Crochet Baby's First Gown

Crochet Your Own

I was inspired by the Diaper Cover and the Little Sweetie Dress. I thought to myself, "What would happen if I brought two concepts together to create a unique gown for a baby? Could the idea work and could it be affordable?"

To not take away from the creativity of the Little Sweetie Dress designer, I am going to give you the free pattern for the Little Sweetie Dress. She is responsible for figuring out the math associated with doing the neck to the waist of the dress. I am responsible for changing the waist down to the bottom, sleeves and collar.

The meshing takes a while, I am not going to deny that. If you want something more extravagant, you have to spend the time to work on it to get it to look amazing. This is one of those projects where the time is definitely worth it.

This pattern will work in two parts:

• I'm going to give you a link to the Little Sweetie Dress. You can choose 1 of 4 different sizes to complete. 6, 12, 18 or 24-month sizes. Complete the Little Sweetie Dress all the way to the start of the skirt again.
• Once you get to the skirt, come back to this pattern here to complete the instructions for the rest of this dress. The skirt, collar and sleeves are different.
  

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Materials

1. 2 Skeins of Red Heart Gumdrop for the 6 - 12-month sizes. 3 Skeins for the 18 - 24-month sizes.
2. 2 Skeins of Red Heart Sashay Mini for the 6 - 12-month sizes, 3 Skeins for 18 - 24-month sizes.
3. 1 Skien using very little of Red Heart Soft Baby Steps for the collar and sleeve trim work.

This pattern picks up when you get to the Skirt of the Little Sweetie Dress. You need to complete the instructions up to the skirt on the little sweetie dress to continue below.

Skirt

The skirt works in continuous revolutions. This simply means there will be no slip stitching between the rounds. Use the back opening of the upper part to count your revolutions. You will be working in the back loops for the entire skirt. Using the Red Heart Gum Drop to complete the skirt.

1. Begin with a back loop sc, back loop hdc, and back loop dc. *2 back loop dc in the same stitch, 1 back loop dc into the next two stitches. Repeat * all the way around. Do not slip stitch.
2. *2 back loop dc into the same stitch, 1 back loop dc into the next two stitches. Repeat * around.
3. 1 back loop dc into each stitch around.
4. For 6 month size - Repeat Step 3 until the skirt area measures 6.5" long. 12 months - 7.5". 18 months - 9.5". 24 months - 10.5"
5. Repeat Step 2; however, the final 4 stitches should be back loop hdc.
6. 1 back loop single crochet each around. Final 2 stitches should be slip stitch. Fasten off and secure ends.

Sashay Mini Ruffles

The Sashay Mini Ruffles work from the bottom of the dress, spiralling upward to the waistline of the dress. You will see the back loops on the exterior of the dress. You will be affixing the ruffles to every back loop. Due to the dress spiralling downward, the back loops will be spiralling upward as you work on them. There is no slip stitching.

Red Heart's Tip for Working with Mesh Yarn:

First spread the yarn open with ladder edge at top and wider metallic edge at the bottom. Continue to spread the yarn open as you work so that you can see the spaces of the top ladder edge. Stitches are made by inserting the hook into a space of the top ladder and through the unworked front loops of the dress, then pulling the uppermost strand of mesh through the stitches and loops on the hook. Always insert the hook from the front to the bottom side of the dress through the front loops when attaching. Skipping 1 space as you work with the Sashay Mesh Yarn. If you do not skip a space, the dress won't be as full, skipping more than 1 space will create even bigger ruffles but use up more yarn.

1. Starting with the mesh is a bit awkward but requires you to get used to working with it.
2. As stated in the Red Heart Tip, you must insert your hook from the bottom going upward under the front loops when attaching. This causes the Sashay to fall over the seam line that is created. If you go from the top down, the seam of the join will be visible.
3. Before you start to use the Sashay Mini Ruffle yarn. Pull the yarn through the first stitch and affix to the inside of the dress. Then start opening up the mesh to Slip Stitch the mesh into position on the front loop. Continue to slip stitch the mesh along each front loop circling the entire dress. You will continue to spiral up until you run out of front loops.

Collar

1. Using Baby Soft Steps or equivalent yarn. Attach the yarn to the bottom of the back opening that rests at the waistline. Ch 1, sc going up and around the collar and back down the other side with Single Crochet being spaced evenly if the stitches are not apparent. Do not add any stitches to any 90-degree turns. Turn.
2. Ch 1, 1 sc into each and follow the collar down to the other side of the back opening. Turn.
3. Ch 1, 1 sc into each and follow the collar around. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sleeves

1. Attach the yarn on the underside of the sleeve, just above the waistline. Ch 1, SC around. SL ST at the end to the 1st SC.
2. Repeat Step 1 - 2 more times.
3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Button Fastener

1. Looking at the back, 1 side of the back opening will overlay the other. The back opening wasn't created on equal sides. Determine which flap is on the underside.
2. Grab a button that will slide through the double crochet posts. Sew securely the button to the flap that is on the underside.

Tutorials

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