– Pattern is worked top-down on two panels separately then seamed together. Both panels are made to the same specifications.

– The chain 2 at the start of every row does not count as a stitch

– Be sure to check gauge. You can easily use other yarn, but make sure it’s close to the gauge I used. This dress is designed to be oversized at some parts, so if your yarn is much bigger, size down.

– Pattern contains instructions for sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL. Directions for sizes are in parentheses such as “chain 40 (40, 44, 44, 50, 50 50)” whereas ch 40 stands for size XS, 40 for size S, 44 size M, etc. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow the pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

Video

In this video you can see how to make the dress.

* Click here to watch the video on YouTube

Simple Collar Dress

Make 2 of the following.

Collar

Chain 40 (40, 44, 44, 50, 50 50), turn
(Note: chain 40 for size XS, 40 for S, 44 for size M, etc).

Row 1:
Skip the 1st ch, (1sc, ch 2, 1sc) in second ch, *skip next ch, (1sc, ch 2, 1sc) in next ch* repeat till end (20, 20, 22, 22, 25, 25, 25 bows).

Do not turn your work, but continue working on the bottom side of the chains (the other side of where you just made the stitches).

Row 2:
*(1sc, ch 2, 1sc) in the first ch, skip next ch* repeat till end, turn (20, 20, 22, 22, 25, 25, 25 bows).

Simple Collar Dress - free crochet dress pattern - row 1 and 2

Row 3 – 9 (7 rows):
Ch 2, *(1sc, ch 2, 1sc) in all chain-2 spaces* repeat till end, turn (20, 20, 22, 22, 25, 25, 25 bows).

Fasten off and leave a long end for sewing

Top part of the dress

We’re now going to work on the long end of the collar. 

Row 1:
Skip 4 ch-2 spaces. Attach yarn in the 5th ch-2 space and make *2 hdc in the ch-2 space, 1hdc in between the sc stitches* repeat 12, 12, 14, 14, 17, 17, 17 times, turn (36, 36, 42, 42, 51, 51, 51)

Row 2 – 5 (4 rows):
Ch 2, 1 hdc in every st till end, turn (36, 36, 42, 42, 51, 51, 51)

Simple Collar Dress - free crochet dress pattern - row 5

Row 6 – 13 (8 rows):
Ch 2, 2 hdc in the first st, 1 hdc in every st till end, 2 hdc in last st, turn

Stitch count

Row XS S M L XL XXL XXXL
6 38 38 44 44 53 53 53
7 40 40 46 46 55 55 55
8 42 42 48 48 57 57 57
9 44 44 50 50 59 59 59
10 46 46 52 52 61 61 61
11 48 48 54 54 63 63 63
12 50 50 56 56 65 65 65
13 52 52 58 58 67 67 67

Simple Collar Dress - free crochet dress pattern - row 13

Row 14:
Ch 2, 3 hdc in the first st, 1 hdc in every st till end, 3 hdc in last st, turn (56, 56, 62, 62, 71, 71, 71)

Size XS: Place stitch markers at the start and end of row 14 – this is where the armhole starts and ends when we sew the parts together.

Size S:  Repeat row 14 one more time and place stitch markers at the start and end of this row (60)

Size M: Repeat row 14 two more times and place stitch markers at the start and end of this row (66, 70)

Size L: Repeat row 14 three more times and place stitch markers at the start and end of this row (66, 70, 74)

Size XL: Repeat row 14 four more times and place stitch markers at the start and end of this row (75, 79, 83, 87)

Size XXL: Repeat row 14 five more times and place stitch markers at the start and end of this row (75, 79, 83, 87, 91)

Size XXXL: Repeat row 14 six more times and place stitch markers at the start and end of this row (75, 79, 83, 87, 91, 95)

Skirt part of the dress

Row 15 – 60:
Ch 2, 2 hdc in the first st, 1 hdc in every st till end, turn
Counting: every row there will be one more stitch!

Size S: Repeat row 15 two more times and fasten off

Size M: Repeat row 15 four more times and fasten off

Size L: Repeat row 15 six more times and fasten off

Size XL: Repeat row 15 nine more times and fasten off

Size XXL: Repeat row 15 eleven more times and fasten off

Size XXXL: Repeat row 15 thirteen more times and fasten off

If you want a longer dress, repeat row 15 more often. Mind you, the dress will become a bit longer because it will stretch out a bit. How much it will stretch depends on the yarn, the cotton yarn I used was very heavy and the dress became 5 cm / 2″ longer!

Simple Collar Dress - free crochet dress pattern - before border

Border

Row 61:
Skip the 1st st, *(1sc, ch 2, 1sc) in the next st, skip next st*, repeat till end, 1sc in last st, turn (50, 53, 59, 62, 70, 73, 76 bows).

Row 62 – 69 (8 rows):
Ch 2, *(1sc, ch 2, 1sc) in all chain-2 spaces* repeat till end, turn (50, 53, 59, 62, 70, 73, 76 bows).

Fasten off and leave a very long end for sewing.

Seaming

Lay out the two edges that will be sewn and line up the corresponding stitches on each side.

Use your long ends – or cut a spare piece of yarn – and start at the bottom of the dress. Skip the 9 border rows and start sewing where the half double crochet stitches start. Sew all the way up to the stitch marker, inserting the needle in the back loops only.

Repeat side seam on other side and sew the shoulder straps together. Weave in all the ends and turn your dress right side out. Tadaa! Your crochet dress is done!

Simple Collar Dress - free crochet dress pattern - sewing together

Share a picture of your crochet dress!

I would love to see the dress you made and the different yarn/color choices. Please share some pictures on Facebook and Instagram, you can tag me on Instagram with my username @wilmawestenberg. Don’t forget to add this pattern to your Ravelry queue here.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this crochet dress or any of my other patterns, feel free to join my Facebook Group. I created this group for you to share pictures/ progress, ask questions and to help each other out.


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12 Comments

  1. I made this in hobbii dreamcolour, a very thin yarn, using a 5mm hook, and 3 balls. I followed the pattern as it is written & it turned out beautifully

  2. Thank you so much for this pattern! It’s just what I was searching for to make a swim suit cover-up dress. I can’t wait to try it!

  3. Approximately how many yards for a size large, x-large? I really want to make this dress, but I have no idea how much yarn I’ll need. Grams will vary depending on type of yarn, right?

  4. Very pretty! Do you have any patterns for a little girls dress? My daughter is 7 and really wants me to crochet her a dress, but everything I find is for infants or toddlers.

  5. I’m very new to making garments. I’ve made one thing so far. So, I was wondering about the yardage. It says (rounding) 500yds for a Lg. But to use two cakes one for the back and one for the front. Does that mean the 500yrds is for the whole thing or for just the front and another 500 yard cake for the back? Either would be fine, but I wanted to use “ Wolltraum My Melody” and the cakes come in a variety of sizes.

  6. Hey Wilma,
    Wauw, wat een gaaf patroon. Mooi hoor. Ik vind het zo knap, al die ontwerpen. :-).
    Fijn weekend.

    Lieve groetjes,
    Emily

  7. Hi this looks great always wanted to make a dress and this looks fairly easy, would like to make this longer is that possible? Thanks

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