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Simple Dress To Impress

Today I have a new crochet summer dress pattern for ya! The Simple Dress to Impress is a beginner friendly project and perfect for those who want to give their very first crochet dress a try.

It’s the first time I’ve made a crochet summer dress pattern. Actually, it’s the second time I’ve made a piece of clothing at all (my first project was this simple crochet cardigan).

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 Dress to Impress - free crochet summer dress pattern banner

The idea of this dress is not new: one year ago mom and I designed a dress with a gradient yarn cake. We were happy with the result and wrote down some improvements for the second version. However, we had never made garment patterns before and did not know where to start with calculating the other sizes. We decided to skip this dress and not work out the pattern – or maybe postpone it to next year. Which is.. now!

We have grown a lot this past year and finally felt confident enough to work out the pattern, including instructions for different sizes varying from XS to 3XL. Hopefully this is the start of more garments to come!

The dress we initially designed in 2017
Simple Dress to Impress - free crochet summer dress pattern 2017

The design

I love to create crochet patterns that are very simple and beginner friendly. Therefor the pattern of this dress is quite simple as well: the dress is made out of half double crochet stitches only. To add some nice details, I decided to add some ribbed rows. Every 5th row you’ll make the half double crochet stitches in the back loop to create the ribbed rows. It’s really that easy!

Simple Dress to Impress - free crochet summer dress pattern Wilma

The fit

This dress has a close bust/chest fit (zero ease). I used the woman size standards by the Crafty Yarn Council and went for the highest mentioned inch/cm for every size. If your waist and hips are smaller, you might want to make some parts smaller than described in the pattern. You can easily adapt the dress to your custom size by measuring your chest, waist and hips.

The pattern also explains how you can easily change the length of the dress. Mine is till the knee, but as you can see on my picture from last year, a shorter version is also possible!

Simple Dress to Impress - free crochet summer dress pattern side view

The yarn

For this dress I used two Scheepjes Whirls. I personally really like how the colors change in a very subtle way and add a gradient effect to the dress. You don’t have to worry about weaving in ends or picking color combinations at all! One yarn cake has a length of 1000m / 1094 yds and a weight of 220g/7.94 oz. I needed about 1.5 cakes for the dress in size S.

> Click here to read more about yarn cakes that are available

Scheepjes Whirls - gradient yarn cakes

Other free crochet patterns you might like

Simple Dress to Impress 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

Scheepjes Whirls color Raspberry Rocky Roads (752): 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 3* – 3* cakes (approx. 280 – 300 – 330 – 370 – 410 – 440 – 470 g)

For sizes  2X and 3X I advice to buy 2 cakes and add an extra Scheepjes Whirlette cake because you’ll probably need a little bit extra yarn. This 100g ball is the exact same yarn as Whirl, but in a single colour and made for mixing and matching with the Whirls. This way you can save money as you don’t have to buy three cakes.

Crochet hook 3.5mm (US E/4 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 36” bust and wearing the dress in size Small.

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 84 96 107 117 127 137
Waist 61 68 76 87 97 107 114
Hips 86 92 102 112 122 135 140
Border 93 100 108 119 129 139 146
Length 97 100 103 106 108 111 114

Inches

XS S M L XL 2X 3X
Chest 29,9 33,1 37,8 42,1 46,1 50,0 53,9
Waist 24,0 26,8 29,9 34,3 38,2 42,1 44,9
Hips 33,9 36,2 40,2 44,1 48,0 53,1 55,1
Border 36,6 39,4 42,5 46,9 50,8 54,7 57,5
Length 38,2 39,4 40,6 41,7 42,5 43,7 44,9

Gauge

20 half double crochet stitches equal 10 cm / 4”
16 rows equal 10 cm / 4”

Stitches used

Dress:
– st: stitch
– ch: chain
– sl st: slip stitch
– hdc: half double crochet
– fhdc: foundation half double crochet

Border:
– fphdc: front post half double crochet
– bphdc: back post half double crochet
– bpdc: back post double crochet

Notes

– This pattern is written in US terminology

– The dress is worked bottom-up

– The dress is worked in joined rounds

– The chain 1 at the start of every row does not count as a stitch

– You can find more information about calculating the increases and decreases here

– I used a special method to make the seam on the back more straight. See video below or check out this blog post that I wrote about this technique.

– Sizing listed in the pattern will be in XS, S, M, L, XL, 2X, and 3X listed in parenthesis such as “ch 186 (200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292)” whereas ch 186 stands for size XS, 200 for size S, 216 for size M, 238 for size L, 258 for size XL, 278 for size 2X and 292 for size 3X. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

Video

In this video you can see a special technique that I use to make the seam straight instead of diagonally. Read more about this technique.

* Click here to watch the video on YouTube

Simple Dress to Impress

Border
If you have problems with the foundation half double crochet, you can also use chains and normal half double crochet stitches.

Row 1: 186 (200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292) foundation hdc. Slip stitch in the first stitch to close the round (186, 200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292).

Row 2: ch 1, *1 front post hdc in next st, 1 back post hdc in next st* repeat till end, slip stitch in first st (186, 200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292).

Row 3-14 (12 rows): repeat row 2 (186, 200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292).


Skirt part
This is the part where you can change the length of the dress to your liking. The instructions below will tell you to repeat row 15-19 three times. Do you want the dress to be shorter? Repeat row 15-19 less times than stated. Do you want the dress to be longer? Repeat a few more times than stated below. Every time you repeat row 15-19, you add about 3cm / 1.2″.

Row 15: ch 1, 1hdc in every stitch till end, slip stitch in first stitch (186, 200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292).

Row 16 – 18: (3 rows): repeat row 15 (186, 200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292).

Row 19: ch 1, 1hdc in the back loop in every stitch till end, slip stitch in first stitch (186, 200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292).

Row 20 – 34 (15 rows): repeat row 15-19 three times (186, 200, 216, 238, 258, 278, 292).


We’re going to decrease
If you need help with calculating the increases/decreases for your size, click here.

Row 35: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 8 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (178, 192, 208, 230, 250, 270, 284)

Row 36: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 8 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (170, 184, 200, 222, 242, 262, 276)

Row 37: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 8 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (162, 176, 192, 214, 234, 254, 268)

Row 38: repeat row 15 (162, 176, 192, 214, 234, 254, 268)

Row 39: repeat row 19 (162, 176, 192, 214, 234, 254, 268)

Row 40 – 59 (20 rows): repeat row 15-19 four times (162, 176, 192, 214, 234, 254, 268)

simple dress to impress crochet dress pattern - border and hips
We’re going to decrease for the waist
Row 60: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (157, 171, 187, 209, 229, 249, 263)

Row 61: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (152, 166, 182, 204, 224, 244, 258)

Row 62: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (147, 161, 177, 199, 219, 239, 253)

Row 63: repeat row 15 (147, 161, 177, 199, 219, 239, 253)

Row 64: repeat row 19 (147, 161, 177, 199, 219, 239, 253)

Row 65: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (142, 156, 172, 194, 214, 234, 248)

Row 66: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (137, 151, 167, 189, 209, 229, 243)

Row 67: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (132, 146, 162, 184, 204, 224, 238)

Row 68: repeat row 15 (132, 146, 162, 184, 204, 224, 238)

Row 69: repeat row 19 (132, 146, 162, 184, 204, 224, 238)

Row 70: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (127, 141, 157, 179, 199, 219, 233)

Row 71: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (122, 136, 152, 174, 194, 214, 228)

Row 72: repeat row 15 (122, 136, 152, 174, 194, 214, 228)

Row 73: repeat row 15 (122, 136, 152, 174, 194, 214, 228)


We’re going to start working on the top part
Row 74: repeat row 19 (122, 136, 152, 174, 194, 214, 228)

Row 75 – 89 (15 rows): repeat row 15 – 19 three times (122, 136, 152, 174, 194, 214, 228)

simple dress to impress crochet dress pattern - waist
We’re going to increase for the chest

Row 90: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while increasing 4-4-5-5-5-5-5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (126, 140, 157, 179, 199, 219, 233)

Row 91: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while increasing 4-4-5-5-5-5-5 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (130, 144, 162, 184, 204, 224, 238)

Row 92: repeat row 15 (130, 144, 162, 184, 204, 224, 238)

Row 93: repeat row 15 (130, 144, 162, 184, 204, 224, 238)

Row 94: repeat row 19 (130, 144, 162, 184, 204, 224, 238)

Row 95: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while increasing 4-4-5-5-5-5-6 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (134, 148, 167, 189, 209, 229, 244)

Row 96: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while increasing 4-4-5-5-5-5-6 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (138, 152, 172, 194, 214, 234, 250)

Row 97: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while increasing 4-4-5-5-5-5-6 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (142, 156, 177, 199, 219, 239, 256)

Row 98: repeat row 15 (142, 156, 177, 199, 219, 239, 256)

Row 99: repeat row 19 (142, 156, 177, 199, 219, 239, 256)

Row 100: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while increasing 4-4-5-5-5-5-6 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (146, 160, 182, 204, 224, 244, 262)

Row 101: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while increasing 4-4-5-5-5-5-6 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (150, 164, 187, 209, 229, 249, 268)

Row 102: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while increasing 2-4-5-5-5-5-6 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (152, 168, 192, 214, 234, 254, 274)

Row 103: repeat row 15 (152, 168, 192, 214, 234, 254, 274)

Row 104: repeat row 19 (152, 168, 192, 214, 234, 254, 274)

Row 105 – 109 (4 rows): repeat row 15 – 19 (152, 168, 192, 214, 234, 254, 274)

simple dress to impress crochet dress pattern - chest
And we’re going to decrease a little bit again
Row 110: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 1-5-7-9-11-15-19 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (151, 163, 185, 205, 223, 239, 255)

Row 111: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 1-5-7-9-11-15-19 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (150, 158, 178, 196, 212, 224, 236)

Row 112 & 113: repeat row 15 (150, 158, 178, 196, 212, 224, 236)

Row 114: repeat row 19 (150, 158, 178, 196, 212, 224, 236)

Row 115: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 2-5-7-9-12-15-19 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (148, 153, 171, 187, 200, 209, 217)

Row 116: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 2-5-7-9-12-15-19 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (146, 148, 164, 178, 188, 194, 198)

Row 117: ch 1, work 1 row of hdc while decreasing 2-4-8-10-12-14-18 stitches evenly, slip stitch in the first stitch (144, 144, 156, 168, 176, 180, 180) (you should end with an amount of stitches dividable by 4)

Row 118: repeat row 15 (144, 144, 156, 168, 176, 180, 180)

Row 119: repeat row 19 (144, 144, 156, 168, 176, 180, 180)

Row 120, 121 & 122: repeat row 15 (144, 144, 156, 168, 176, 180, 180)

simple dress to impress crochet dress pattern - in progress, right before front panels

Last part of the top

Front panel 1
Lay down the dress flat with the seam in the middle. Place 4 stitch markers evenly around the row (every 36, 36, 39, 42, 44, 45, 45 stitches) – place the first stitch marker at the seam.

simple dress to impress crochet pattern - where to place the stitch markers

We’re now going to work in rows, so we turn our work at the end of every row. Continue working where you ended row 122.

Row 123: ch 1, work hdc till the stitch before the marker on the front while decreasing 12-12-14-16-16-14-14 stitches, turn your work (60, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 76)

Row 124: note: make all hdc in the front loops. Ch 1, skip the first stitch, next 2 hdc together, 1 hdc in the next 26-26-28-30-32-34-34 stitches, next 2 hdc together, turn your work (28, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 36)

Row 125: ch 1, skip the first stitch, next 2 hdc together, 1 hdc in every st till the end, last 2 hdc together, turn your work (25, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 33)

Row 126: repeat row 125 (22, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 30)

Row 127: repeat row 125 (19, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 27)

Row 128: repeat row 125 (16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 24)

Row 129: repeat row 125 in the back loops only (13, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 21)

Row 130: repeat row 125 (10, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 18)

Row 131: repeat row 125 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 132: ch 1, 1 hdc in every stitch, turn your work (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 133: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 134: repeat row 132 in front loops only (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 135: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 136: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

simple dress to impress crochet pattern - front panel 1

Row 137: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 138: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 139: repeat row 132 in back loops only (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 140: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 141: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 142: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 143: repeat row 132 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 144 – 173: repeat row 134 – 143 three times (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Row 174 – 181: repeat row 134 – 141 (7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15)

Finish off and leave a long end for sewing.

Panel 2
We’re going to repeat panel 1 on the other side. Start in the stitch right after the stitch marker in the front center. We’re going to work towards the back.

simple dress to impress crochet pattern - start with front panel 2

Row 123: ch 1, work hdc till the stitch before the marker on the back while decreasing 12-12-14-16-16-14-14 stitches, turn your work (60, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 76)

Finish off and re-attach yarn at the stitch marker under the armpit. We’re going to work in rows from the armpit to the front & back.

simple dress to impress crochet pattern - front panel 2 row 124

Row 124 – 181: repeat panel 1

simple dress to impress crochet pattern - front panel 2

Border around the top

Continue working where you ended panel 2.

Row 1: Ch 2, work 1 hdc in every stitch around the entire top.

simple dress to impress crochet pattern - final border

In corners, make 1 hdc, chain 2, 1 hdc. Make sure to crochet this part loosely. End with 2 chains and a slip stitch in the first stitch where you started, turn your work.

simple dress to impress crochet dress pattern - final border corner

Row 2: 1 back post double crochet in the next 3 stitches, *3 back post triple crochet in the next stitch, 1 back post dc in the next 6 stitches* repeat around the entire top. Note: in all 4 corners (ch 2-space from previous row), make 2 dc around the ch-spaces.

simple dress to impress crochet dress pattern - final border

Finish off and weave in the ends. Sew the straps to the back of the dress with a tapestry needle.

Share a picture!

And that’s it! I would love to see the dress you made. Please share some pictures on Facebook and Instagram – you can tag me on Instagram @wilmawestenberg. Also, don’t forget to add this pattern to your Ravelry queue here.

Questions?

If you have any questions about my patterns, yarn or sizing, 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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17 Comments

  1. Hi Wilma I’m trying to crochet this for a friend and I got lost on row 35 and she’s a large, I’m confused about the decreasing, in need of help!!! By the way this dress is beautiful love it

  2. Hi Wilma

    Lovely looking dress!

    I’m puzzled by the colour gradient. How does that work if you are using multiple different cakes? How come you end up with an even gradient from bottom to top, and you don’t seem to get a colour repeat at all?

  3. Hello Wilma,

    The dress looks amazing! You are awesome. I am going to go yarn shopping today so I can try to make this one. I am a very much a beginner and have a question for you. As far as I know, hdc (and other hdc stitches) start with 2 ch. in your pattern, every row says 1ch. Is there a reason why? It was my understand that hdc height is 2 and single crochet height is 1 (and double crochet is 3). Let me know if I misread your pattern. Thank you!

  4. I love this dress but using the E hook and the new super saver stripes yarn is not working so well for me. The yarn is constantly separating and the needle is getting stuck. Any suggestions??

  5. I see from your photos, you have what looks like a “stitch” on the 19th rows. When I crochet this in the round, and crochet in the back “loop” only, it only has 1 loop on the front, unlike yours. Your has two, making it look like a stitch. If I were to turn at the end of row 18 (or beginning of 19th) then I could get this “ridge looking stitch”. How’d you do it? (Thanks for helping!)

    1. Hi Dixie, a HDC has three loops. To create the ribbed effect, insert the hook in the third loop. Not in the front loop (which is facing you), and not in the one next to that, but the one next to that! 🙂 Hope this makes it more clear.

      1. Thanks! I’ll give it a try when I do the next one. I have received so many compliments about the dress & fit. Thanks so much for sharing your pattern.

  6. Easy, fun dress pattern. I’m 5’6″ and thought the straps were a little long, so decreased them by 10 rows. I wasn’t sure about the scalloped edge but it turned out super cute! I’ll post pics on Ravelry.

  7. Hi wilma i have a question
    When your saying dicriea 2,2,5,5,5,5, what dos that mean??
    Or any of the other numbers
    Thanks alot love your crochet
    Alin from israel

    1. They are the numbers you need depending on what size dress you’ve chosen to make.

      For example increases
      xs = increase by 2
      s = increase by 2
      m = increase by 5
      l – xxxl = increase by 5

  8. Hoi Wilma, wat een geweldige jurk heb je ontworpen. Denk je dat ik hem ook kan maken met een whirl en een whirette voor maat S?
    Heb je trouwens ook een foto van de achterkant. Ik ben heel benieuwd hoe de bandjes er daar uitzien.

    Liefs, Sanne

  9. I’m not very skilled at crochet but I’m hopeful to be. Everything designed for your site is amazing!!

  10. Hey Wilma,
    Wat een gave jurk heb je gemaakt. Heel erg mooi en staat je geweldig.
    Fijn weekend.

    Lieve groetjes,
    Emily
    (casacreaemilia.blogspot.nl)

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