by Dive into this exquisite project! This Aqua Lagoon Fan Shell Dress features a smooth, structured yoke contrasted by a dramatic, voluminous skirt made with a stunning Large Fan Shell (LFS) stitch. The seamless top-down construction and small white accent stripe make it both satisfying to create and an absolute showstopper for any baby girl.
This pattern is designed for the 6-12 Month size and is perfect for the Intermediate crocheter ready to master classic raglan shaping and a beautiful repeating lace motif.
Materials Needed 
- Yarn: Approximately 400-450 yards of DK Weight (Light Worsted / #3) or soft Worsted Weight (#4) yarn. Cotton or a cotton blend is highly recommended for the skirt’s drape.
- Main Color (MC): Approx. 350-400 yards (Aqua Teal)
- Contrast Color (CC): Approx. 50 yards (Snow White)
- Crochet Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6), or the size needed to obtain gauge.
- Ribbon: A small polka-dot or patterned ribbon for the bow accent.
- Tapestry Needle: For weaving ends.
- Stitch Markers: 4 markers for the raglan corners.
Skill Level & Notes 
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- Skill Level: Intermediate. You must be comfortable with top-down raglan shaping, joining new stitches, and maintaining a multi-row shell pattern repeat.
- Construction: The entire dress is worked seamlessly from the top-down, joining at the end of each round. There is a small back neck slit for easier dressing.
- Skirt Repeat: The Large Fan Shell pattern requires a stitch count that is a multiple of 6 stitches. Adjustments are made in the yoke separation round.
- Chains: The starting chain (ch 2) at the beginning of HDC rounds always counts as the first HDC unless noted otherwise.
Gauge 
In Half Double Crochet (HDC) (Yoke section) using a 4.0 mm hook: 14 HDC stitches and 10 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm) square.
Abbreviations 
| Abbreviation | Description |
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| rep | repeat |
| PM | Place Marker |
| sk | skip |
Special Stitch 
Large Fan Shell (LFS)
This stitch creates the dramatic, open scallops of the skirt.
- LFS: (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all worked into the same stitch or space. (6 dc, 2 ch-1 sps)
Part 1: The Yoke (MC – Aqua Teal) 
The yoke is worked flat in rows with a back opening, then joined for the round.
Row 1 (Foundation): Ch 72. Hdc in the 3rd ch from hook (counts as 2 hdc). Hdc in the next 10 ch. [Hdc, ch 2, hdc] in the next ch (PM in ch-2 sp). Hdc in the next 12 ch (Shoulder). [Hdc, ch 2, hdc] in the next ch (PM). Hdc in the next 18 ch (Front). [Hdc, ch 2, hdc] in the next ch (PM). Hdc in the next 12 ch (Shoulder). [Hdc, ch 2, hdc] in the next ch (PM). Hdc in the last 11 ch. (76 hdc, 4 ch-2 sps)
Rows 2-8 (Increase Rows): Ch 2 (counts as hdc), turn. Hdc in each st until the first ch-2 sp. [Hdc, ch 2, hdc] in the ch-2 sp. Rep [Hdc in each st to next ch-2 sp, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in ch-2 sp] 3 times. Hdc in each remaining st. (Increases by 4 hdc each row.)
- End of Row 8 Stitch Count: 104 hdc, 4 ch-2 sps.
Row 9 (CC – Stripe): Attach CC (White). Ch 2, turn. Hdc in each st, increasing only in the ch-2 sps as before. Fasten off CC.
Row 10 (MC – Final Yoke): Attach MC. Ch 2, turn. Hdc in each st, increasing only in the ch-2 sps as before.
Part 2: Body Separation and Skirt Setup 
Round 11 (Separation): Ch 2. Hdc in each st until the first ch-2 sp. Hdc in the ch-2 sp. Ch 4 (skips the sleeve stitches/PMs). Hdc in the second ch-2 sp. Hdc in each st until the third ch-2 sp. Hdc in the ch-2 sp. Ch 4 (skips the second sleeve stitches). Hdc in the fourth ch-2 sp. Hdc in each remaining st. Sl st to the top of the beg ch-2 to join. (116 hdc, 8 ch = 124 sts)
Round 12 (Skirt Setup): Ch 2. Work 4 hdc into each ch-4 sp. Hdc in each hdc around. Sl st to join. (132 hdc)
- Note: 132 is a perfect multiple of 6 (132 / 6 = 22 LFS shells).
Part 3: The Skirt (MC – Large Fan Shell) 
The skirt is worked entirely in MC (Aqua Teal).
Round 13 (LFS Row): Ch 1 (does not count). Sc in the first st. [Sk 2 sts, LFS (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st, sk 2 sts, sc in the next st] rep around. Sl st to the beg sc. (22 LFS shells)
Round 14: Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1). Dc in the ch-1 sp of the next LFS shell. [Ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in the next sc, ch 1, sk 2 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in the center (second) ch-1 sp of the next LFS shell] rep around. Ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in the next sc. Ch 1. Sl st to the 3rd ch of beg ch-4 to join.
Round 15 (LFS Row): Ch 1. Sc in the first ch-1 sp. [LFS (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next sc, sc in the next ch-1 sp] rep around. Sl st to the beg sc. (22 LFS shells)
Rounds 16-30: Repeat Rounds 14 and 15 until the desired skirt length is reached, ending on a LFS Row (Round 15 repeat).
Final Hem Edging: Sl st to the center of the first LFS shell. Ch 1. Work sc evenly around the entire skirt edge, placing 3 sc in each ch-1 sp of the LFS shells and 1 sc in the sc between the shells. Sl st to join. Fasten off.
Part 4: Finishing and Edging 
A. Neckline Edging (CC and MC)
- Round 1 (CC – White): Attach CC at the back neck opening. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the entire neckline. Sl st to join. Do not fasten off.
- Round 2 (MC – Aqua Teal): Ch 1. Sl st in each st around. Sl st to join and fasten off.
B. Armhole Edging (CC and MC)
- Round 1 (CC – White): Attach CC at the underarm. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the armhole opening. Sl st to join.
- Round 2 (MC – Aqua Teal): Ch 1. Sl st in each st around. Sl st to join and fasten off. Repeat for the second armhole.
C. Back Closure
- Sew a small button onto the top of the Right Back edge. Create a small ch-3 loop on the Left Back edge using CC for a button closure.
