This tutorial was made in collaboration with Marija from La Tessoria. See my post about Marija here!
Printable pdf file you can download on Craftsy or Ravelry!
Sizes:
Tutorial is written for two sizes, but it is extremely easy to make it in any other size. All you need to do is to make as many squares as needed to make it fit around child’s chest. And then cut the fabric according to your own measurements – desired length and width of the skirt part.
Baby (9-12months)
Toddler (up to 3 years)
Materials:
any sport weight yarn, approx. 50g for smaller size and up to 100g for bigger sizes (I used linen/viscose blend yarn from yarn paradise – http://www.yarn-paradise.com/linen-camel-brown, but any other yarn will work just fine. With the yarn weight you can also make experiments and use some thicker yarn as well. In this case you will simply have to make less squares.)
- crochet hook 3.25mm (D) or size needed to obtain gauge
- 4 small buttons (can use only 2 if prefer)
- tapestry needle
- fabric (two pieces each 15x18inches for baby size or 18x21inches for toddler size
- 4 stitch markers (optional, you can use contrasting color yarn as well to mark stitches)
- pins (optional)
- sewing machine (optional, all seams can be hand sewn as well)
Gauge:
11dc and 5 rows = 2inches
Stitches used:
st(s) – stitch(es)
ch – chain stitch
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
tr – treble crochet
sl st – slip stitch
Special stitches:
3-dc bobble – work 3 incomplete dc stitches by leaving the last loop of each stitch on hook, so that 4 loops remain on hook. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook. Stitch completed.
4-dc bobble – work 4 incomplete dc stitches by leaving the last loop of each stitch on hook, so that 5 loops remain on hook. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook. Stitch completed.
SQUARE:
Foundation ring: Ch4, join
Rnd 1: ch4 (counts as first dc and ch1), * dc into the ring, ch1 *, repeat from * 10 times more, join with sl st in first dc
Rnd 2: sl st in first ch-1 space, ch2, 3-dc bobble in same ch-1 space,
* ch2, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, ch3, tr in next dc, ch3, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, ch2, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, *
repeat from * twice more, ch2, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, ch3, tr in next dc, ch3, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, ch2, join with sl st in top of first 3-dc bobble. Fasten off.
Make 8 for baby size and 10 for toddler size, or as many as needed for any other size or if using different kind of yarn.
First I suggest to weave in the ends which remained at the center of each square. With other ends we will deal later.
Now you have to join the squares.
Starting from the tr on the angle of the square join both pieces working sc evenly across.
Sure there are many different ways how to join the squares and this one is probably the most primitive way, but it works well and I am totally happy with the result.
Only in case you are using much thicker yarn, like worsted weight yarn, it would be better to join the squares with other method, for example with sewn stitches.
When joining the squares take care that all tails (the ones from each square) you leave on the same side. In other words – for top part there should be less tails left, only the ones from joining, but all the rest of tails go on bottom. Join all squares until you have a long line of them. Now join in the same way first and last square to shape a big ring. Fasten off.
It looks quite scary right now with all those tails, but NO worries! We will get rid of them very, very easily! First step is to trim them, so that they all are more or less in same length and approximately 2inches long.
Working on the edge where you have fewer tails (this will be top part), join yarn in any joining seam and work evenly sc all around hiding the tails between stitches – you have to work sc leaving the tails between stitches.
Take care that you hide in this way all the tails.
Join with sl st in first sc. Don’t fasten off.
Now mark where the armholes will be. For smaller sizes I suggest to leave one square for the arm, for bigger sizes you can leave up to two squares. It is not said that you have to leave entire square. You can choose. Just take care that it all looks symmetrically correct. First marker goes into the same stitch (or just the one next to is) where is opened loop from previous round.
And now work top front in the following way:
TOP front:
Row 1: Ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in each next st until next marker, turn
Row 2: ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in each dc to end, turn
Repeat Row 2 – four times for baby size and six times for toddler size (or as many times as needed to get desired length)
Last row: * ch3, skip next st, sl st in next st *, repeat from * to end. Fasten off. (you can work ch4, or even ch5 instead, especially if you prefer to use bigger buttons, as these will serve as button loops)
TOP Back
Skip the squares left for armhole. Join the yarn into the next marked stitch, and repeat instructions for the Top front.
WAIST part
Now you have to work across the bottom edge. Join the yarn on the side of the dress and work evenly sc across hiding all the tails between stitches as you did for the top, join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 2: ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in each stitch to end, join with sl st in top ch of ch-3
Rnds 3-5: ch1, sc in each st, join with sl st in first sc.
SKIRT Part
And now you can actually choose – or you make the skirt part from fabric, or you make the dress entirely crocheted.
If you prefer second version, don’t fasten off, but work next rnd increasing stitches – you can double them for extra wide skirt or increase stitch amount just slightly.
How to increase – work 2dc in next st. You can work 2dc in each next st, or work 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, and repeat it all around. Then work evenly dc in each stitch until the dress is long enough. The length of the dress you can choose as well, and the best way is to adjust it for each child’s needs and for the way or occasion it will be worn later. When it is long enough work the last rnd in following way, to add nice edging:
Edging: * ch3, skip next st, sl st in next st *, repeat from * to end. Fasten off.
If you prefer fabric skirt here is how to make it.
- First step is to choose the fabric. I suggest to use similar fabric to the yarn you used. For example, as we used linen yarn we made the skirt part with the linen fabric as well. If you use cotton yarn – use some cotton or jersey fabric. In this way the dress will look more uniform and professionally done.
- Cut two pieces of fabric each 15x18inches for baby size or 18×21 for toddler size.
- First finish the edges with your preferred method. If you are using jersey fabric you can skip this step as the fabric will not fray. Otherwise you can choose to work zig zag stitch, or if you have a serge you may serge the edges now, or cut with pinking shears the edge to prevent fraying.
- Make the side seam – right sides of the fabric together, with ½ inch allowance, sew side seams.
- Gather one edge of skirt and adjusting the gathers to fit, sew to lower edge of crochet top. You can first pin it to the crochet top and then sew. Press 1/4 inch to wrong side along remaining bottom edge of skirt and hem to desired length.
All sewing can be done by hand or using sewing machine.
And at the end sew on the buttons – two one each shoulder!
With same method you can make a dress using any square pattern of your choice.
OH MY WORD!!!! That is adorable…love fusion projects!!!
Beautiful! I have to try this for my grandbaby.
wauuuu, lovely <3
Thank you and Marija for sharing this exquisite pattern. I’m going to attempt making it for my great-niece. I bought some lovely linen-blend yarn yesterday.
Hello,
Thank you SO much for posting this pattern, when I saw the first image I thought ‘what a gorgeous dress, I’ll have to buy that pattern’. Then as I read further I found the pattern was included!!!
I’ve thought of heaps of different ideas to make this dress already and I’m predicting that it will become a favorite, thank you so much for giving this away.
Keep designing your patterns please, as yours always turn out beautiful and lots of your patterns are my go to ones!
Thanks so much,
Maria
This is so lovely thank you for sharing.
TRès joli!!! Thank you very much!♥♥♥
Rosalie***
Hi can you tell me what yarn you are using trying to find it here in the uk we don’t have sport yarn
Hello,
As far as I know in UK sport weight yarn is 4ply yarn. The yarn I used for this dress I purchased on http://www.yarn-paradise.com .
Hope this helps!
Please can you tell me the make of the yarn you used as I want to make this dress just like yours it is just so beautiful you are a very talented lady
Thank you so much
The yarn I used was this one: http://www.yarn-paradise.com/linen-camel-brown 🙂 They have beautiful other colors as well.
Love this dress!
I would also love to have the link for the right yarn. Have to order it online since I live in Norway. Have tried the pattern with all the yarn I have home here with no luck 😉
Why is it just 4 double stitch in the first?
Hello,
I gave link in my previous comment about the yarn, but here it is again: http://www.yarn-paradise.com/linen-camel-brown
Do you mean why in the first space you have to work 3dc bobble? Because you have ch2 and it is like having one extra unfinished dc.
Hope this helps! 🙂
Thank you soooo mutch! 🙂
I have to ask for one more thing; how do you make the corners? What means “tr” in this sentences: “ch3, tr in next dc, ch3” ? I’ve tried dc in the corner-dc, but that can’t be right? It’s difficult some time to understand english pattern 😉
Sanna, it is a treble crochet stitch! It is longer as dc, as you have to wrap the yarn twice, not just once as for double crochet.
Hello Vita!
I am so glad that I found your blog.
It’s really wonderful and I can’t wait to explore it immediatelly!
And the above tutorial… it has been added to my to-crochet list!
Thank you!!!
[…] Free granny square crochet + fabric dress pattern by Mon Petit Violin […]
This is beautiful! I love how you combined the yarn and fabric in such lovely design. Very pretty!
This is a beautiful dress. But I am am having trouble with the gauge which is why I don’t usually follow patterns. Because I never can get gauge right. But I am forging ahead with the squares and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to give me the dimensions for the square. Thank you for the beautiful pattern and thank you in advance for your reply.
Wow.. This is pretty, elegant.. Such a cute dress.. Love, love , love…!!!
Hello Vita!! lovely pattern. I have a question about round 1 starting the square, can you send me your email? Thanks.
Hello! You can ask here as well! 🙂 Maybe it will be useful for others too.
Hi
Thank you for sharing
I adore the dress
I started knitting” tout de suit”
But i couldn’t decipher the last row of top front and back: should i do the button holes only at the two ends or should i yarn 3 sl st then repeat along the row untill i reach the other end and then make the other button hole?
I’m so happy to have found you through tangled happy blog! Even more happy to have found you and this dress while I still have a two year old girl!! Thank you for the simple, beautiful dress pattern, I am so excited to make up a couple of these for summertime. Just lovely.
beautiful designs!! thank you for sharing your work!
[…] I came across this little drss and tutorial on pinterest (of course!) and am totally besotted with it. There is definitely one of these in Emma’s future…. as soon as I can get through my other WIPs… or not! The original image and tutorial can be found here. […]
Hello
Tank you for your tutoriel.
I realized this dress for my 7 year old daughter. I brought some modifications.
You can see my version on my blog at this address : http://letissesbetises.canalblog.com/
Thank you for your sharing.
Leti’s & ses Bêtises
[…] that long ago I spied with my little eye a gorgeous crochet and linen dress over at Mon Petit Violon, a lovely little number with a delicate granny square bodice. The fabric I had was fun and […]
[…] Granny Squares Crochet / Fabric Dress Variation – Mon Petit […]
[…] little while ago I came across a tutorial for a little dress with a crochet yoke on Mon Petit Violon. I finally got around to making a similar dress for […]
Love this beautiful dress. Just wondering if you could tell me the finished size of each square.
[…] Image and pattern source: monpetitviolon.com […]
[…] idea la saqué de aquí. Me encantó cuando lo vi!! Pero el hilo que elegí era más fino, con lo que el resultado ha sido […]
gracias por compartir bendiciones.
Hello
I love this dress so much.
Thank you for sharing this tutorial. I am going to make one but I want to make with slevess.
Will you be able to explain a little bit about it?
If i used acrylic thread what kind a fabric you recommend to use helpplease me!!
I just LOVE this pattern. I know this has been up for a while – but I’ve not seen this tutorial until now – when I’d love to make this for my granddaughter.
But I have a question. I think it’s awesome of you to share this – for free! = with all of us. And those of us with far less experience learn so much from your generosity!
My question is this:
In the tutorial above, there are places where you have repeats – which I totally do understand. What I don’t see in above tutorial is the beginner * for repeats.
For example I’ve copied from above here:
Rnd 2: sl st in first ch-1 space, ch2, 3-dc bobble in same ch-1 space,
ch2, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, ch3, tr in next dc, ch3, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, ch2, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space,
repeat from * twice more, ch2, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, ch3, tr in next dc, ch3, 4-dc bobble in next ch-1 space, ch2, join with sl st in top of first 3-dc bobble. Fasten off.
I believe I can figure this out – but am not sure – and I saw this also in completing the top…I can’t find the beginner * from which to follow.
Hope I can get a reply on this – I know this is an older post.
Again – we DO appreciate your generous sharing…I’d just like to make sure I can do this correctly!
Thank you so much for your comment! I didn’t notice that when I was putting mark ( * ) to show where repeat starts and ends, wordpress was correcting it, and the mark was disappearing, but the text was converted in Italian shrift. I did correct it. And I hope it all makes sense now. You can also download the printable version here: http://monpetitviolon.com/free-patterns/ by clicking on the photo of the dress.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Vita
Hello,
this is a really cute little dress, thank you for the pattern, my girls are bigger but love dresses so I think I’ll have a go and make one soon.
I’ve just started my new blog, love crochet 🙂
http://www.poppycreates.com
Have a lovely day, Renata
Thanks a lot for this tutorial, I used it to make a dress for my daughter, she loves it !
http://www.sweet-a-porter.blogspot.fr/2015/08/robe-au-crochet-avec-les-fleurs-du-japon.html
i really think that this a very cute out fit. do you happen to have a video that shows you the granny square. mine keep turning out wrong.
Thank you for sharing
I adore the dress
Grazie Ornella from Italy
I can’t crochet worth a flip! But sure would like to buy a couple for my grandaughters. Is that possible?
This is adorable. Thank you for sharing.
Very beautiful!! Thanks for share! I´m going to do it for my granddaugther! Good day!
Hi from Caracas Venezuela!
Hi i just finished making this for my granddaughter. .. great pattern easy to follow … thanks for pinning pattern
I have pinned a photo of tge o e i made
Linda
I love this dress and want to try and make it for my 3 year old daughter. I’m a visual learner 🙁 You wouldn’t have a video tutorial on this would you? Thank you so much for your help!
No, I am sorry. I do not have video tutorials for now.