# Sage Green Baby Dress with Lace Shells Free Crochet Pattern
There’s something about a tiny lace dress that just melts me. This one is worked top-down in soft sage green, so there’s not a single seam to sew — you start at the neckline and crochet your way down to a scalloped shell hem. The yoke uses simple raglan shaping, and then the skirt opens into the prettiest fan-and-arch lace you’ve ever seen.
If lace has ever intimidated you, let this be the project that changes your mind. The shell stitch is just 6 double crochets in the same spot — that’s the whole stitch! — and once you find the rhythm of the repeats, it’s pure crochet meditation. Expect about 8 to 12 hours for the 6-12 month size.
What You’ll Need
- DK weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn (Light #3) in sage green — approximately 200 yards for 0-3 months, 250 yards for 6-12 months, or 300 yards for 12-18 months. Smooth, tightly plied yarn gives the best stitch definition for the lace.
- US D-3 / 3.25 mm crochet hook (adjust to meet gauge)
- Tapestry needle
- 3 small buttons, approximately 3/8 inch / 10 mm diameter, in white or cream
- At least 4 stitch markers, scissors, blocking mat and rustproof pins
Finished size:
- Written for 6-12 months as the primary size, with 0-3 months in parentheses before the slash and 12-18 months after the slash — 0-3M: chest 16 in / 40.5 cm, length 14 in / 35.5 cm, sleeve cap 3 in / 7.5 cm
- 6-12M: chest 18 in / 45.5 cm, length 16 in / 40.5 cm, sleeve cap 3.5 in / 9 cm
- 12-18M: chest 20 in / 51 cm, length 17.5 in / 44.5 cm, sleeve cap 4 in / 10 cm
The Pattern
Gauge:
- 20 single crochet stitches = 4 in / 10 cm
- 10 single crochet rows = 4 in / 10 cm. One full fan repeat in the skirt measures approximately 1.25 in / 3.2 cm wide
Special stitches:
- Shell: 6 dc in the same stitch or space — the fan motif of the skirt.
- Scallop: (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in the same stitch or space — the rounded edging at collar, sleeves, and hem.
- V-st: (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same stitch or space.
- Raglan increase: 2 dc in the marked stitch (adds 8 sts per increase row across the four raglan points).
Yoke (worked in rows — the back stays open)
Ch 68 (60 / 76). The two extra chains form the back overlap bands.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each ch across. Turn. (68 / 60 / 76 dc)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (68 / 60 / 76 sc)
Rows 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 (RS, raglan increase rows): Ch 3, dc in next 5 (4 / 6) sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 (9 / 11) sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 22 (20 / 26) sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 (9 / 11) sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in remaining 6 (5 / 7) sts. Turn. (72 / 64 / 80 dc after Row 3; 76 / 68 / 84 after Row 5; 80 / 72 / 88 after Row 7; 84 / 76 / 92 after Row 9; 88 / 80 / 96 after Row 11)
Rows 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (same counts as the RS row before)
After Row 12 the yoke measures approximately 3 in / 7.5 cm from the foundation chain and has a gentle trapezoid shape.
Joining the Yoke and Separating Sleeves
Row 13 (RS): Ch 3, dc across the first 8 (7 / 9) back sts. Skip the next 20 (19 / 21) sleeve sts and ch 4 (3 / 5) over the gap for the underarm. Dc across the next 32 (30 / 36) front sts. Skip the next 20 (19 / 21) sleeve sts and ch 4 (3 / 5) over the second underarm. Dc across the remaining 8 (7 / 9) back sts. Overlap the two back edges by about 4 sts and join with a sl st through both layers at center back to close into a round. Place a marker at the join. Do not turn. (64 / 56 / 72 working sts)
Bodice (worked in joined rounds)
Rnds 1, 3, 5: Ch 1, sc in each st and each ch around, join. (64 / 56 / 72 sc)
Rnds 2, 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st around, join. (64 / 56 / 72 dc)
Rnd 6 (waist increase): Ch 1, sc in first 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, *sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc* around, join. (80 / 70 / 90 sc)
The bodice measures approximately 3 in / 7.5 cm from the joining row.
Skirt Transition
The skirt motif needs a multiple of 12. Adjust on this round: for 0-3 months work 2 extra increases to go from 70 to 72; for 6-12 months work 2 sc in every 20th st, 4 times, to go from 80 to 84; for 12-18 months work 2 sc in every 15th st, 6 times, to go from 90 to 96. Transition rnd: Ch 1, sc around with your size’s adjustments, join. (72 / 84 / 96 sc)
Skirt (fan and arch lace)
**Skirt
Rnd 1:** Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 5, sk 5 sc, *sc in next sc, ch 5, sk 5 sc* around, join. (12 / 14 / 16 ch-5 arches)
**Skirt
Rnd 2:** Ch 1, sc in first sc, *Shell (6 dc) in ch-5 arch, sc in next sc* around, join. (12 / 14 / 16 Shells)
**Skirt
Rnd 3:** Sl st to the 3rd dc (center) of the first Shell, ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in same dc, ch 2, sc in next sc, ch 2, *V-st in center dc of next Shell, ch 2, sc in next sc, ch 2* around, join to 3rd ch of beginning ch-5. (12 / 14 / 16 V-sts)
**Skirt
Rnd 4:** Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in same sp, ch 2, sc in next sc, ch 2, *Shell in ch-2 sp of V-st, ch 2, sc in next sc, ch 2* around; work 3 dc in the same sp as the beginning ch-3 to complete the opening Shell, join. (12 / 14 / 16 Shells)
Repeat Rnds 3 and 4, alternating V-st rounds and Shell rounds, until the skirt measures 8 in / 20.5 cm (0-3M), 9.5 in / 24 cm (6-12M), or 11 in / 28 cm (12-18M) from the waist. End on a Shell round.
Hem Border
**Border
Rnd 1:** Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 3, *sc in 3rd dc of next Shell, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3* around, join. (24 / 28 / 32 ch-3 sps)
**Border
Rnd 2:** Ch 1, *Scallop (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in next ch-3 sp* around, join. (24 / 28 / 32 Scallops) Fasten off.
Collar, Sleeves, and Button Bands
Collar: With RS facing, join yarn at the right back neckline edge. Ch 1, sc evenly around the neckline (about 1 sc per foundation chain), join. Next rnd: ch 1, *Scallop in every 3rd sc* around, join. Fasten off.
Sleeve caps: Join yarn at one sleeve opening edge. Ch 1, sc evenly around (1 sc per skipped sleeve dc and 1 sc per underarm chain), join. Next rnd: ch 1, *Scallop in every 3rd sc* around, join. Fasten off. Repeat for the second sleeve.
Button bands: Join yarn at the top right corner of the back opening; ch 1, work 1 sc in each row-end down the right back edge, turn, ch 1, sc across, fasten off. On the left back edge, work 1 sc in each row-end upward; then work the loop row: ch 1, sc in first 2 sc, *ch 3, sk 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc* 3 times, sc to end. Fasten off. Sew the 3 buttons to the right band to align with the loops.
Block the dress — the shell fans won’t open to their full beauty without it. Pin the scallops gently and let dry completely.
Sophie’s Tips
- Mark your four raglan increase points with locking stitch markers on Row 3 and move them up each row. It’s the easiest way to keep the yoke shaping honest.
- Before the skirt, double-check your stitch count is a true multiple of 12. One stray stitch will throw off every fan in the round.
- Weave in ends as you go in the skirt section — all those color-free rounds still leave tails at the joins, and nobody wants to weave 40 ends at midnight.
This little dress is pure heirloom magic — I hope it gets worn, photographed, and handed down with love!
