# Monochrome Black Flared Mini Dress Free Crochet Pattern
There is nothing more striking than head-to-toe black done right, and this monochrome flared mini dress is my love letter to it. A sleek fitted bodice that skims (never squeezes), then a glorious flared skirt that moves like a dream. It is the dress equivalent of a perfect playlist — simple, confident, and impossible to get wrong.
The construction is wonderfully straightforward: top-down in the round, gentle waist shaping, then rhythmic increase rounds that build the flare without any fussy stitch patterns. All double crochet, all black, all drama. Dress it up with boots and a red lip, or throw it over a tee for daytime edge.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted weight yarn in black — approximately 900 (1000, 1100) yards / 823 (914, 1006) meters. A smooth yarn with good stitch definition keeps the monochrome look crisp.
- US size H-8 / 5.0 mm hook
- Yarn needle, stitch markers, scissors
Finished size:
- S: bust 34 in / 86 cm, length 34 in / 86 cm
- M: bust 38 in / 96.5 cm, length 35 in / 89 cm
- L: bust 42 in / 107 cm, length 36 in / 91 cm
- Hem sweep: 44 (48, 52) in
- Written for S with M and L in parentheses
The Pattern
Gauge:
- 12 dc sts x 8 rows = 4 in / 10 cm (3 sts/in, 2 rows/in) with H-8 hook
- Black yarn is hard to see — work near a good lamp and use stitch markers at the round joins
The dress is worked top-down in joined rounds: fitted bodice, shaped waist, flared skirt. Ch-3 counts as first dc throughout.
Bodice
With black yarn, ch 102 (114, 126). Join into a ring, taking care not to twist.
Rounds 1-16: Ch 3, dc in each st around, join to top of ch-3. [102 (114, 126) dc] — bodice ≈ 8 in tall.
Waist Shaping
Round 17: Ch 3, [dc2tog, dc in next 9 (11, 13) sts] 9 times around, join. [93 (105, 117) dc]
Round 18: Ch 3, [dc2tog, dc in next 8 (10, 12) sts] 9 times around, join. [84 (96, 108) dc]
Rounds 19-22: Ch 3, dc in each st around, join. [84 (96, 108) dc] — waist ≈ 2 in.
Flared Skirt
Increase 12 sts on each increase round, with 4 even rounds between.
Round 23 (inc 1): Ch 3, [dc in next 6 (7, 8) sts, 2 dc in next st] 12 times, join. [96 (108, 120) dc]
Rounds 24-27: Work even. [96 (108, 120) dc]
Round 28 (inc 2): Ch 3, [dc in next 7 (8, 9) sts, 2 dc in next st] 12 times, join. [108 (120, 132) dc]
Rounds 29-32: Work even.
Round 33 (inc 3): Ch 3, [dc in next 8 (9, 10) sts, 2 dc in next st] 12 times, join. [120 (132, 144) dc]
Rounds 34-37: Work even.
Round 38 (inc 4): Ch 3, [dc in next 9 (10, 11) sts, 2 dc in next st] 12 times, join. [132 (144, 156) dc]
Rounds 39-70: Work even in dc. [132 (144, 156) dc] — skirt ≈ 24 in from waist; total dress length 34 (35, 36) in.
Hem edging: Work 1 round of sc, then a crab-stitch (reverse sc) round for a clean rolled edge. Fasten off.
Shoulder Straps (make 2)
Row 1: Join yarn at the front neckline edge, ch 1, sc across 8 sts. Turn. (8 sc)
Rows 2-12: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (8 sc)
Fasten off with a long tail and sew the strap end to the matching back neckline position. Repeat for the second strap, spacing them about 6 (7, 8) in apart at the front.
Neckline Edging
Join yarn at any point of the neckline. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the entire neckline opening (about 1 sc per st, 1 sc per strap row-end), then 1 round of crab stitch. Fasten off and weave in every end.
Try it on before the final edging rounds — the top-down construction makes length tweaks easy. Steam lightly to even the stitches (don’t press flat; you want the texture).
Sophie’s Tips
- Black-on-black stitching is invisible in dim light — count out loud on increase rounds and mark every increase round’s join with a locking marker.
- The flare math is forgiving: if you want more drama, add a fifth increase round; for subtler swing, stop at three.
- A slip or bike shorts underneath keeps the mini worry-free on windy days — style and practicality can coexist.
Go own the room, friends — monochrome never misses!
