# Nautical Navy Flared Mini Dress Free Crochet Pattern
Some dresses are for twirling, and this one was born to twirl. A fitted navy bodice with crisp white sailor stripes, wide comfortable straps, and then — the skirt. Oh, the skirt. It flares out from the waist in soft double-crochet waves and finishes with a white scalloped hem that moves like water when you walk. Nautical, feminine, and unapologetically fun.
The construction is all in the round with gentle shaping: a fitted hdc bodice with waist decreases, then the skirt blooms outward with two planned increase rounds. No seaming, no fussy closures — it slips on and the stretchy bodice does the rest. Four sizes, and every one of them twirls beautifully.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted weight yarn, navy blue: approximately 1100 (1250, 1400, 1550) yards for sizes S (M, L, XL)
- Worsted weight yarn, white: approximately 120 yards
- US size I-9 / 5.5 mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle, stitch markers, scissors
Finished size:
- Four sizes. S: bust 34 in, waist 27 in | M: bust 38 in, waist 31 in | L: bust 42 in, waist 35 in | XL: bust 46 in, waist 39 in. Bodice length 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5) in
- Skirt length 15 (15.5, 16, 16.5) in from the waist
Gauge:
- 13 hdc = 4 inches, 10 rows = 4 inches in half double crochet
The Pattern
The dress is worked top down in joined rounds. The turning ch-2 never counts as a stitch.
Bodice
With navy, ch 104 (117, 130, 143). Join into a ring with sl st, being careful not to twist.
Rounds 1–4: Ch 2, hdc in each st around. Join with sl st. (104, 117, 130, 143 hdc)
Rounds 5–6 (white stripes): Join white. Ch 2, hdc in each st around. Join. Work 2 rounds in white.
Rounds 7–10: Join navy. Ch 2, hdc in each st around. Join.
Round 11 (waist decrease): Ch 2. *Hdc in next 11 sts, hdc2tog.* Repeat around. Join. (96, 108, 120, 132 hdc)
Round 12 (waist decrease): Ch 2. *Hdc in next 10 sts, hdc2tog.* Repeat around. Join. (88, 99, 110, 121 hdc)
Rounds 13–18: Ch 2, hdc in each st around. Join. Work even until the bodice measures 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5) inches from the top edge.
Straps (make 2): With RS facing, join navy at the front top edge, 3 inches in from the left side seam. Ch 2, hdc across 10 stitches. Turn. Work 24 (26, 28, 30) rows of hdc even. Fasten off with a long tail and sew the strap end to the back top edge, matching the position. Repeat for the second strap. Work 1 row of white sc along the top edge of the bodice between the straps for a finished neckline.
Flared Skirt
Round 1: Join navy at the bottom edge of the bodice. Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 2 dc in each stitch around. Join with sl st. (176, 198, 220, 242 dc)
Rounds 2–4: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Join.
Round 5 (increase): Ch 3. *Dc in next 7 (8, 9, 10) sts, 2 dc in next st.* Repeat around. Join. (198, 220, 242, 264 dc)
Rounds 6–8: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Join.
Round 9 (increase): Ch 3. *Dc in next 8 (9, 10, 11) sts, 2 dc in next st.* Repeat around. Join. (220, 242, 264, 286 dc)
Rounds 10 onward: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Join. Work even rounds until the skirt measures 15 (15.5, 16, 16.5) inches from the waist.
Hem: Join white.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. If your stitch count is not a multiple of 6, decrease evenly on this round with sc2tog to the nearest multiple of 6.
Round 2 (scallops): Sl st in first st. *Sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sl st in next st.* Repeat around. Join and fasten off.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Block the skirt gently so the flare opens up and the scallops lie flat — pin each scallop point if you want a crisp hem. Try it on, twirl once for quality control, and wear it everywhere.
Sophie’s Tips
- The bodice is designed with slight negative ease so it stays put — trust the numbers even if the tube looks small off the body.
- Count your stitches after each skirt increase round. The flare only stays even if the math does.
- A white scallop hem against navy is classic, but this dress also sings with a red hem if you’re feeling bold.
Now go find somewhere worth twirling — happy hooking!
