Twirling toddler dress free crochet pattern

Twirling Toddler Dress - Free Crochet Pattern

Back of the bodice of the twirling toddler dress showing the trim down the back and bow at the waist

The Twirling Toddler Dress is a playful, movement-filled crochet garment designed for little ones who love to spin, skip, and explore. Worked from the neckline down with minimal seaming, this charming dress features a fitted bodice, gently flared skirt, sweet sleeve cap edging, and an optional tie belt for the perfect fit. Made with KnitPal Cotton to the Core Worsted yarn, it offers breathable comfort and beautiful stitch definition, making it an ideal handmade piece for everyday wear, special occasions, or heartfelt gifting. Available in six toddler sizes, it’s a joyful project that’s just as fun to make as it is to wear.

Download a printable pattern PDF

What You’ll Need

  • Yarn: KnitPal Cotton to the Core Worsted (weight #4 – 65% cotton / 35% acrylic, 218 yards per 100 grams)

    1 skein Main Color (MC) and 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins Contrast Color (CC)
    Shown in the colorways Fresh Peach (MC) and Grape Purple (CC).

  • Hook: US J / 6 mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
  • Notions: 
    Tapestry needle
    Measuring tape
    Stitch marker

Details

  • Skill Level: Intermediate

  • Gauge: 4x4" / 10x10 cm = 14 sts x 10 rows in hdc, flat, unblocked

    Be aware that although gauge will “grow/stretch” slightly a sproject is completed, the end results should still match out reasonably to Finished Sizing

  • SIZES: 1T (2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, 6T)
    Waist: 17 1/3 (18 2/3, 20, 21 1/3, 22 2/3, 24)”/44 (47.5, 51, 54, 57.5, 61) cm
    Skirt length: 8 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18)”/20.5 (25.5, 30.5, 35.5, 40.5, 48) cm

Abreviations

  • BLO: back loop only
  • CC: contrast color
  • ch: chain
  • dc: double crochet
  • HDC: half double crochet
  • FSC: foundation single crochet
  • MC: main color
  • rep: repeat
  • SC: single crochet
  • sk: skip
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • WS: wrong side (inside)

Special Stitches

Foundation Single Crochet - video tutorial
(if you do not use Foundation Single Crochet, chain the required number of stitches plus 1 and then work one row of SC starting in the 2nd ch, before starting R1 of the actual pattern)



Notes

  • Turning ch does not count as a stitch unless otherwise indicated

  • Unless otherwise stated, all odd numbered rows/rounds are worked in hdc, even rows/rounds are worked in DC

Twirling toddler dress on a distressed painted wood background

Pattern

Download a printable pattern PDF

Designed by CBN Craftworks

Worked from the neckline, down, beginning with rows, and finishing in the round. The back is edged and seamed, the sleeve caps are edged, and the waistline is “belted” with a FSC belt. There is minimal seaming and minimal finishing.

BODICE (STARTING AT NECKLINE)

With CC, create a 42 (48, 54, 60, 66, 72) FSC chain.

Switch to MC for remainder of Bodice. Turn your work at the end of each Row, using a Ch 1 to turn when starting a HDC row, or Ch 2 if starting a DC row, as noted above.

Row 1: Ch1, Working in the “bottom loops” of the FSC chain (or “bottom loops of Ch”, if a SC row was used instead), HDC in each stitch to end, turn. 42 (48,54, 60, 66, 72) sts.

Row 2: Ch2, *2DC in next st, DC in each of next 5 sts; rep from * to end, turn. 49 (56, 63, 70, 77, 84) sts.

Row 3: Ch1, *2HDC in next st, HDC in each of next 6 sts; rep from * to end, turn. 56 (64, 72, 80, 88, 96) sts.

Row 4: Ch2, *2DC in next st, DC in each of next 7 sts; rep from * to end, turn. 63 (72, 81, 90, 99, 108) sts.

Row 5: Ch1, *2HDC in next st, HDC in each of next 8 sts; rep from * to end, turn. 70 (80, 90, 100, 110, 120) sts.

Row 6: Ch2, DC in each stitch to end, turn. 70 (80, 90, 100, 110, 120) sts.

Row 7: Ch1, HDC in each stitch to end, turn. 70 (80, 90, 100, 110, 120) sts.

Next row sets up the armholes, front, and two back sides.

Row 8: Ch2, DC in next 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16), ch 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5), sk 13 (16, 19, 22, 25, 28), DC in next 22 (24, 26, 28, 30, 32), ch 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5), sk 13 (16, 19, 22, 25, 28), DC in next 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16). 44 (48, 52, 54, 58, 62) sts plus two sets of ch 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5).

Row 9: Ch1, HDC in each stitch and each chain, to end. 52 (56, 60, 66, 70, 74)sts.

Row 10: Ch2, DC across, turn.

Row 11: Ch1, HDC across, turn.

Rows 12 - 14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24): Repeat Rows 10-11.

After completing the final row of the Bodice, join with a slip stitch to the beginning stitch of the prior row, switching to CC with the slip stitch. The skirt will be worked in Rounds (do not turn your work). At the end of each Rnd, join with sl st to 1st st of Rnd, and Ch 1 if next st is HDC, or Ch 2 if next st is DC. Chains are NOT considered 1st st. EXCEPTION is HEM round, which uses a Ch 3 to start the round and is considered 1st st.

SKIRT

Round 1: Ch1, HDC in next st, 2HDC in next st; rep from * to end of round, s lst to join. 78 (84, 90, 99, 105, 111) sts.

Round 2: Ch2, 2DC in each stitch to end of round, sl st to join. 156 (168, 180, 198, 210, 222) sts.

Round 3: Ch1, HDC in each stitch to end of round, sl st to join. 156 (168, 180, 198, 210, 222) sts.

Round 4: Ch2, DC in each stitch to end of round, sl st to join. 156 (168, 180, 198, 210, 222) sts.

Repeat Rounds 3 - 4 for 6 (8, 10, 12, 14, 16) times MORE, and then repeat Round 3 once more.

You will have worked a total of 17 (21, 25, 29, 33, 37) alternating rounds of HDC and DC, when counting from Round 1, with final round being in HDC**

HEM

Next Round (all sizes): Ch3 (counts as 1st st), 4DC in same st, sk 4 sts, *5 DC in next st, sk 4 sts; rep from * around. Join with sl st to top of beginning Ch3.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

BACK EDGING AND SEAMING

Using CC for Back edging, and with RS facing, join yarn with sl st toe dge/corner of Neckline. Working stitches into the edge of the rows, work 1row of HDC evenly spaced from top corner edge to waistline, stop to check if edge lays flat (no puckering or stretching), work one HDC in joining point at waistline, then continuing working HDC evenly spaced along other edge from waistline back to top edge/corner of Neckline.

Before fastening off, check again if the edge lays flat(no puckering or stretching) and if the stitch count is same on each edge side. The stitch count will be approximately two stitches per each row edge of the DC rows, and one stitch per each row edge of the HDC rows. Once you are satisfied with the lay of the edge, fasten off and weave in ends.

Seam the edges together from the waist up to approximately the 5th or 7th row before the neckline using the method of your choice, leaving the remainder“unseamed” for a V back neckline. Sample was seamed using the mattress stitch with back loops only of the top of the HDC stitches.

SLEEVE CAP EDGING

Close up shot of the sleeve cap edging

The sleeve cap is created with shell stitches that are separated with SC stitches, making a scalloped Sleeve Cap edging, while leaving the actual Underarm with only slip stitches in this round, so that it does not get bulky.

You may need to adjust the “sk 2” slightly to match the number of stitches available around the edges.

Rnd 1: Using CC, join yarn with sl st at the ch section that had created the underarm. Ch1 and then SC in loop edge of each ch, SC3 spaced evenly up the “row edge” of armhole, HDC in next 2 sts of sleeve cap, DC in next 9(12, 15, 18, 21, 24) sts across top of sleeve cap, HDC in next two sts of sleeve cap, SC3 spaced evenly down the “row edge” of armhole, join with sl st to 1st SC.

Rnd 2: Sl St across next 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) sts that had been worked across the chain that formed the underarm. *SC in next st, sk 2 sts, 5DC in next st, sk next 2 sts; rep from* around sleeve cap, ending with SC in next st, when you reach the underarm again. Sl st to join the round.

Once you are satisfied with the spacing of the shell edging, fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat for the other Sleeve Cap.

BELT

Twirling toddler dress from the back so you can see the back edging and belt tie

Using MC, make a FSC chain approximately 55 (60, 65, 70, 75,80)”/140 (152.5, 165, 178, 190.5,203) cm long. Ch1, turn FSC ch with bottom loops facing up, and Sl St each loop back to beginning of chain. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Weave Belt through the last row of DC stitches of the Bodice, right above the first Skirt round, under one DC st then over one DC st, so that the ends of the Belt meet in the Back. Tie in abow (see photo).

Download a printable pattern PDF

 

Share Your Finished Piece!

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With permission of the designer, this pattern and photos are property of KnitPal and may not be altered, shared, or sold. Do not rewrite any part of this design and sell as your own design. You’re welcome to sell finished products made with this pattern, but please credit the design to KnitPal https://knitpal.com/

Anna Rainous
Posted on January 05, 2026
Anna Rainous
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