Crochet + Fabric = AWESOME ~FREE PATTERN~

This morning I woke up with a thought.... I wanted to sew, but I didnt reeeeeaaaaallllyyyyy want to "sew". Out of my apathy came this..... and I love it :)

My little girl Miss Lilly~Anne is the baby of seven. Having seven kidlets can mean sometimes I dont get to spend enough one on one with each of them. Its the truth, I can admit it. Makes me feel like less than "supermom" and most days I just wonder where the heck is my Alice for this Brady Bunch???? One of the ways I have tried to find time with each is by making a special niche`... a "thing" that kidlet and I do together. For Lilly n me its shopping. That girl LOVES to shop. Shop for food, shop for toilet paper, window shop, garage sale.... she calls it "schop-it". Since we go once a week to the big city (ummmm we live in a town of 400 people so when I say 'Big City' Im talking roughly 10,000 people. That my friends to a four year old might as well be NYC) to do our household shopping together I have tried to make it special. I make Lilly whats called her "Friday Dresses". These are dresses I make during the week and on Fridays her and I get all gussied up to go paint the town with our fabulous fashion. Ok more like paint Walmart and Target but I digress. So here are a couple of Friday Dresses.... and today you and I are going to make one together. Get your gear and some choclate and Ill meet you back here :)

*This will fit a 3 to 4 year old. My daughter is 4 and kinda tiny, she has a 21.5 inch chest

MATERIALS:
H hook
Worsted Weight Yarn *I used I Love This Yarn!*
About a yard of fabric OR a beautiful pillow case for even less sewing
Scissors
A large eye blunt needle for weaving in ends
and any embellishments you might like..... flowers, buttons, rick rack, jewels..... the sky is the limit
Smile and have fun!

Crochet Bodice:
Chain 72 and join to beginning to work in the round making sure not to twist your stitches :)

Rnd 1: Ch 2. HDCin next 7 stitches. HDC, ch 1, HDC in next stich. HDC in the next 18 stitches. HDC, ch 1, HDC in next stitch. HDC in each of the next 16 stitches. HDC, ch 1, HDC in next stitch. HDC in, next 18 stitches. HDC, ch 1, HDC in next st. HDC in last 8 stitches. Join with a slip st to top of the chain 2 stitch.

Rnd 2: Ch 2 and HDC in the next 8 stitches. HDC, ch 1, 2 HDC in ch 1 space. HDC in the next 20 stitches. 2 HDC, ch 1, HDC in next ch 1 space. HDC in the next 18 stitches. HDC, ch 1, 2 HDC in the next ch 1 space. HDC in each of the next 20 stitches. 2 HDC, ch 1, HDC in next ch 1 space. HDC in each of the last 9 stitches. Join with slip stitch to ch 2.





Rnd 3: Chain 2. HDC in the next 9 stitches. HDC, ch 1, 2 HDC in next ch 1 space. HDC in the next 24 stitches. 2 HDC, ch 1, HDC in next ch 1 space. HDC in each of the next 20 stitches. HDC, ch 1, 2 HDC in next ch 1 space. HDC in each of the next 24 stitches. 2 HDC, ch 1, HDC in next ch 1 space. HDC in last 10 stitches. Join with slip stitch to beginning ch 2.

Joining Sleeves

Rnd 4: Chain 2. HDC in next 10 stitches. *HDC in the ch 1 space. Fold sleeve and match up current ch 1 space with next ch 1 space. SC through BOTH ch1 spaces.Turn project and continue on back side of armhole you just made. HDC in the ch 1 space.* HDC in the next 22 stitches. Repeat *-* HDC in the last 11 stitches. Join to ch 2.

Rnd 5: Chain 2. HDC in each stitch around. Join to ch 2. (Join new color here if you are using a contrast color)

Rnd 6: Ch 2. HDC in each stitch around. Join with slip st to chain 2.

Rnd 7: Ch 2. HDC in each stitch around. Join with slip st to ch 2.

Rnd 8: Ch 3. DC in same space as ch 3. **Skip one stitch, SC in the next stitch. Skip 1 stitch 3 DC in next stitch**.  Do this *-* around. 1 DC in same space as ch 3. slip st to top of ch 3. Fasten off.

Take the time to weave in all of your ends before the next step :)

Edging the neck.

Join the yarn in the yarn in the back of the bodice and begin to work SC in each stitch around. When you get to the arm go through the ch 1 space hole to make a neat finish. Continue this all the way around. Join with a slip stitch to beginning and fasten off. Weave in ends.

Armhole edging

Join yarn 8 stitches from the under arm and ch 3. DC in same joining stitch. Skip 1 stitch, SC in next stitch, (skip 1 stitch, 5 DC in next st twice), skip one stitch, DC 3 in next stitch, skip 1 stitch, SC in next st. fasten off.

Repeat for other arm.
Weave in all ends.
SMILE!!!!!!!

Onto the fabric :)

Measure from chest to the length you would like your dress to be and cut appropriately. (if you dont like a whole lotta fuss.... you can actually use a pillow case for the skirt bottom.... no hemming! Let me know if you would be interested in seeing how that is done)


Place fabric right sides together and sew up the back seam.

Fold over and hem, making sure to press all of your seams open, crisp and flat as you go. It will make a big difference in the finished project.

Repeat hem on top edge of skirt where it will be tucked under the crochet. Sew a basting stitch (Or running basting stitch if you are sewing by hand) along the top edge and gently pull on the thread to gather the fabric up to the same size as a stretched version of your crochet bodice.

Begin pinning.... at the back seam first, then the front, then each side. Fill in with more pins..............

And when you think you have enough pins.............

Pin some more :)))))








Be mind full of the pins when you are sewing and make sure to go very very very slow, removing each one before you stitch over it.

Stitch VERY SLOWLY just above the decorative trim line of your bodice.

And there you have it!

Crochet/fabric fun!!!!!!










There it is :)

Hope you have fun and give it a try ....

Pop on over to Strings N Things and show me what you make :) Get in on give aways and join in on the fun!







*please remember I am NOT a professional pattern writer, justa momma that likes to play with pretties :) Please if you see anything that is questionable bring it to my attention :)