How to Crochet a Dress
The all-season looks of crochet and knit fabrics featured on runways and in fashion magazines inspire celebrities and designers alike. While hand-made crochet dresses fetch hundreds of dollars in boutique stores and at online auction sites, a custom-made dress costs a fraction of the retail price when crocheted using a large hook and bulky weight yarn. Empire-waist tube dresses are a classic look for formal events, enriched with details and accessorized with jewelry items. With a simple scarf and flats, they transition to a dressed-down look for casual occasions. Customize your dress to any size or length desired.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Bulky weight yarn
- Aluminum crochet hook, size K
- Scissors
Instructions
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Crochet the Body of the Dress
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1
Measure the widest part of the bust with the measuring tape. Add 1 inch to this measurement for a snugly fitted garment and 3 inches for a more relaxed fit to calculate your final measurement size.
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2
Measure from the top of your underarm down to the bottom of your bust line, where the empire waist will fall. This is your bodice length. Measure from the bottom of your bust line to the desired hemline to calculate your skirt length.
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3
Create a slip knot and slide it onto your crochet hook. Chain a length equal to your final measurement size. Join with a slip stitch to form a ring. Chain two to count as the first double crochet, and double crochet in each chain across. Join to the first stitch with a slip stitch.
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4
Chain one. Single crochet in each double crochet around and join with a slip stitch to the first stitch. Repeat this row until your garment is the length of the calculated bodice length.
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5
Chain two. Double crochet in each single crochet around and join to the first stitch with a slip stitch.
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6
Single crochet in each double crochet around. Do not join with a slip stitch; from this point forward the garment is constructed in a spiral. Continue to single crochet in every row until the skirt length has been reached.
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7
Slip stitch into the next single crochet after the final single crochet has been worked, to create a smooth finish. Cut the yarn, leaving a 3-inch tail. Finish off and weave the end into the previous row of stitches.
Create Drawstrings
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8
Create a slip stitch and slide it onto your crochet hook. Chain a length equal to your measurement size plus 18 inches.
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9
Cut the yarn, leaving a 3-inch tail. Finish off and weave the end into the last section of chain stitches.
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10
Repeat to create a second drawstring, equal in size to the first.
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11
Weave one drawstring through each row of double-crochet stitches, going over and under the stitches. When wearing the dress, tie these drawstrings into knots and bows to fit the dress to your figure.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Create spaghetti straps by measuring your over-the-shoulder length and creating two chains to this length. Sew in place with a tapestry needle and yarn.
Create halter straps by chaining a third drawstring, and tying it to the center of the bust line double-crochet row. Tie the ends behind the neck to create a halter strap.
Create wide shoulder straps by measuring your over-the shoulder length and creating a chain to this length. Chain two and turn. Double crochet in each chain across. Finish off, and sew into place with a tapestry needle and yarn.
Create a summer halter top by shortening the length of the dress to only reach the waistline.
Create a flouncier skirt by increasing in every other stitch in the row immediately following the second row of double crochet.
Add shells or picots around the hemline of the dress to accent a little girl's dress with a feminine touch.
Use a colorful ribbon instead of drawstrings to change the look of your dress or to make it more formal.
References
- "Compendium of Crochet Techniques"; Jan Eaton; 2007
- "Austentatious Crochet"; Melissa Horozewski; 2011
- "200 Crochet Tips, Techniques & Trade Secrets"; Jan Eaton; 2007
Resources
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
