# Sunny Yellow Checkered Dress Free Crochet Pattern
Gingham, but make it crochet — and make it sunshine yellow. This checkered dress is my ode to picnic blankets and vintage tablecloths, worked in the happiest yellow and crisp white. The checkerboard bodice looks impressive, but here’s the secret: you’re just changing colors every four stitches. That’s it. That’s the whole trick.
The skirt is solid yellow with a checkered hem band to tie it all together, and the fit is a relaxed A-line that skims instead of clings. I wore mine with white sandals and felt like the main character. Ten out of ten, would main-character again.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted weight (#4) cotton or cotton-blend yarn: Sunny Yellow (about 700 yards), White (about 250 yards)
- Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 1 inch wide elastic for the waist (about 30 inches)
Finished size:
- Bust: 34–36 inches
- Length (shoulder to hem): 38 inches. (Increase the starting chain in multiples of 8 for larger sizes.)
The Pattern
Worked top-down in joined rounds. The checkered pattern is 4 stitches wide and 2 rounds tall per square. Carry the unused color loosely up the inside of the work. US crochet terms.
Bodice (checkered)
With Yellow, chain 104, join to form a ring, being careful not to twist.
Round 1: Chain 2 (counts as DC), DC in each chain around, join. (104 DC)
Rounds 2–3: Chain 2, *DC in next 4 stitches with Yellow, DC in next 4 stitches with White*, repeat around, join. (13 yellow blocks, 13 white blocks)
Rounds 4–5: Chain 2, *DC in next 4 stitches with White, DC in next 4 stitches with Yellow*, repeat around, join. (Colors swap — the checkerboard forms.)
Rounds 6–13: Repeat Rounds 2–5 twice more. (104 DC)
Round 14 (divide for armholes): Chain 2, DC in next 28 stitches (back) following the checkerboard color pattern, chain 8, skip 24 stitches (sleeve), DC in next 28 stitches (front) following the pattern, chain 8, skip 24 stitches (sleeve), join. (72 stitches: 56 DC + 16 chains)
Rounds 15–18: Continue the checkerboard pattern (4-stitch blocks, swapping colors every 2 rounds) over all 72 stitches — 9 full blocks per round — join each round. (72 DC)
Skirt
Join Yellow in any stitch.
Round 19 (increase round): Chain 2, *DC in next 8 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch*, repeat around — 8 repeats — join. (80 DC)
Rounds 20–37: Chain 2, DC in each stitch around with Yellow, join. (80 DC)
Round 38 (increase round): Chain 2, *DC in next 9 stitches, 2 DC in next stitch*, repeat around — 8 repeats — join. (88 DC)
Rounds 39–42 (checkered hem band): Work the checkerboard pattern over 88 stitches — 11 full blocks per round — swapping colors every 2 rounds.
Round 43: With Yellow, chain 1, SC in each stitch around, join. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Waist Elastic and Sleeve Trim
Thread the elastic through Round 18 (the natural waist), overlap the ends by 1 inch, and sew firmly.
Join Yellow at either armhole: chain 1, SC in each of the 24 skipped sleeve stitches and 8 chains (32 SC), join, fasten off. Repeat on the other side.
Sophie’s Tips
- The checkerboard only works if your color changes land in the same place every round — mark the first stitch of the round and count your blocks (13 per round) as you go.
- Carry the unused yarn up the inside rather than cutting it every two rounds. You’ll thank yourself at weaving-in time.
- Cotton or a cotton blend keeps the checks crisp. Stretchy acrylic can make the colorwork wavy, and wavy gingham is just… plaid with anxiety.
Checkmate — in the cutest possible way!
