Crochet Easiest Little Princess Baby Dress

Welcome to a truly special project! The Buttercup Heirloom Dress is a sweet, timeless garment perfect for baby showers, christenings, or a beautiful photo prop. It features a solid, comfortable circular yoke that transitions seamlessly into a full, flowy skirt using a delicate V-Stitch Shell pattern. This blog will guide you through creating this delightful dress, sized for an average 6-12 month-old baby.

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Skill Level: Intermediate

Finished Size: 6-12 Months (Chest Circumference: approx. 20 inches / 50 cm)

Materials & Gauge

Materials Needed

Yarn: Approximately 300-350 yards of DK Weight (Light Worsted/8-ply) soft baby yarn (acrylic, cotton, or a blend). Choose a yarn that is soft against baby’s skin. (The sample image uses a light yellow/buttercup color.)
Hook: Size G/6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Notions: Small buttons (2-3), ribbon (about 1 yard of 1/4 inch wide), yarn needle for weaving in ends and sewing, and scissors.

Gauge (Crucial for Sizing!)

- Yoke (DC rows): 5 rows of DC should measure approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm) tall.
- Yoke (DC rows): 4 inches (10 cm) square should be 18 DC sts wide.
- The final yoke circumference before dividing for the sleeves should measure about 10 inches (25 cm) laid flat, or 20 inches total.

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Special Stitches & Abbreviations

Pattern Abbreviations (US Terms)

| Abbreviation | Meaning | | Abbreviation | Meaning | | :—: | :— | :—: | :— | | ch | chain | | st(s) | stitch(es) | | sl st | slip stitch | | rep | repeat | | sc | single crochet | | inc | increase (work 2 sts into 1 st) | | dc | double crochet | | sk | skip | | hdc | half double crochet | | ch-sp | chain space | | BLO | Back Loop Only | | RS/WS | Right Side / Wrong Side |

Special Stitches (Written Instructions)

Shell (V-Shell): Work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all into the indicated stitch or space.

The Pattern: Buttercup Heirloom Dress

Note: The yoke is worked in rows, turning at the end of each row, to allow for the back opening.

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Part 1: The Circular Yoke (Top Down)

Foundation: Ch 74 (or adjust for neckline: multiple of 6 plus 2).

Row 1 (RS): Dc in the 4th ch from hook (first 3 ch counts as 1 dc) and dc in each ch across. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), turn. (72 dc)

Row 2 (WS – Increase): Dc in the same st. Dc in the next 5 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Rep from * 10 more times. Dc in the last 4 sts. Ch 3, turn. (84 dc)

Row 3 (RS – Increase): Dc in the same st. Dc in the next 6 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Rep from * 10 more times. Dc in the last 4 sts. Ch 3, turn. (96 dc)

Row 4 (WS – Increase): Dc in the same st. Dc in the next 7 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Rep from * 10 more times. Dc in the last 4 sts. Ch 3, turn. (108 dc)

Row 5 (RS – Increase): Dc in the same st. Dc in the next 8 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Rep from * 10 more times. Dc in the last 4 sts. Ch 3, turn. (120 dc)

Row 6 (WS – No Increase): Dc in the same st and in each st across. Ch 3, turn. (120 dc)

Row 7 (RS – Divide for Sleeves):

- Dc in the next 16 sts (Front Right).
- Ch 1, sk 28 sts (Sleeve 1).
- Dc in the next 32 sts (Back).
- Ch 1, sk 28 sts (Sleeve 2).
- Dc in the next 16 sts (Front Left).
- Ch 3, turn. (64 dc, 2 ch-1 sps)

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Part 2: Joining the Body and Establishing Skirt

The body is now worked in joined rounds.

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Round 8 (Skirt Foundation): Dc in the next 15 dc. Work 2 dc in the ch-1 sp. Dc in the next 32 dc. Work 2 dc in the ch-1 sp. Dc in the last 16 dc. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). (68 dc)

Round 9 (Shell Setup): Dc in the same st (inc made). Dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Rep from * around. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). (90 dc)

Note: The final stitch count (90) is a multiple of the shell repeat (5 sts), which is perfect for the skirt pattern.

Part 3: The Shell Stitch Skirt

Round 10 (Shells): Dc in the next st. Sk 2 sts. Work a Shell (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st. Sk 4 sts, Shell in the next st. Rep from * around. Sk the last 2 sts. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). (18 Shells)

Round 11: Dc in the next st. Sk 2 dc. Work a Shell into the ch-1 sp of the previous round’s Shell. Sk 4 dc, Shell in the ch-1 sp of the next Shell. Rep from * around. Sk the last 2 dc. Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). (18 Shells)

Repeat Round 11 until the dress reaches the desired length, approximately 12-14 rounds total (or about 10-12 inches from the yoke to the hem).

Part 4: Edging and Finishing

Final Hem Edge:

Ch 1, sc in the first st and in the next st.
In the ch-1 sp of the last shell: (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) (Scallop made).
Sc in the next 4 dc (the middle of the shell groups).
In the ch-1 sp of the next shell: (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc). Sc in the next 4 dc. Rep from * around. Sl st to the first sc to join.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Neckline and Back Opening:

1. Join yarn at the bottom corner of the back opening (RS facing).
2. Sc evenly up the side of the opening, around the neckline, and down the other side of the opening.
3. Button Loops: At the top of one side of the back opening, Ch 3, sl st back into the same space (button loop made). Repeat for 2 more button loops evenly spaced down the opening.
4. Buttons: Sew 2-3 small buttons onto the opposite side of the back opening to align with the button loops.

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Sleeve Edging:

1. Join yarn in the underarm ch-1 sp.
2. Ch 1, sc in the sp. Sc evenly around the armhole opening (about 30-35 sc total). Sl st to join.
3. Scallop Edge: Ch 1, sc in the same st. Sk 1 st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st. Sk 1 st, sc in the next st. Rep from * around. Sl st to the first sc to join.
4. Repeat for the second sleeve.

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