A fitted ribbed bodice that hugs you in all the right places, thanks to lovely post stitch ribbing, melting into a twirly A-line skirt with a scalloped shell hem. Feminine, understated, and polished like a little boutique treasure.
This is not a weekend project — think around 40 hours of delicious stitching spread over a few weeks. But if you have been dreaming of a handmade garment that looks straight out of a boutique, this beauty is a wonderful place to begin.
Pattern Overview
This dress opens with a structured bodice in a one-by-one rib of front post and back post double crochet. Those vertical ribs do the most flattering work, shaping softly from the straps right down to the waist. Then, at the waistline, the stitches release into an airy mesh skirt that fans out into the most dramatic, twirl-worthy silhouette. A scalloped shell border crowns the hem with a delicate, feminine finish.
Everything is worked seamlessly from the top down, and the stretchy ribbed bodice means no zippers or buttons are needed. The whole dress is one beautiful muted sage green from top to hem — no color changes at all.
Important note: The open-weave skirt is delightfully breezy, so you will want a slip dress or camisole underneath. Keep that in mind when choosing what to wear beneath it.
Skill Level
This pattern is rated intermediate to advanced.
You will want to be comfortable working in the round for long stretches, keeping your front post and back post double crochet neat and consistent across many rounds, shaping the waist with targeted increases, and reading your stitch counts carefully across more than 60 rounds. If you have made garments before and know how gauge affects fit, you will shine here.
Newer to crochet? Practice those post stitches on a swatch first, darling. Once the rhythm clicks, they feel like second nature.
Time Estimate
Plan for approximately 35 to 55 hours depending on your working speed. The ribbed bodice asks the most of you, since every round needs attention to post stitch alignment — so queue up a good podcast or audiobook series and settle in for a lovely long stitch.
Finished Measurements
This pattern is written for size Small/Medium with customization notes included.
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Bust circumference at bodice: 34 inches / 86 cm
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Waist circumference: 28 inches / 71 cm
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Hip circumference at fullest skirt point: approximately 54 inches / 137 cm
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Total length from strap top to hem: approximately 28 inches / 71 cm
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Bodice length below straps: approximately 13 inches / 33 cm
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Skirt length: approximately 10 inches / 25 cm
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Strap length: approximately 5 inches / 13 cm each
Fit note: The ribbed fabric has significant horizontal stretch. The bodice is designed with 2 to 3 inches of negative ease at the bust, which the rib accommodates snugly. Measure yourself before starting and check the size customization section.
Materials Needed
Yarn: 100 percent cotton DK weight (light weight, CYC 3), approximately 1400 to 1600 yards / 1280 to 1463 meters total in sage green
Yarn Suggestions
Recommended yarn options:
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Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Sage (8 to 9 skeins)
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Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in Grass Green or Slate Green (11 to 12 balls)
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We Are Knitters The Petite Wool in Olive (10 skeins)
Hooks:
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US size E-4 / 3.5 mm for bodice ribbing
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US size F-5 / 3.75 mm for skirt and edging
Notions:
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Stitch markers (at least 6)
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Tapestry needle
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Measuring tape
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Blocking pins and mat
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Optional: slip dress or camisole for wearing
Gauge (Do Not Skip This)
Bodice ribbing with E-4 / 3.5 mm hook in post stitch rib, unstretched:
20 stitches x 14 rounds = 4 inches / 10 cm
Skirt mesh with F-5 / 3.75 mm hook:
16 stitches x 10 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm
Gauge is mandatory for this crochet pattern. This is a fitted garment. An incorrect gauge will produce a bodice that does not fit. Work a 6-inch swatch in rib, wash and dry it as you plan to care for the finished dress, then measure before beginning.
Abbreviations
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ch: chain
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sl st: slip stitch
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sc: single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through both loops)
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hdc: half double crochet
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dc: double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops twice)
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FPDC: front post double crochet
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BPDC: back post double crochet
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st(s): stitch(es)
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sp: space
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sk: skip
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rep: repeat
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pm: place marker
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RS: right side
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WS: wrong side
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rnd: round
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yo: yarn over
Special Stitches Explained
Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC)
This stitch creates the raised vertical columns in the ribbing. Yarn over. Insert your hook from front to back to front around the post (the vertical bar) of the stitch in the row below. You are going around the outside of the post, not through the top loops. Yarn over and pull up a loop so you have 3 loops on hook. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops. Yarn over and draw through the remaining 2 loops. One FPDC complete.
Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC)
This creates the recessed columns between the raised ones. Yarn over. Insert your hook from back to front to back around the post of the stitch below. Complete as a regular double crochet. The combination of FPDC and BPDC creates that beautiful stretchy rib texture.
1×1 Rib in the Round
Alternate 1 FPDC, 1 BPDC around every round. Each round, work FPDC over the previous FPDC columns and BPDC over the previous BPDC columns. This keeps your vertical ribs aligned.
Shell Stitch
Work 5 dc into the same stitch or space. This forms one decorative shell for the hem edging.
Pattern Instructions
Section 1: Front Strap (Make 2)
Each strap is approximately 3 inches wide and 5 inches long. Work both straps identically.
Using E-4 / 3.5 mm hook, ch 17.
Row 1 (foundation): Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (15 dc)
Row 2 (RS, begins rib): Ch 2 (does not count as st). FPDC around post of next dc, BPDC around post of next dc. Rep (FPDC, BPDC) across to last st, FPDC around post of last dc. Turn. (15 sts: 8 FPDC, 7 BPDC)
Row 3 (WS): Ch 2. BPDC around post of next FPDC, FPDC around post of next BPDC. Rep (BPDC, FPDC) across to last st, BPDC around post of last FPDC. Turn. (15 sts)
Rows 4 through 17: Alternate Rows 2 and 3, maintaining rib alignment. (15 sts each row)
After Row 17, strap measures approximately 5 inches. Fasten off each strap and set aside.
Section 2: Bodice Foundation and Joining
Using E-4 / 3.5 mm hook, ch 121. Being careful not to twist, sl st into first ch to form a ring. (120 ch)
Round 1 (Bodice Setup Round): Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in each ch around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3 to join. (120 dc)
Round 2 (Begin Rib): Ch 2 (does not count as st throughout bodice). FPDC around post of next dc, BPDC around post of next dc. Rep (FPDC, BPDC) around. Sl st to first FPDC to join. (120 sts: 60 FPDC, 60 BPDC)
Rounds 3 through 45: Rep Round 2, working FPDC over FPDC and BPDC over BPDC of previous round. Place stitch markers at positions 1 and 61 to mark side seam points. (120 sts each round)
After Round 45, bodice measures approximately 13 inches tall. This is your waist.
Attaching Straps to Bodice
Lay the bodice flat. The front panel is 60 stitches wide, the back is 60 stitches wide.
Front placement: Stitches 1 through 15 = right front strap zone. Stitches 16 through 44 = center front neckline (remains open for square neck). Stitches 45 through 60 = left front strap zone.
Back placement: Stitches 61 through 75 = right back strap zone. Stitches 76 through 104 = center back neckline (open). Stitches 105 through 120 = left back strap zone.
Using a tapestry needle and matching yarn, whip stitch the cast-on edge of each strap to the corresponding 15 stitches at the top edge of the bodice. Attach straps at all four positions: right front, left front, right back, left back.
Checkpoint 1: The bodice should measure approximately 18 inches from strap top to bodice bottom. Circumference unstretched should measure approximately 24 inches.
Section 3: Waist Transition
Switch to F-5 / 3.75 mm hook.
Round 46 (Waist Increase Round): Ch 1 (does not count as st). Work 2 sc into each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (240 sc)
Round 47 (Transition Mesh Round): Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Sk next sc. Dc in next sc. Ch 1. Sk next sc. Rep (dc, ch 1, sk 1) around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3 to join. (120 dc, 120 ch-1 sp)
Round 48: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in ch-1 sp. Dc in next dc. Rep (dc in ch-sp, dc in dc) around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (240 dc)
Section 4: Skirt Body
Round 49: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc). Hdc in each st around. Sl st to top of beg ch-2 to join. (240 hdc)
Round 50: Ch 2. Hdc in next hdc. Ch 1. Sk 1 hdc. Rep (hdc in next hdc, ch 1, sk 1 hdc) around. Sl st to top of beg ch-2 to join. (120 hdc, 120 ch-1 sp)
Round 51: Ch 2. (Hdc in ch-1 sp, ch 1) around, working into each ch-1 sp and skipping over the hdc sts. Sl st to top of beg ch-2. (120 hdc, 120 ch-1 sp)
Rounds 52 through 55: Alternate Rounds 50 and 51, maintaining the traveling mesh pattern. (240 positions each round)
Round 56 (Second Skirt Increase Round): Ch 1. (2 sc in next hdc, sc in ch-1 sp) around. Sl st to first sc. (360 sc)
Rounds 57 through 59: Ch 1. Sc in each sc around. Sl st to first sc. (360 sc each round)
Checkpoint 2: Skirt should measure approximately 10 inches from waist increase point. Hem circumference approximately 88 to 92 inches. Total dress length approximately 28 inches.
Section 5: Hem Scallop Edging
Round 60 (Scallop Edging): Ch 1. Sl st in first sc. (Sk 2 sc, 5 dc shell in next sc, sk 2 sc, sl st in next sc) around. (60 shells)
Fasten off. Weave in end securely.
Section 6: Strap Edging (Optional)
Using E-4 / 3.5 mm hook, join yarn at top edge of one strap.
Round 1: Ch 1. Sc evenly around entire top perimeter of strap. Work approximately 15 sc along top edge, 17 sc down each long side. Sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Repeat for second strap.
Size Customization Tips
Adjusting bust size:
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Each additional 2 stitches = approximately 0.4 inches of circumference
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Keep total bodice stitch count divisible by 2
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XS (30-inch bust): 104 sts
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L (38-inch bust): 136 sts
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XL (42-inch bust): 152 sts
Adjusting length:
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Each bodice round = approximately 0.3 inches
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Add approximately 3 rounds to lengthen bodice by 1 inch
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Add sc rounds between Rounds 57 and 59 for longer skirt
Finishing and Blocking
Weave in all ends through at least 1 inch of stitches in two directions for security.
For wet blocking, submerge the dress in cool water with gentle detergent. Press gently without wringing. Lay flat on blocking mat, pin bodice to 24 inches circumference (12 inches wide laid flat), and smooth skirt into full circle. Pin hem evenly, stretching scallop edging open gently. Allow to dry completely for 24 to 48 hours.
Final Thoughts on This Crochet Dress Pattern
Making your own dress from scratch is one of the loveliest things you can do as a crocheter. Yes, this sage green beauty asks for your time and attention. But when you slip it on and feel how wonderfully it fits, watch the skirt swish as you walk, and see how that ribbing flatters you — you will know exactly why handmade garments are worth every stitch.
Take it slowly, check your gauge, and trust the process. Then wear it proudly, knowing you created something truly special with your own two hands. Happy crocheting, friend!
