Sunny Baby Dress Set - Free Crochet Pattern
The Sunny Baby Dress Set is a bright, cheerful crochet ensemble designed to make little ones shine. Featuring a sweet sleeveless dress with a textured bodice, flared shell-stitch skirt, scalloped ruffle trim, and a charming rose-accented belt, this set is full of thoughtful details. The coordinating sun hat completes the look with matching shell texture and a playful flower embellishment. Made with KnitPal Tweed Twinkles DK yarn—or Cotton to the Core DK as an alternative—this easy-level pattern is perfect for warm-weather outings, special occasions, or heartfelt handmade gifts.
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What You’ll Need
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Yarn:
KnitPal Tweed Twinkles (DK weight, 79% acrylic, 21% polyester, 87 yards / 50g
Main Color: Coral Pink, 7 skeins
Contrast Color: Daffodil Yellow, 1 skein
Alternate yarn: Knitpal Cotton to the Core (DK weight 78% cotton/22% acrylic, 142 yards / 50 g) -
Needles:
US size E (3.75 mm) crochet hook
Or size needed to obtain gauge -
Notions:
Tapestry needle
Details
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Skill Level: Easy
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Gauge: 4x4 inches / 10x10cm = 20 stitches x 10 rows in double crochet stitch
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Sizes: To fit age 12 - 24 months
DRESS
Bodice width: 10 inches
Length (shoulder to hem): 18 inches
HAT
Circumference: 18 inches
Depth: 6 inches
Abbreviations (US terms)
- ch: chain
- dc: double crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- inc: increase
- rpt: repeat
- sc: single crochet
- sk: skip/miss
- slst: slip stitch
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
Special Stitches
V stitch: double crochet, chain 1, double crochet in same stitch/space Shell: 3 double crochet, chain 2, 3 double crochet in same stitch/space (unless otherwise indicated)
Notes
- Follow along with the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhgjoXUOuXg
- Ch3 counts as a double crochet unless otherwise indicated
- Ch1 is not counted as a stitch unless otherwise indicated
Patterns
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BODICE:
Round 1: ch102, 1 dc in 4th ch, 1 dc in each ch across. (100 sts)
Round 2: ch3, 1dc in next 3 sts, sk1, ch1, 1dc in next 4 sts, rpt [1dc in 4 sts, sk1, ch1] around, slst in top of ch3. (100 sts)
Round 3-9: ch3, 1 dc in next 3 dc, sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc, rpt [1 dc in next 4 dc, sk1, ch1] around, slst in top of ch3. (100 sts)
ARMHOLE SHAPING:
Divide for the arms as follows: 6 sts for underarm, 44 sts for the back, 6 sts for the underarm, 44 sts for the front. The back will be worked flat next, then once it is complete, return and work the front.
BACK:
Row 10-15: ch3, 1 dc in next 3 dc, sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc, rpt [sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc] across, turn. (44 sts)
NECK SHAPING:
Row 16: ch3, 1dc in next 3 dc, sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc, sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc, turn. (14 sts) Row 17-21: ch3, 1 dc in next 3 dc, sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc, sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc, turn. (14 sts) Fasten off.
Return to Row 16 to work other half of neckline.
Row 1: leave 16 sts unworked, join yarn in next st, ch3, 1 dc in next 3 dc, sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc, sk1, ch1, 1 dc in next 4 dc, turn. (14 sts)
Row 2-6: rpt Row 1. Fasten off.
FRONT:
Work as back, leaving 6 sts unworked for each underarm. Working from the wrong side, sew the shoulder seams.
SKIRT:
Join main color at bottom corner of the bodice.
Round 1: ch3, rpt [make shell, sk3, make shell] around, slst into top of ch3, slst in next 2 sts, slst into ch2 sp.
Round 2-16: make shell into next ch2 sp, rpt around, slst into top of ch3, slst in next 2 sts, slst into ch2 sp.
Round 17-18 (increase round): (ch3, 3dc, ch2, 4dc) into ch2 sp, rpt [(4dc, ch2, 4dc) into ch2 sp] around, slst into top of ch3, slst in next 3 sts, slst into ch2 sp.
Round 19 (increase round): (ch3, 4dc, ch2, 5dc) into ch2 sp, rpt [(5dc, ch2, 5dc) around, slst into top of ch3, slst in next 4 sts, slst into ch2 sp. Fasten off.
BOTTOM RUFFLE:
Round 20: In contrast color, working under the shell into the 2nd previous round, join yarn in dc st under the shell after the ch sp in left, 1dc in next 3 dc sts,1dc in next 3 dc sts, ch2, rpt [1dc in left of ch2 sp, 3 dc sts, 1dc in next 3 dc sts, ch2] around the skirt, slst in top of beginning ch3. (See picture)
Round 21: ch4, 1dc in same st, sk2 , v st in next st, rpt [v st, sk2, v st in next st], around the skirt, slst in top of beginning ch3.
Round 22-23: slst across to first v st ch sp, into the v st ch sp, ch4, dc in same sp, v st in next ch sp , rpt [v st in v st ch sp, v st in next v st ch sp], around the skirt, slst in top of beginning ch3.
Round 24: slst across to first v st sp, into the v st ch sp, make a shell (ch3, 5dc in same sp) ,sc in next v st sp, shell (6dc) into next v st ch sp, rpt [shell (6dc) in v st ch sp, sc in next v st ch sp, shell (6 dc) in next v st ch sp ] around the skirt, slst in top of beginning ch3. Fasten off.
NECKLINE EDGES:
Join main color at top corner of neckline, ch1, sc in same st, rpt [shell (6dc) in next st, sc in next] around the neck line.
ARMHOLE EDGES:
Join main color into the armhole, ch1, sc in same st, rpt [shell (6 dc) in next st, sc in next] around into the armhole. Fasten off and work 2nd armhole to the same. Fasten off.
BELT:
With contrast color, ch 110, 1dc in 4th ch, 1dc in each ch across. Fasten off.
ROSE:
Row 1: ch37, 1hdc in 3rd ch, 1hdc in each ch across, turn. (34 hdc)
Row 2: rpt (ch2, sk2, sc in next st) across, turn. (11 ch sp)
Row 3: (sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc) into ch2 sp, (sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc) into next sp, (sc,
hdc, 4dc, hdc, sc) into next sp, (sc, hdc, 4dc, hdc, sc) into next sp, (sc, hdc, 5dc, hdc, sc) into next sp, (sc, hdc, 5dc, hdc, sc) into next sp, (sc, ch1, 6dc, hdc) into next sp, (sc, ch1, 7dc, hdc) into next sp, (sc, ch1, 8dc, hdc) into next sp, (sc, ch1, 9dc, hdc) into next sp, (sc, ch1, 9dc, hdc) into next sp. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
FINISHING:
Start folding the flower step by step to the end, sew the bottom and secure the flower. Insert the tie band into the starting round in the bodice, threading it under every 5th dc. Sew the ends of the belt together, and then sew the flower into place on the belt.
SUN HAT:
Round 1: ch4, slst to join and make a small ring, ch3, 11dc into the ring, slst to join in top of ch3. (12 dc)
Round 2: ch3, 1dc into the same st, 2dc in each st around, slst to join in top of ch3. (24 dc)
Round 3: ch3, 2dc in next st, rpt (1dc, 2dc) around, slst to join in top of ch3. (36 dc)
Round 4: ch3, 1dc in next st, 2dc in next, rpt (1dc in 2 sts, 2dc in next) around, slst to join in top of ch3. (48 dc)
Round 5: ch3 (count as dc), 1dc in next 2sts, 2dc in next, rpt (1dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next) around, slst to join in top of ch3. (60 dc)
Round 6: ch3, 1dc in each st around, slst to join in top of ch3. (60 dc)
Round 7: (ch3, 2dc, ch2, 3dc) in same st, skip 3 sts, make shell in next st, rpt, [shell, skip 3 sts, shell into next], around, slst to join in top of ch3, slst in next 2 sts, slst in ch sp.
Round 8-14: (ch3, 2dc, ch2, 3dc) into the ch sp, shell into each ch sp around, slst to join in top of ch3, slst in next 2 sts, slst in ch sp.
Round 15: break main color and attach contrast color, (ch3, 7dc) into ch sp, rpt shell (8dc) in each sp around, slst to join. Fasten off.
FINISHING:
Weave in ends. Make and attach a rose as above.
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