# Lavender Lace Party Dress Free Crochet Pattern
Every little girl needs one twirl-worthy dress in her closet, and this lavender lace party dress is exactly that. I made mine for my niece’s birthday photos, and honestly? I almost did not give it away. The soft lavender lace skirt swirls when she spins, the little scalloped bodice sits perfectly, and the whole thing looks like it took months — when really it worked up in a handful of cozy evenings.
The construction is wonderfully straightforward: a fitted bodice worked in the round from the top down, then a simple shell-lace skirt that flares as you go. It is a confident-beginner make, and I will walk you through every increase and every shell so the counts always add up.
What You’ll Need
- DK weight yarn in soft lavender, approximately 380 yards
- Small amount of DK weight yarn in white, approximately 40 yards (for the picot edging and waist bow)
- US size G-6 / 4.0 mm crochet hook
- US size F-5 / 3.75 mm crochet hook (for the neckline edging)
- 4 small pearl buttons (optional, for the back closure)
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- 30 inches of 5/8-inch white satin ribbon
Finished size:
- Fits babies approximately 12 to 18 months
- Chest circumference about 19 inches, total length from shoulder to hem approximately 14.5 inches
The Pattern
Bodice
Worked in joined rounds from the neckline down. With lavender and the G-6 hook.
Round 1: Ch 64, sl st to first ch to join, being careful not to twist. Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout), dc in each ch around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (64 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (64 dc)
Round 3 (increase): Ch 3, dc in next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st) 7 times. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (72 dc)
Rounds 4–5: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (72 dc)
Round 6 (increase): Ch 3, dc in next 8 sts, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 8 sts, 2 dc in next st) 7 times. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (80 dc)
Rounds 7–9: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (80 dc)
Round 10 (armhole shaping): Ch 3, dc in next 12 sts, ch 8, skip next 16 sts (first sleeve), dc in next 24 sts, ch 8, skip next 16 sts (second sleeve), dc in next 12 sts. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (48 dc, 16 chs = 64 sts)
Round 11: Ch 3, dc in each st and each ch around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (64 dc)
Rounds 12–15: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (64 dc)
Round 16 (waist eyelet round): Ch 3, dc in next st, (ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next 2 sts) around to last st, ch 1, sk 1 st, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off lavender.
Lace Skirt
One shell = 5 dc worked into the same stitch or space (a 6-stitch repeat). Join lavender with sl st to any stitch of Round 16.
Round 1 (increase to a multiple of 6): Ch 1, (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) 21 times, sc in last st. Sl st to first sc. (86 sc — adjust to 84 or 90; reach a multiple of 6)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (multiple of 6 sc)
Round 3 (shell set-up): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st (half shell), sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts, (shell of 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, sk 2 sts) around to last 4 sts, 3 dc in last st. Sl st to top of ch-3.
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in first st (the sc of previous round). (Sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st) around. Sl st to first sc.
Round 5: Ch 3, 2 dc in first st (partial beginning shell), (sc in center dc of next shell, sk 2 dc, shell in next sc between shells) around, ending with sc in center dc of last shell. Sl st to top of ch-3.
Rounds 6–15: Repeat Rounds 4 and 5 alternately (10 rounds of shell lace total).
Round 16 (scallop hem): Ch 1, sc in first st. (Sk 1 st, 5 dc in next st, sk 1 st, sc in next st) around. Sl st to first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Neckline Edging
With white and the F-5 hook, join with sl st to any stitch at the back neckline.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the neckline (approximately 60 sc). Sl st to first sc.
Round 2 (picot): Ch 1, (sc in next st, ch 3, sl st in first ch of the ch-3 made, sk 1 st) around. Sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Work the same two rounds around each armhole opening.
Back Button Band
The back of the bodice opens for the button closure. With lavender and the G-6 hook, work a narrow band: join at the bottom of the back opening, ch 1, sc evenly up one side and down the other (approximately 40 sc total). Work 2 more rows of sc, adding 4 buttonholes (ch 2, sk 2) evenly spaced on the second row. Sew the pearl buttons opposite the buttonholes.
Thread the white satin ribbon through the waist eyelet round, tie in a bow at the front, and block the dress to finished measurements.
Sophie’s Tips
- The skirt count must stay a multiple of 6 — count after the increase round and again after Round 3 before you fall into the rhythm.
- Slip the bodice over the little one (or a 19-inch pillow) at Round 15 to check the fit before committing to the skirt.
- Lavender shows every wrinkle, so give the skirt a gentle steam after blocking to make those shells pop.
She is going to twirl. You have been warned!
