Pastel Rainbow Flared Mini Dress Free Crochet Pattern

I love a dress that does all its shaping with simple single crochet, and this pastel rainbow flared mini dress is exactly that kind of clever make. We build it from the top down in one piece, starting with two slim straps and the front and back foundations, then we join everything into a loop and cruise down through a ribbed-look bodice, a neatly decreased waist, and a wonderfully swishy flared skirt.

The whole dress is single crochet, so the stitches themselves are wonderfully beginner friendly. All the magic is in the counting: the bodice is worked in the back loop only for a soft ribbed texture, the waist decreases from 182 stitches down to 140, and then the skirt increases round by round all the way out to 450 stitches at the hem. If you can count stitches and keep track of a simple two-rounds-per-colour stripe rhythm, you can absolutely make this dress.

It is written in one size, Small/Medium, with a 34 inch bust, a 28 inch waist, and a total length of about 28 inches from the top of the strap to the hem. Pop a stitch marker at the start of every round, check your gauge before you begin, and let those pretty pastel stripes spiral down as you work.

Materials

• DK weight cotton or cotton blend yarn, about 2,200 yards total across six colours
• 420 yards Colour A, lavender
• 380 yards Colour B, mint green
• 380 yards Colour C, coral pink
• 340 yards Colour D, butter yellow
• 340 yards Colour E, baby blue
• 340 yards Colour F, soft peach
• US E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
• At least 6 stitch markers
• 4 stitch holders or scrap yarn
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Blocking mats and rust-proof pins (optional)

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• blo: back loop only
• inc: increase, 2 sc in the same stitch
• sc2tog: single crochet two together
• sl st: slip stitch
• st/sts: stitch / stitches
• rnd: round
• RS: right side

Gauge & Size

• Gauge: 20 sc and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) worked in the round
• Finished size: Small/Medium
• Bust circumference: 34 inches (86 cm)
• Waist circumference: 28 inches (71 cm)
• Hip and skirt hem circumference: approximately 90 inches (229 cm)
• Total length from strap top to hem: approximately 28 inches (71 cm)
• Bodice length: 6 inches (15 cm); waist band depth: 1.5 inches (4 cm); skirt length: 14 inches (35.5 cm)
• Strap length: 10 inches (25.5 cm); strap width: 1.25 inches (3 cm)
• Construction: top-down in continuous rounds, do not turn; bodice worked in back loop only, skirt in regular single crochet through both loops; every round begins with ch 1 (does not count as a stitch) and ends with a sl st join to the first sc
• Colour stripe sequence: 2 rounds Colour B, 2 rounds Colour C, 2 rounds Colour D, 2 rounds Colour E, 2 rounds Colour F, 2 rounds Colour A, repeated throughout the bodice and skirt; straps and waistband use Colour A only
• Skill level: Intermediate

Straps

Make 2 straps, both in Colour A. Do not fasten off the first strap, and place the second strap on a stitch holder when it is done.

Foundation: Ch 7.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (6 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (6 sc)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (6 sc)

Continue repeating Row 2 until the strap measures 10 inches (25.5 cm) from the foundation chain. Each strap is 6 stitches wide and approximately 10 inches long.

Front and Back Foundations

Back foundation: With Colour A, ch 91.

Foundation row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (90 sc)

Do not turn or fasten off. Set the back aside on a stitch holder.

Front foundation: With Colour A, ch 81.

Foundation row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (80 sc)

Do not turn or fasten off. Set the front aside on a stitch holder.

Joining the Top

Position the first strap so its short cast-on edge aligns with the back foundation, 14 stitches in from the right edge. Using Colour A, whip stitch or slip stitch the strap top (6 stitches) to the corresponding 6 stitches on the back foundation.

Repeat for the second strap on the other side, 14 stitches in from the left edge of the back.

Seam the other ends of both straps to the front foundation in the same positions: right strap 14 stitches in from the right edge, left strap 14 stitches in from the left edge. You now have a connected loop structure.

Joining round (Colour A): With RS facing, join yarn at the right side edge where the back meets the right strap. Sc across the 90 sts of the back top, sc across the 6 sts of the right strap inner top edge, sc across the 80 sts of the front top, and sc across the 6 sts of the left strap inner top edge. Join with sl st to first sc. (182 sc)

Checkpoint: the circumference should measure approximately 36.4 inches (92.5 cm). Switch to Colour B for the first bodice round.

Bodice

Every bodice round is worked in back loop only single crochet, and the stitch count stays at 182 all the way through this section.

Round 1 (Colour B): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 2 (Colour B): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 3 (Colour C): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 4 (Colour C): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 5 (Colour D): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 6 (Colour D): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 7 (Colour E): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 8 (Colour E): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 9 (Colour F): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 10 (Colour F): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 11 (Colour A): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 12 (Colour A): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 13 (Colour B): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 14 (Colour B): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 15 (Colour C): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 16 (Colour C): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 17 (Colour D): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 18 (Colour D): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 19 (Colour E): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 20 (Colour E): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 21 (Colour F): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 22 (Colour F): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 23 (Colour A): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 24 (Colour A): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 25 (Colour B): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 26 (Colour B): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 27 (Colour C): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 28 (Colour C): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 29 (Colour D): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Round 30 (Colour D): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (182 sc)

Bodice checkpoint: the bodice below the strap join should measure approximately 5 inches (12.7 cm), and each stripe should be about 0.33 inch (0.85 cm) wide.

Waist Shaping

Keep working in back loop only. The waist decreases from 182 stitches down to 140.

Round 31 (Colour E): Ch 1, (blo sc in next 14 sts, sc2tog in blo) 6 times, (blo sc in next 15 sts, sc2tog in blo) 5 times, blo sc in last st. Join. (171 sc)

Round 32 (Colour E): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (171 sc)

Round 33 (Colour F): Ch 1, (blo sc in next 15 sts, sc2tog in blo) 9 times, (blo sc in next 16 sts, sc2tog in blo) 1 time. Join. (161 sc)

Round 34 (Colour F): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (161 sc)

Round 35 (Colour A): Ch 1, (blo sc in next 12 sts, sc2tog in blo) 7 times, (blo sc in next 13 sts, sc2tog in blo) 4 times, blo sc in last 3 sts. Join. (150 sc)

Round 36 (Colour A): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (150 sc)

Round 37 (Colour A): Ch 1, (blo sc in next 13 sts, sc2tog in blo) 10 times. Join. (140 sc)

Round 38 (Colour A): Ch 1, blo sc in each st around. Join. (140 sc)

Waist checkpoint: the waist should measure approximately 28 inches (71 cm) in circumference, and the total dress length from the top of the bodice to the base of the waistband should be approximately 7.5 inches (19 cm).

Skirt

The skirt changes to regular single crochet worked through both loops. From here it flares dramatically, growing from 140 stitches at the waist to 450 stitches at the hem.

Round 39 (Colour B): Ch 1, (sc in next st, inc in next st) 70 times. Join. (210 sc)

Round 40 (Colour B): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (210 sc)

Round 41 (Colour C): Ch 1, (sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st) 42 times. Join. (252 sc)

Round 42 (Colour C): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (252 sc)

Round 43 (Colour D): Ch 1, (sc in next 6 sts, inc in next st) 36 times. Join. (288 sc)

Round 44 (Colour D): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (288 sc)

Round 45 (Colour E): Ch 1, (sc in next 8 sts, inc in next st) 32 times. Join. (320 sc)

Round 46 (Colour E): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (320 sc)

Round 47 (Colour F): Ch 1, (sc in next 9 sts, inc in next st) 32 times. Join. (352 sc)

Round 48 (Colour F): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (352 sc)

Round 49 (Colour A): Ch 1, (sc in next 10 sts, inc in next st) 32 times. Join. (384 sc)

Round 50 (Colour A): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (384 sc)

Continue working in the established colour stripe sequence, adding 11 evenly spaced increases every fourth round until you reach 450 stitches. Work even rounds of plain single crochet between the increase rounds, keeping the two-rounds-per-colour pattern. Following that formula, the increase rounds land on Rounds 54, 58, 62, 66, 70 and 74.

Round 51 (Colour B): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (384 sc)

Round 52 (Colour B): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (384 sc)

Round 53 (Colour C): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (384 sc)

Round 54 (Colour C): Ch 1, sc around, working 11 evenly spaced increases. Join. (395 sc)

Round 55 (Colour D): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (395 sc)

Round 56 (Colour D): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (395 sc)

Round 57 (Colour E): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (395 sc)

Round 58 (Colour E): Ch 1, sc around, working 11 evenly spaced increases. Join. (406 sc)

Round 59 (Colour F): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (406 sc)

Round 60 (Colour F): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (406 sc)

Round 61 (Colour A): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (406 sc)

Round 62 (Colour A): Ch 1, sc around, working 11 evenly spaced increases. Join. (417 sc)

Round 63 (Colour B): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (417 sc)

Round 64 (Colour B): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (417 sc)

Round 65 (Colour C): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (417 sc)

Round 66 (Colour C): Ch 1, sc around, working 11 evenly spaced increases. Join. (428 sc)

Round 67 (Colour D): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (428 sc)

Round 68 (Colour D): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (428 sc)

Round 69 (Colour E): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (428 sc)

Round 70 (Colour E): Ch 1, sc around, working 11 evenly spaced increases. Join. (439 sc)

Round 71 (Colour F): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (439 sc)

Round 72 (Colour F): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (439 sc)

Round 73 (Colour A): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (439 sc)

Round 74 (Colour A): Ch 1, sc around, working 11 evenly spaced increases. Join. (450 sc)

Round 75 (Colour A): Ch 1, sc in each st around for the final hem round. Join. (450 sc)

Fasten off.

Finishing & Assembly

Weave in all yarn ends for at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) in two directions to secure them. With this many colour changes you will have quite a few ends, so take your time with this step.

Blocking is highly recommended. Soak the dress in lukewarm water with a small amount of wool wash or gentle detergent, gently squeeze out the excess water without wringing, and lay it flat on blocking mats. Pin the bodice to the correct measurements and let the skirt spread naturally into its full circle shape. Let it dry completely before wearing.

Tips

Count your stitches at the end of every round. This dress is fitted, and the waist and skirt maths only work if your counts stay exact.

Try the dress on after the waist shaping if you can. Adjustments are much easier to make before you have invested hours in the skirt.

Carry the unused yarn loosely up the inside of your work instead of cutting after every colour change. It saves you dozens of ends to weave in later.

Take breaks during the skirt. The rounds get long as the flare grows, and fresh eyes make the counting much easier.