# Lavender Lace Pinafore Dress Free Crochet Pattern
Oh my goodness, this little dress stopped me in my tracks the moment the last scallop came off my hook. There is something about a lace pinafore in soft lavender that just feels like a keepsake — the kind of piece that gets folded into tissue paper and saved long after baby outgrows it. I made mine to layer over a white onesie, and the fan stitches catch the light in the sweetest way.
The bodice works flat in two panels with an easy fan-lace repeat, then everything joins at the waistband and the skirt flares out in the round with the prettiest scalloped hem. Button straps make the fit adjustable, so it grows with her a little. If you can work a fan stitch and count to six, you can absolutely make this.
What You’ll Need
- DK weight (CYCA 3) yarn, approximately 300 to 350 yards (275 to 320 m) in lavender — I used a smooth 100% acrylic DK for softness and easy washing; a cotton DK like Drops Safran also shows the lace beautifully
- US size E-4 / 3.5 mm crochet hook
- 4 small buttons, approximately 5/8 inch (15 mm) diameter
- Yarn needle for weaving ends
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Rust-proof pins for blocking
Finished size:
- Size 6 to 12 months. Chest circumference approximately 18 inches (46 cm)
- Bodice height approximately 5.5 inches (14 cm)
- Skirt length approximately 6.5 inches (16.5 cm)
- Total length excluding straps approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm)
- Each strap approximately 7 inches (18 cm)
Gauge (after blocking):
- 18 stitches and 10 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in half double crochet. One 12-stitch fan repeat = approximately 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) wide
- One fan repeat = approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall. Please swatch — this is a garment, and gauge decides the fit
The Pattern
Stitch guide: ch = chain, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, sl st = slip stitch, sk = skip, sp = space, st(s) = stitch(es). Ch 3 at the start of a dc section counts as the first dc; ch 1 at the start of a sc row does not count as a stitch. A fan = 5 dc worked into the same stitch or space.
Bodice Panels (Make 2)
Both panels are identical. Work flat, turning at the end of each row.
Foundation: Chain 44.
Row 1 (WS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (43 sc)
Row 2 (RS, fan lace): Ch 1, sc in first st, [sk 2 sts, work 5 dc in next st (fan made), sk 2 sts, sc in next st] 7 times. Turn. (7 fans)
Row 3 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [ch 2, sk fan, sc in next sc] 7 times. Turn. (8 sc, 7 ch-2 sps)
Row 4 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [5 dc in ch-2 sp, sc in next sc] 7 times. Turn. (7 fans)
Rows 5–7: Repeat Rows 3 and 4, ending with a Row 3 repeat. Turn. (The lace band should measure about 3 inches tall.)
Rows 8–13: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (43 sc each row)
Checkpoint: Each panel should measure about 9 inches (23 cm) wide and 5.5 inches (14 cm) tall. Set the first panel aside without fastening off; finish the second panel the same way.
Joining and Waistband
Hold the two panels with right sides facing out, side by side.
Joining round: With the second panel still on your hook, ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc across the second panel (43 sc), then sc across the first panel (43 sc), join with sl st to first sc. (86 sc) Place a marker at the side joins.
Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch-2. (86 hdc)
Rounds 2–3: Ch 2, [FPdc around next st, BPdc around next st] around, join with sl st to top of ch-2. (86 sts)
Round 4: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, join with sl st to top of ch-2. (86 hdc)
Skirt Increase Round
Increase round: Ch 1, [sc in next 20 sts, 2 sc in next st] 4 times, sc in last 2 sts, join with sl st to first sc. (90 sc)
Math check: 86 + 4 = 90, and 90 ÷ 6 = 15 fan repeats.
Skirt
Work in joined rounds with the right side facing out. Do not turn.
Round 1 (fan round): Ch 1, [sc in first st, sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts] 15 times, join with sl st to first sc. (15 fans)
Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc plus ch 1), [sc in center (3rd) dc of fan, ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2] 15 times, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (15 dc, 15 sc)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in first dc, [sk ch-2 sp, 5 dc in next sc, sk ch-2 sp, sc in next dc] 15 times, join with sl st to first sc. (15 fans)
Rounds 4–5: Repeat Rounds 2 and 3.
Round 6 (first flare): Ch 1, sc in first dc, [sk ch-2 sp, 7 dc in next sc, sk ch-2 sp, sc in next dc] 15 times, join with sl st to first sc. (15 fans of 7 dc)
Round 7: Ch 5 (counts as dc plus ch 2), sc in center (4th) dc of fan, [ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2, sc in center dc of next fan] 15 times, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-5.
Rounds 8–9: Repeat Rounds 6 and 7.
Round 10 (second flare): Ch 1, sc in first dc, [sk ch-2 sp, 9 dc in next sc, sk ch-2 sp, sc in next dc] 15 times, join with sl st to first sc. (15 fans of 9 dc)
Round 11: Ch 6 (counts as dc plus ch 3), sc in center (5th) dc of fan, [ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3, sc in center dc of next fan] 15 times, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-6.
Rounds 12–13: Repeat Rounds 10 and 11.
Checkpoint: The skirt should measure about 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) from the waistband. Add or remove one Round 10–11 repeat to adjust.
Scalloped Hem
**Hem
Round 1:** Ch 1, sc in first dc, [sk ch-3 sp, 9 dc in next sc, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next dc] 15 times, join with sl st to first sc. (15 scallops)
**Hem
Round 2:** Ch 1, [sc in first dc, hdc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc, hdc in next dc, sc in next dc, sl st in sc between scallops] 15 times, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Straps (Make 2)
Foundation: Chain 8.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (7 sc)
Rows 2–14: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (7 sc each row)
Row 15 (buttonhole row): Ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in last 3 sts. Turn. (7 sts counting the ch-2 sp)
Row 16: Ch 1, sc in first 3 sts, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in last 2 sts. Turn. (7 sc)
Rows 17–18: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (7 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch tail. Each strap should measure about 7 inches (18 cm) long.
Finishing
Sew two buttons to the top front corners of the bodice and two to the top back corners. Sew the plain ends of the straps to the inside top edge of the back bodice; the buttonhole ends fasten over the front buttons (or cross them in back for a crisscross look — both are adorable). Weave in all ends, then block gently: mist with water, pin the scallops flat, and let dry completely so the lace opens up.
Sophie’s Tips
- Count your fans after every lace round — 15 is the magic number, and catching a missed fan early saves so much frogging later.
- A smooth, solid-color DK is non-negotiable for this one; variegated yarns will swallow all that pretty fan texture you worked so hard on.
- Block the skirt before you sew on the straps — pinning each scallop flat while damp is what gives the hem that crisp heirloom finish.
I hope this little pinafore brings as much joy to your hook as it did to mine — happy crocheting, friend!
