Blush Pink Lace Baby Dress Free Crochet Pattern

I love heirloom makes, and this blush pink lace baby dress is exactly that kind of special piece! It has a fitted shell-stitch bodice, a flowing shell-and-fan lace skirt, and the sweetest scalloped edging, all worked in a single blush pink colour so the stitch pattern is the star of the show.

We will work the bodice front first, then the bodice back in two panels, join the side seams, pick up stitches at the waist, and work the skirt downward in the round. When it is blocked, those fan motifs open up into the most gorgeous petal shapes. It is perfect for special occasions, family portraits and gifts you want to be treasured.

This pattern is written for size 6 months (6M) with sizes 12 months (12M), 18 months (18M), and 24 months (24M) in parentheses throughout. When you see instructions formatted like this: 6M (12M, 18M, 24M), work the first number for 6M and find your size in the parentheses.

Materials

• Size 2 (fine weight) or light fingering/sport weight 100% mercerized cotton yarn, approximately 350 (420, 500, 580) yards / 320 (385, 457, 530) meters
• US B-1 / 2.25 mm or US C-2 / 2.75 mm crochet hook, whichever achieves gauge
• Stitch markers, at least 6
• Yarn needle for finishing
• Rust-proof pins for blocking
• Blocking mat or towels
• Optional: 2 small pearl or shell buttons for back neck closure, 3/8 inch / 10 mm diameter

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• tr: treble crochet
• sk: skip
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sp(s): space(s)
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• rep: repeat
• pm: place marker
• beg: beginning
• rem: remaining
• tch: turning chain
• yo: yarn over
• lp(s): loop(s)

Special Stitches

• Shell Stitch (shell): Work 5 double crochet (dc) all into the same stitch or space. This creates a fan shape.
• Large Shell (L-shell): Work 7 dc all into the same stitch or space.
• V-stitch (V-st): Work (dc, ch 2, dc) all into the same stitch or space.
• Picot: Ch 3, sl st into the 3rd chain from hook. This creates a small decorative loop.
• Scallop Edging: Sc into the first st, [sk 2 sts, shell into the next st, sk 2 sts, sc into the next st] rep across. On curved sections like armholes, sk 1 st between shells rather than 2 to accommodate the curve.
• Joining Shell Round (waistband): Work [sc, ch 1, sc] all into the same space.

Gauge & Size

• Chest circumference: 16 (17, 18, 19) inches / 40.5 (43, 45.5, 48.5) cm
• Dress length, shoulder to hem: 14 (15.5, 17, 18.5) inches / 35.5 (39.5, 43, 47) cm
• Bodice length, shoulder to waist: 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7) inches / 14 (15, 16.5, 18) cm
• Skirt length, waist to hem: 8.5 (9.5, 10.5, 11.5) inches / 21.5 (24, 26.5, 29) cm
• Gauge in shell stitch pattern: One 12-stitch repeat (one full shell unit) = 1.5 inches / 3.8 cm wide; 8 rows = 2 inches / 5 cm tall
• Gauge in single crochet: 24 sc x 28 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm
• Construction: bodice front worked flat, bodice back worked flat in two panels, side seams joined, skirt worked in the round downward from the waist, edgings worked last; turning chain does not count as a stitch unless specifically noted
• Skill level: Intermediate to Advanced

Bodice Front Pattern

Foundation: Ch 49 (53, 57, 61).

Row 1 (RS): Sc into 2nd ch from hook and into every ch across. Turn. (48, 52, 56, 60 sc)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1 (does not count as st throughout bodice). Sc in first st. [Ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in next st] rep across. Turn. You will have 16 (17, 18, 20) ch-2 spaces and 17 (18, 19, 21) sc.

Row 3 (RS): Ch 1. Sc in first sc. [Shell into next ch-2 sp, sc in next sc] rep across. Turn. (16, 17, 18, 20 shells + 17, 18, 19, 21 sc = 97, 103, 109, 121 sts)

Row 4 (WS): Ch 1. Sc in first sc. [Ch 2, sc in 3rd dc of shell (center dc), ch 2, sc in next sc] rep across. Turn. (17, 18, 19, 21 sc with 32, 34, 36, 40 ch-2 sps)

Row 5 (RS): Ch 1. Sc in first sc. [Shell in ch-2 sp, sc in sc, shell in next ch-2 sp, sc in next sc] rep across. Turn. (32, 34, 36, 40 shells)

Rows 6 through 12 (12, 14, 14): Repeat Rows 4 and 5 alternately, ending on a Row 4 repeat so the final row is a WS row of sc and ch-2 spaces. After Row 12 (12, 14, 14), the bodice front should measure approximately 2.75 (3, 3.25, 3.5) inches / 7 (7.5, 8, 9) cm from the foundation chain.

Row 13 (RS), Right shoulder strap: Ch 1. Work in established shell pattern across first 8 (9, 9, 10) pattern repeats (shells plus sc). Turn, leaving remaining sts unworked.

Row 13 continued, Left shoulder strap: Rejoin yarn at the opposite edge and work across the last 8 (9, 9, 10) pattern repeats in established pattern. Turn. The center stitches left unworked form the front neckline opening. These are approximately 16 (16, 18, 20) stitches wide.

Work each shoulder strap separately for 4 (4, 5, 5) more rows in established pattern, ending with a WS row. Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch / 30 cm tail for seaming.

Bodice front checkpoint: The completed front piece should measure 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7) inches / 14 (15, 16.5, 18) cm from foundation to top of shoulder strap, and 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5) inches / 20 (21.5, 23, 24) cm wide.

Bodice Back Pattern

Bodice Back Left Panel. Foundation: Ch 25 (27, 29, 31).

Row 1 (RS): Sc into 2nd ch from hook and into every ch across. Turn. (24, 26, 28, 30 sc)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1. Sc in first st. [Ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in next st] rep across. Turn. (8, 8, 9, 10 ch-2 sps)

Row 3 (RS): Ch 1. Sc in first sc. [Shell into ch-2 sp, sc in next sc] rep across. Turn. (8, 8, 9, 10 shells)

Rows 4 through 12 (12, 14, 14): Continue in pattern, matching the front panel row count.

Row 13 (RS): Work across all stitches in established pattern for the shoulder area. No center stitches are skipped here since the back neck is lower.

Work 2 (2, 3, 3) more rows on the shoulder strap only (the outermost 8, 9, 9, 10 repeats), matching the front strap length. Fasten off.

Bodice Back Right Panel: Work exactly as Back Left Panel, mirroring the construction. The two back panels sit side by side with approximately 0.5 inch / 1.25 cm of ease at the center back neck. Fasten off.

Waist Pickup Pattern

With RS together, use the mattress stitch or whipstitch and the yarn tails to join the front and back at the shoulder straps. Pin carefully before seaming to ensure straps align symmetrically. With RS together, join front and back side seams from the bottom edge of the bodice upward, stopping approximately 0.5 inch / 1.25 cm below the armhole. Leave the armhole edge open for edging later. Turn RS out.

Round 1: With RS facing, join yarn at the side seam at the bottom edge of the bodice. Ch 1. Work sc evenly around the entire bottom edge of the bodice. The target count is a multiple of 12. Work approximately 1 sc for every dc and 1 sc for every sc along the lower edge. Target stitch counts at waist: 96 (108, 108, 120) sc. If your count is slightly off after pickup, increase or decrease evenly on this round to reach the target multiple of 12. Join with sl st to first sc. (96, 108, 108, 120 sc)

Waistband Round 2: Ch 1. [Sc in next sc, ch 1, sk 1 sc] rep around. Join with sl st to first sc. (48, 54, 54, 60 sc + 48, 54, 54, 60 ch-1 sps)

Waistband Round 3: Ch 1. [Sc in sc, sc in ch-1 sp] rep around. Join with sl st to first sc. (96, 108, 108, 120 sc)

Waistband Round 4: Ch 1. Sc in each sc around. Join with sl st. (96, 108, 108, 120 sc)

The waistband is now complete. You should see a distinct horizontal textured band separating the bodice from the skirt.

Skirt Pattern

The skirt is worked in the round. The RS always faces you. Do not turn between rounds. Place a marker at the beginning of each round. When instructions say shell center, they mean the 3rd dc of a 5-dc shell.

Skirt Round 1 (RS, establish pattern): Ch 1. [Sc in first sc, sk 2 sc, shell in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc, ch 3, sk 2 sc, shell in next sc, sk 2 sc] rep around, ending sl st to first sc. (16, 18, 18, 20 shells; 8, 9, 9, 10 ch-3 sps; 8, 9, 9, 10 sc)

Skirt Round 2 (step round, shift pattern): Ch 1. [Sc in 3rd dc of shell, ch 5, sc in 3rd dc of next shell, shell in ch-3 sp] rep around. Join. (8, 9, 9, 10 shells in ch-3 sps; 8, 9, 9, 10 ch-5 arches)

Skirt Round 3 (expand): Ch 1. [Shell in ch-5 arch, sc in 3rd dc of shell] rep around. Join. (8, 9, 9, 10 shells in arches; alternating sc)

Skirt Round 4 (increase shell density): Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3). [Sc in 3rd dc of shell, ch 3, dc in sc, ch 3] rep around. Join to 3rd ch of ch-6. (16, 18, 18, 20 ch-3 sps)

Skirt Round 5: Ch 1. [Shell in ch-3 sp, sc in sc, shell in next ch-3 sp, sc in dc] rep around. Join. (16, 18, 18, 20 shells; 16, 18, 18, 20 sc)

Skirt Round 6: Ch 1. [Sc in 3rd dc of shell, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3] rep around. Join. (16, 18, 18, 20 ch-3 sps; 16, 18, 18, 20 sc)

Skirt Round 7: Ch 1. [Shell in ch-3 sp, sc in sc, shell in next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc] rep around. Join. (32, 36, 36, 40 shells; 32, 36, 36, 40 sc)

Rounds 8 and 9: Repeat Rounds 6 and 7 once more. (32, 36, 36, 40 shells maintained)

Round 10 (expansion increase round): Ch 1. [Sc in 3rd dc of shell, ch 2, sc in sc, ch 2] rep around. Join. (64, 72, 72, 80 ch-2 sps total; 64, 72, 72, 80 sc)

Round 11: Ch 1. [Shell in ch-2 sp, sc in sc] rep around. Join. (64, 72, 72, 80 shells; 64, 72, 72, 80 sc)

Round 12: Ch 1. [Sc in 3rd dc of shell, ch 3, sc in sc, ch 3] rep around. Join. (128, 144, 144, 160 ch-3 sps; 128, 144, 144, 160 sc)

Round 13: Ch 1. [Shell in ch-3 sp, sc in sc] rep around. Join. (128, 144, 144, 160 shells)

Rounds 14 through 17 (17, 19, 21): Repeat Rounds 12 and 13 twice (three times for 18M and 24M). For 6M, work through Round 17. For 12M, work through Round 17. For 18M, work through Round 19. For 24M, work through Round 21.

Skirt checkpoint: After the final pattern repeat round, the skirt should measure 7.5 (8.5, 9.5, 10.5) inches / 19 (21.5, 24, 26.5) cm from the waist pickup.

Hem Large Shell Round: Ch 1. [Sc in 3rd dc of shell, ch 4, sc in sc, ch 4] rep around. Join.

Hem Scallop Round: Ch 1. [L-shell (7 dc) in ch-4 sp, sc in sc] rep around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (128, 144, 144, 160 L-shells at hem)

Finishing & Assembly

Neckline Edging Round 1: Join yarn at center back neck, right panel side. Ch 1. Work sc evenly around entire neckline, working into row ends along shoulder straps and into the top of stitches across front neck and back neck. Target: Approximately 66 (72, 72, 78) sc around the full neckline.

Neckline Edging Round 2 (Scallop): Ch 1. Sc in first sc. [Sk 2 sc, shell in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc] rep around. Join. Fasten off.

Back Center Neck Button Loop (Optional): On the right back panel top corner, join yarn and ch 6, sl st to the corresponding point on the left back panel to form a button loop. If using two buttons, work a second loop 0.5 inch / 1.25 cm below the first. Sew buttons to left panel at corresponding positions.

Armhole Edging Round 1: Work each armhole separately. Join yarn at underarm. Ch 1. Sc evenly around armhole opening. Target: 44 (44, 48, 52) sc.

Armhole Edging Round 2 (Scallop): Ch 1. Sc in first sc. [Sk 1 sc, shell in next sc, sk 1 sc, sc in next sc] rep around. Join. Fasten off. Repeat for second armhole.

Weave in all ends with the yarn needle. Take time to work ends well into the lace fabric so they do not show. Soak the finished dress in cool water with a small amount of gentle wash for 15 minutes, squeeze out excess water without wringing, roll in a clean towel, then lay flat on a blocking mat and pin into shape, opening up all lace motifs and pinning each scallop at the hem individually. Allow to dry completely flat. Sew on buttons if used.

Tips

Make a swatch at least 5 inches wide before beginning. Wash and block the swatch as you intend to care for the finished piece, then measure again. Gauge is critical for garment fit, and avoiding fuzzy fibres will keep the lace detail crisp.

Before beginning the skirt, verify that your waist pickup count is a multiple of 12. That one quick check keeps the whole lace repeat flowing smoothly.

Machine wash on delicate cycle in cold water or hand wash. Lay flat to dry, reshaping as needed. Do not tumble dry. Store folded flat or hung on a padded hanger to preserve the lace structure.