Make this dress with or without the contrast trim!
Materials: Size 4 hook, approx. 100 yds #10 main color (MC) crochet cotton in light or clear color for dress, optional contrasting color (CC) for trim, small snaps to close back of dress, sewing needle and sewing thread to match main color of dress, tapestry needle or smaller hook to weave in ends, scissors
Special stitches:
Sc dec-dec 1 sc over next 2 sts
Sc inc-2 sc in st
Front post dc (fpdc)-yo hook, insert hook from front to back around st and draw up a lp, (yo and through 2 lps)2x
Front post sc (fpsc) insert hook from front to back around st and work sc.
Ch 2 is equal to 1st dc of each round for skirt (unless round begins with pfdc).
Joined stitches-The final MC row of the hem is worked with joined dc, joined tr, and joined dtr sts. You can work the pattern with traditional (non-joined) stitches, but the joined stitches make a firmer fabric with more definition. To create a joined stitch, do not yarn over. Instead, insert the hook into the stitch (or chains) formed just before the joined stitch and draw up the number of loops equal to the number of times you would have done a yarn over. Then you insert the hook where you want to place the joined stitch and draw up a loop. Now you yarn over and work off 2 loops at a time:
Joined dc-Insert hook in side of st or ch just formed and draw up a lp. Insert hook into next st and draw up a lp-3 lps on hook. (yo and through 2 lps)2x
Joined tr-(Insert hook in side of st or ch just formed and draw up a lp)2x. Insert hook into next st and draw up a lp-4 lps on hook. (yo and through 2 lps)3x
Joined dtr-(Insert hook in side of st or ch just formed and draw up a lp)3x. Insert hook into next st and draw up a lp-5 lps on hook. (yo and through 2 lps)4x
Bodice
With MC, ch 42, join to form a ring, being careful not to twist the ch. (alternative-ch 43, leaving a long tail, row 1=sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, ch 1, turn. Use tail to join into a ring.)
Row 1-Ch 1, sc in each ch, join with sl st to first sc of row, ch 1, turn. 42 sc
Row 2-Sc in each sc, join, turn.
Row 3-Ch 3, sc in 1st 2 ch, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn, but do not join rows at this point. 44 sc
Row 4-Sc in next 10 sts, sc dec, sc in next 20 sts, sc dec, sc in last 10 st, ch 1, turn. 42 sts
Row 5-Sc in next 5 sts, sc dec, sc in next 28 sts, sc dec, sc in last 5 sts, ch 1, turn. 40 sts
Row 6-Sc in next 15 sts, sc dec, sc in next 6 sts, sc dec, sc in last 15 sts, ch 1, turn. 38 sts
Row 7-Sc in next 4 sts, sc dec, sc in next 26 sts, sc dec, sc in last 4 sts, ch 1, turn. 36 sts
Row 8-Sc in next 8 sts, sc dec, sc in next 16 sts, sc dec, sc in last 8 sts, ch 1, turn. 34 sts
Row 9-Sc in next 12 sts, sc dec, sc in next 6 sts, sc dec, sc in last 12 sts, ch 1, turn. 32 sts
Row 10-Sc in next 5 sts, sc dec, sc in next 18 sts, sc dec, sc in last 5 sts, ch 1, turn. 30 sts
Row 11- Sc in next 7 sts, sc dec, sc in next 12 sts, sc dec, sc in last 7 sts, ch 1, turn. 28 sts
Row 12 (waist)-Sc in next 10 sts, sc dec, sc in next 4 sts, sc dec, sc in last 10 sts, ch 1, turn. 26 sts
Rows 13-14-Sc in each st across, ch 1, turn.
Row 15- Sc inc, sc in next 24 sts, sc inc in last st, ch 1, turn. 28 sts
Row 16-Sc in next 7 sts, sc inc, sc in next 12 sts, sc inc, sc in last 7 sts, ch 1, turn. 30 sts
Row 17-(Sc in next 5 sts, sc inc)2x, sc in next 6 sts, (sc inc, sc in next 5 sts)2x, ch 1, turn. 34 sts
Row 18-(Sc inc, sc in next 6 sts)4x, sc inc, sc in next 4 sc, sc inc, ch 1, turn. 40 sts
Row 19-Sc in next 5 sts, (sc inc, sc in next 9 sts)3x, sc inc, sc in last 4 sts, ch 1, turn. 44 sts
Rows 20-23-Sc in each st across, ch 1, turn.
Row 24-Sc in next 15 sts, sc inc, sc in next 3 sts, sc inc, sc in next 4 sts, sc inc, sc in next 3 sts, sc inc, sc in last 15 sts, ch 1, turn. 48 sts
Rows 25-27-Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn.
Row 28-Sc in next 23 sts, sc dec, sc in last 23 sts, ch 1, turn. 47 sts
Row 29 (armhole)-Sc in next 8 sts, ch 10, sk next 5 sc, sc in next 21 sts, ch 10, sk next 5 sts, sc in last 8 sts, ch 1, turn. 57 sts
Row 30-Sc in next 7 sts, *dec 1 sc over next sc and next ch, sc in next 8 ch, dec 1 sc over next ch and next sc,* sc in next 19 sts, rep between **’s, sc in last 7 sts, ch 1, turn. 53 sts
Row 31-Sc in next 6 sts, *sc dec, sc in next 8 sts, sc dec,* sc in next 17 sts, repeat between **’s, sc in last 8 sts, ch 1, turn. 49 sts
Row 32-Sc in next 5 sts, *sc dec, sc in next 8 sts, sc dec,* sc in next 4 sts, sc dec, sc in next 3 sts, sc dec, sc in next 4 sts, repeat between **’s, sc in last 5 sts, end off MC. 43 sts
Trim Row(optional)-With WS facing, join CC with ch 1 in both lps of first free st. Sc in st, (ch 3, sc in next st)repeat cross row, end off.
Skirt
Turn bodice so RS is facing out (overlap should be right side over left). Skirt is worked in rounds that are not turned. Skirt is worked from top to bottom (upside down). With bodice facing up, post stitches will swirl to the right if you are right-handed and to the left (as in the model) if you crochet with your left hand.
Rnd 1-Join MC with ch 2 in center back of opposite side of starting ch. (choose stitch that will result in post stitches of rnd 2 being centered in front of the skirt. Dc in each ch around, join to top of ch-2. 42 dc
Rnd 2-Ch 2 at join, dc in next 2 sts, (dc in next st, fpdc around same st for inc, dc in next 6 sts)5x, dc in next st, fpdc in same st, dc in last 3 sts, join to top of ch-2. 48 sts
Rnd 3-Ch 2, *dc in next sts up to fpdc, dc in fpdc, fpdc around next st, sk next st repeat from * around, ending with join to top of ch-2
Rnd 4 (incr round)-ch 2, *dc in next sts up to fpdc, dc in fpdc, fpdc around same st for incr, repeat from * around, ending with join to top of ch-2. Note that you do not sk any sts on this round.
Rnds 5-21-Repeat rounds 3-4 for pattern, ending with a round 3 repeat. Rnds 20 and 21 will have 102 sts (6 repeats of 17). 1st st on rnd 21 is 13 sts away from post st. If count is different, adjust rnd 22. For example, if 1st st on round 21 is 12 sts away from post st, then ch 2 as first dc and start repeat with 1 joined dc instead of 2.
Rnd 22-ch 2 as first st, (joined dc in next 2 sts, joined tr in next 2 sts, joined dtr in next 8 sts, joined dc in post st, fpsc around same post st, sk next st, sc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts)5x, joined dc in next 2 sts, joined tr in next 2 sts, joined dtr in next 8 sts, joined dc in post st, fpsc around same post st, sk next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, join to top of ch-2 at beginning of round, end off.
Trim rnd (optional)-With CC, insert hook in back lp of st in center back area and sc in same st. (ch 3, sc in back lp of next st)repeat around, ending with ch 3, join with sl st to first sc of round, end off.
Finishing-Anchor all joins and weave in all ends. Sew snaps at back opening.
See Revelry.com for photos of the dress with and without the trim.