Baby Dress with Flowers

Over the last year, I have designed quite a few baby blankets. I also have made tons of doilies. I feel now it’s time to venture into something new. Perhaps crochet baby dresses?

I’ve only made a few of baby dresses in the past using other people’s patterns. But of course I want to learn making my own designs. 

So here is my first attempt.

I am both pleased and disappointed with it. I’m pleased because it looks cute and the pattern is not complicated, but I’m disappointed because my baby dress didn’t come out its intended size. I made a mistake by choosing worsted weight yarn while I should’ve used something lighter. The intended size was 0-3 months, but the finished size is about 12 months. What is more, the dress came out somewhat heavy and bulky.

I’m going to make this same dress with light worsted or DK yarn instead. I’ll share the results with you later.

Diamond Stitch Baby Blanket, Free Pattern

This pattern is my original design. It cannot be posted on other sites or distributed in any other form. If you would like to share this pattern, you can post ONE image on your site with the link to my original post. You can use this pattern to make items for personal use or for sale. If you sell finished items from this pattern, you must give design credit to Lacy Crochet blog (lacycrochet.blogspot.com). Please, respect my work. Thank you!

The symbol chart above was created by Ginger Douglas (@wwginger on Twitter). Thank you Ginger! 

Measurements: 38 by 35 inches

Multiple of 10 plus 7

US hook size G/6 (4.25mm)

Light worsted 100% acrylic yarn, about 1260 yards (I used Snuggly Wuggly Big by Loops and Threads)

Ch 127 loosely (you will have 12 pattern repeats) 

Row 1: dc in 4^th ch from hook, *ch 1, skip next ch, dc in next 9 ch* 12 times, ch 1, skip next ch, dc in next 2 ch.

Row 2: ch 3, turn; dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next 7 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space* 12 times, dc in next dc, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 3: ch 3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, dc in next ch-1 space, *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next 5 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 space* 11 times, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next 5 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 2 dc, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 4: ch 3, turn; dc in next 3 dc, *dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next 3 dc, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 3 dc* 12 times, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 5: ch 3, turn; dc in next 4 dc, *dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 5 dc* 11 times, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 4 dc, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 6: ch 3, turn; dc in next 5 dc, *dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 7 dc* 11 times, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 5 dc, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 7: ch 3, turn; dc in next 5 dc, *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next 7 dc* 12 times, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next 5 dc, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 8: ch 3, turn; dc in next 4 dc, *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc,  dc in next 5 dc* 11 times, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc,  dc in next 4 dc, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 9: ch 3, turn; dc in next 3 dc, *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 3 dc, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next 3 dc* 12 times, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 10: ch 3, turn; dc in next 2 dc, *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 5 dc, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc* 12 times, dc in next dc, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Row 11: ch 3, turn; dc in next dc, *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next 7 dc, dc in next ch-1 space* 12 times, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc, dc in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Repeat Rows 2-11 until you have 81 rows in total (ending with Row 11).

Trim

Round 1:

Working in last row: ch 6, turn, dc in base of turning ch-6, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, *{ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc} 4 times, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space* 12 times;  ch 1, skip next dc, (dc, ch 3, dc) all in 2^nd ch of turning ch-3.

Working in end of rows: *ch 1, dc in next end of row* across; ch 1, (dc, ch 3, dc) all in corner ch of last end of row.

Working in original chain: ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space, *{ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc} 4 times, ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next ch-1 space* 12 times; ch 1, skip next dc, (dc, ch 3, dc) all in last dc.

Working in end of rows: *ch 1, dc in next end of row* across; ch 1, sl st in 3^rd ch of beginning ch-6.

Round 2: ch 1, 3 hdc in corner space; continue making 2 hdc in each ch-1 space and 3 hdc in each corner space around. Sl st to beginning hdc to join round. Fasten off, weave in end. 

Or you can experiment and come up with your own trim: 

More blanket patterns from my shop:

 

Valentine’s Tea Party for Kids

Last weekend, a friend of mine and her two daughters (age 3 and 2) came over to our home. They joined us for a little Valentine's Day inspired tea party. My boys are five and two years old, so the company was perfect.

I was glad to have a chance to make use of my doilies, which usually are hidden away. I scattered pink and white doilies on the table with the sweet treats. It looked cute.

It wasn’t a big and fancy party, but everyone surely had fun.

The pink lemonade marshmallows were a big hit.

This is a camellia flower from my front yard. The bush only starts to bloom, and there was only one flower that completely opened, which I snapped to decorate the table. There are lots of buds on the camellia bush however, and I’m so much looking forward to seeing them opened up.  

A small pot of daisies. At the end of the party, I gifted them to my friend.

Do you remember the hearts that I crocheted a couple of weeks ago? I used them for handmade valentines. I glued them to note cards, and my boys added some stickers. Two of these cards were already delivered to their recipients, and the rest will be delivered later this week.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Stash Buster: Emerald Green Scarf (my free pattern)

Several weeks ago when I was cleaning my bedroom closet, I found a lovely surprise in there – five skeins of beautiful emerald green yarn. I totally forgot I had it.

The yarn is by Araucania; it’s 75% baby alpaca, 18% silk, and 7% polyamide. The yarn was made and hand dyed in Chile.

Soon after my discovery, I read about Linda’s Stash Buster Link Party, so I decided to join it by making something out of my newly rediscovered yarn. Do visit Linda’s blog and see what other crafters are creating this month to bust their stash.

Since each skein weights only 50 grams and measures about 80 yards, a scarf seemed like an appropriate project. I don’t really need another crochet scarf since I already have a few, but it turned quite nicely and I’m going to keep it.

Since the yarn was hand-dyed, the color is not uniform, creating a beautiful and distinctive look. In addition to that, the scarf has a fabulous velvety texture.  

I tried to take more close-up pictures of the scarf, but it proved to be a difficult task. Somehow my camera wouldn’t capture its beautiful color. So I’m sharing only one photo of me wearing my new scarf, but you can see this same stitch here.

The pattern is quite simple and should be appropriate for beginners.

My scarf is 58 inches long (not including the fringe), and 10 inches wide. If I had one more skein of yarn, I would make it a bit longer.

Shell in this pattern: (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all in same space.

Turning ch 3 is referred to as “last dc” at the end of rows. 

Ch 72.

Row 1: shell in 6th ch from hook, *ch 3, skip 6 ch, shell in next ch* across; dc in last ch. Ch 3, turn.

Row 2: *shell in next shell, ch 2, sc in next ch-3 space, ch 2* across, ending with shell in next shell; dc in last dc. Ch 3, turn.

Row 3: *shell in next shell, ch 3* across, ending with shell in next shell; dc in last dc. Ch 3, turn.

Repeat Rows 2-3 until desired length. Fasten off. Add fringe.

More scarf and cowl patterns from my shop: