If you’re looking for a project that combines classic shaping with stunning lace work, you’ve found it! This Dusty Rose Lace Dress is a beautiful example of how simple yarn can be transformed into an elegant garment. The dress is worked top-down, featuring a smooth yoke and a breathtaking flared skirt created with a bold, openwork diamond pattern.
This long, detailed pattern is designed for an Intermediate crocheter who loves watching a beautiful lace repeat take shape.
Materials Needed 🧶
- Yarn: Approximately 350-400 yards of DK Weight (Light Worsted / #3) acrylic or cotton blend yarn. We recommend a soft fiber that has good drape to show off the lace. The color in the image is a beautiful Mauve or Dusty Rose (Main Color – MC).
- Crochet Hook: 3.5 mm (US E-4), or the size needed to obtain gauge.
- Button: One small (1/2 inch) button for the back neck slit.
- Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and sewing the button.
- Stitch Markers: 4 markers for the raglan corners.
Skill Level & Notes 💡
- Skill Level: Intermediate. You should be comfortable with raglan shaping, working in the round, and following a multi-row lace repeat.
- Construction: The dress is worked top-down. We will start with a small, flat section to create a back neck slit before joining to work the rest of the dress seamlessly in the round.
- Chains: The starting chain (ch 3) at the beginning of DC rounds always counts as the first DC unless noted otherwise.
Gauge 📏
In Double Crochet (DC) (Yoke section) using a 3.5 mm hook: 16 DC stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) square.
Abbreviations 📚
| Abbreviation | Description |
| ch | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| rep | repeat |
| PM | Place Marker |
| ch-sp | chain space |
Export to Sheets
Special Skirt Stitch ✨
Lace Diamond Stitch (LDS)
This pattern is a two-row repeat that creates the lacy diamond mesh:
- Row A (Shell Row): Creates the solid peak of the diamond.
- Row B (Mesh Row): Creates the space and foundation for the next diamond peak.
- The stitch repeat is over a multiple of 6 stitches.
Part 1: The Yoke (Top-Down Raglan) ⬆️
Size: 3-6 Months. We begin working flat to create the back neck slit.
Setup Row (Back Slit): Ch 53. Sl st to the first ch, being careful not to twist. Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in the next 43 ch. Leave the remaining 9 ch unworked. (44 dc)
Row 1 (Working Flat): Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. Dc in the next 4 sts. [Dc, ch 2, dc] in the next st (PM in ch-2 sp). Dc in the next 7 sts (Shoulder). [Dc, ch 2, dc] in the next st (PM). Dc in the next 12 sts (Front). [Dc, ch 2, dc] in the next st (PM). Dc in the next 7 sts (Shoulder). [Dc, ch 2, dc] in the next st (PM). Dc in the last 5 sts. (54 dc, 4 ch-2 sps)
Rows 2-6 (Increase Rows): Ch 3, turn. Dc in each st until the first ch-2 sp. [Dc, ch 2, dc] in the ch-2 sp. Rep [Dc in each st to next ch-2 sp, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp] 3 times. Dc in each remaining st. (Increases by 4 dc each row.)
- End of Row 6 Stitch Count: 118 dc, 4 ch-2 sps.
Row 7 (Joining for Body): Ch 3, turn. Dc in each st until the first ch-2 sp. Dc in the ch-2 sp. Ch 2 (skips the sleeve stitches). Dc in the second ch-2 sp. Dc in each st until the third ch-2 sp. Dc in the ch-2 sp. Ch 2 (skips the second sleeve stitches). Dc in the fourth ch-2 sp. Dc in each remaining st. Sl st to the top of the beg ch-3 to join. (66 dc, 4 ch = 70 sts)
Part 2: The Skirt (Lace Diamond Pattern) 👗
The entire skirt is worked in the round, starting immediately with the lace pattern.
Round 8 (Lace Setup): Ch 3. Dc in each st around. Sl st to join. (70 dc)
- Note: To ensure a successful repeat of the 6-st LDS, we need to adjust the count to 72 stitches (a multiple of 6).
- Adjustment: Work 2 evenly spaced increases (2 dc into one st) in this round. (72 dc)
Round 9 (LDS – Shell Row A): Ch 1 (does not count as st). Sc in the first st. [Sk 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st (Shell made), sk 2 sts, sc in the next st] rep around. Sl st to the beg sc to join. (12 Shells)
Round 10 (LDS – Mesh Row B): Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1). Dc in the ch-1 sp of the first shell. [Ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in the next sc, ch 1, sk 2 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in the ch-1 sp of the next shell] rep around. After the last shell, ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in the last sc. Ch 1. Sl st to the 3rd ch of beg ch-4 to join.
Round 11 (LDS – Shell Row A): Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in the first ch-1 sp. [Sc in the next dc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next dc (over the previous shell’s ch-1 sp)] rep around. End with sc in the last dc. Sl st to the top of the beg ch-3 to join.
Round 12 (LDS – Mesh Row B): Ch 4. Dc in the next dc (creating a V-st over the 2-dc cluster). [Ch 1, sk 2 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in the next sc, ch 1, sk 2 dc, (dc, ch 1, dc) in the ch-1 sp of the next shell] rep around. Sl st to the 3rd ch of beg ch-4 to join.
Round 13 (Increase Shell Row A): Ch 1. Sc in the first st. [Increase Shell: (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the center of the next V-st (over previous sc). Sc in the ch-1 sp of the next shell] rep around. Sl st to the beg sc. (72 sts maintained, but pattern shifted)
Rounds 14-26: Repeat Rounds 10-13, shifting the pattern placement each row. Work 1-2 increases (by repeating a shell twice in one round) every 4th shell round (approx. every 4 rounds) to achieve the necessary flare.
Final Round 27 (Scalloped Hem): Ch 1. Sc in the first st. [Sk 1 st, 5 dc in the next st (shell made), sk 1 st, sc in the next st] rep around. Sl st to the beg sc to join. Fasten off.
Part 3: Edging and Finishing 🧵
- Armhole Edging (Make 2): Attach yarn at the underarm. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the armhole opening. Sl st to join and fasten off.
- Neckline and Back Slit: Attach yarn at the bottom of the back neck slit. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the entire neckline opening and up one side of the back slit. Ch 3 (creates button loop). Sl st back into the last sc. Fasten off.
- Button: Sew the small button onto the neck opening of the opposite back panel, aligning it with the button loop you just created.
Video Tutorial:
The Essential Step: Blocking 🫧
Blocking is non-negotiable for this lace dress. It will open up the diamond pattern and ensure the skirt has the perfect drape and flare.
- Dampen: Gently soak the entire dress in lukewarm water, squeeze out excess water (do not wring), and roll in a clean towel.
- Pin: Lay the damp dress flat on a blocking mat or foam board. Pin the skirt edge out wide, stretching the lace pattern to define the diamonds and flare the skirt. Pin the neckline and armholes to neaten the edges.
- Dry: Allow the dress to dry completely before unpinning.
Your beautiful Dusty Rose Lace Baby Dress is complete! It’s a truly elegant piece perfect for any special occasion.
