Crochet Pattern The Little Black Dress – To make things run as smoothly as possible, this article guides the steps. There are answers to any questions you might have while creating your designs inside; if not, please send me an email.

Finished Measurements (each panel)

• Bust- 16.25 (18.5, 20, 22, 24.5) inches – 41 (47, 51, 56, 62) cm.
• Waist– 13.5 (15.5, 17.25, 19, 22) inches – 34 (39, 44, 48, 56) cm.
• Hips- 18.5 (20.75, 22.5, 24, 27) inches – 47 (53, 57, 61, 68) cm.
• Length– 28 (28, 28, 29.5, 30) inches – 71 (71, 71, 75, 76) cm.

Supplies

• H- (5 mm) crochet hook.
• 4 (5, 5, 6, 7) balls Lion brand’s jeans 100 % acrylic yarn in color “stovepipe.” 3.5 oz (100g)/246 yards (225 m) per ball.
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

• 14 dc sts x 10.5 rows in pattern = 4 inches (10 cm)

Notes

• Pattern is written in sizes S (M, L, XL, 2X).
• Model is 5’ 3” tall with a 34” bust shown wearing size S.
• Change color by picking up strand of new color and it pulling through both loops of the last yarn over of the previous color.
• Back and front panels are worked back and forth in rows from lower edge upwards.
• Gauge is crucial for this project.
• Measurements are based on the craft yarn council standards.

This pattern requires a good amount of shaping. However, you can adjust the amount of inc/dec rows as needed for you body type. Check finished measurements to determine appropriate sizing.

Special Stitches

Dc2tog– Yo, insert hook and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo, insert hook in next st and draw up a loop (4 loops on hook), yo and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook) yo, draw through all 3 loops.

Sc2tog- Insert hook and draw up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next st and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, draw through all 3 loops.

Abbreviations

• Ch- chain 
• Sl st- slip stitch
• Dc2tog- double crochet 2 together
• Yo- yarn over
• Sc- single crochet
• Inc- increase
• St (sts)- stitch (es)

Pattern Instructions

Back Panel

Ch 68 (76, 82, 88, 98)

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (turning ch counts as a st, here and throughout) and each ch across. – 66 (74, 80, 86, 96) dc.

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st, here and throughout) turn, sc in each st across. 66 (74, 80, 86, 96) sc.

Row 3: Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 66 (74, 80, 86, 96) dc.

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. – 66 (74, 80, 86, 96) sc.

Row 5: Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across.

Rows 6-23 (23, 23, 27, 29): Continue in pattern, alternating dc rows with sc rows, ending on a dc row.

Row 24 (24, 24, 28, 30): (dec row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, sc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st across to last 3 sts, sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in last st. – 64 (72, 78, 84, 94) sc.

Row 25 (25, 25, 29, 31): Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 64 (72, 78, 84, 94) dc.

Row 26 (26, 26, 30, 32): (dec row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, sc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st across to last 3 sts, sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in last st. – 62 (70, 76, 82, 92) sc.

Row 27 (27, 27, 31, 33): Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 62 (70, 76, 82, 92) dc.

Row 28 (28, 28, 32, 34): (dec row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, sc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st across to last 3 sts, sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in last st. – 60 (68, 74, 80, 90) sc.

Row 29 (29, 29, 33, 35): Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 60 (68, 74, 80, 90) dc.

Row 30 (30, 30, 34, 36): (dec row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, sc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st across to last 3 sts, sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in last st. – 58 (66, 72, 78, 88) sc.

Row 31 (31, 31, 35, 37): Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 58 (66, 72, 78, 88) dc.

Row 32 (32, 32, 36, 38): (dec row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, sc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st across to last 3 sts, sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in last st. – 56 (64, 70, 76, 86) sc.

Row 33 (33, 33, 37, 39): Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 56 (64, 70, 76, 86) dc.

Row 34 (34, 34, 38, 40): (dec row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, sc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st across to last 3 sts, sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in last st. – 54 (62, 68, 74, 84) sc.

Row 35 (35, 35, 39, 41): (dec row) Ch 3, turn, dc in next st, dc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 dc in each st across to last 3 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts, dc in last st. – 52 (60, 66, 72, 82) dc.

Row 36 (36, 36, 40, 42): (dec row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, sc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st across to last 3 sts, sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in last st. – 50 (58, 64, 70, 80) sc.

Row 37 (37, 37, 41, 43): (dec row) Ch 3, turn, dc in next st, dc2tog in next 2 sts, 1 dc in each st across to last 3 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts, dc in last st. – 48 (56, 62, 68, 78) dc.

Row 38 (38, 38, 42, 44): Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 48 (56, 62, 68, 78) dc.

Row 39 (39, 39, 43, 45): Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. – 48 (56, 62, 68, 78) sc.

Rows 40 (40, 40, 44, 46) – 43 (43, 43, 47, 49): Repeat previous 2 rows; two more times. *(or should I say continue in pattern, no dec/inc?)*

Row 44 (44, 44, 48, 50): (inc row) Ch 3, turn, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in each

st across to last 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in last st. – 50 (58, 64, 70, 80) dc.

Row 45 (45, 45, 49, 51): (inc row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in last st. – 52 (60, 66, 72, 82) sc.

Row 46 (46, 46, 50, 52): (inc row) Ch 3, turn, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in each

st across to last 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in last st. – 54 (62, 68, 74, 84) dc.

Row 47 (47, 47, 51, 53): (inc row) Ch 1, turn, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in each st across to last 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in last st. – 56 (64, 70, 76, 86) sc.

Row 48 (48, 48, 52, 54): (inc row) Ch 3, turn, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in each

st across to last 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in last st. – 58 (66, 72, 78, 88) dc

Row 49 (49, 49, 53, 55): Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. – 58 (66, 72, 78, 88) sc.

Row 50 (50, 50, 54, 56): Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 58 (66, 72, 78, 88) dc.

Rows 51 (51, 51, 55, 57) – 59 (59, 59, 63, 65): Continue in pattern, alternating dc rows with sc rows, ending with a dc row.

Armhole Shaping

Row 1: Do not ch, turn, sl st in first 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each st to last 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts, leave last 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts unworked. – 46 (52,

56, 60, 68) sc

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch-1) turn, skip next st, *dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st; repeat from * to last 2 sts, dc in each of last 2 sts. – 24 (27, 29, 31, 35) dc and 22 (25, 27, 29, 33) ch-1 spaces.

Row 3: Ch 3, turn, dc in each dc and each ch-1 space across, dc in 3rd ch of beg ch-4 of previous row. – 46 (52, 56, 60, 68) dc.

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. – 46 (52, 56, 60, 68) sc.

Row 5-13: Repeat rows 2-4; 3 times.

Right Shoulder

Row 1: Ch 3, turn, dc in each of next 9 (10, 11, 12, 13) sts, leaving remaining sts

unworked for right shoulder and front neck. – 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) dc.

Row 2: Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) dc. Fasten off.

Left Shoulder

From RS, skip next 26 (30, 32, 34, 40) unworked sts following last st of Row 1 of right shoulder, join yarn with sl st in next st.

Row 1: Ch 3, dc in next 9 (10, 11, 12, 13) sts. – 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) dc.

Row 2: Ch 3, turn, dc in each st across. – 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) dc. Fasten off.

Front Panel

Follow instructions exactly as back panel.

Joining Pieces

• With both panels wrong sides facing out. Sew shoulder seams.
• From bottom up, sew both panels together using the mattress st, leaving armhole openings un-sewn.
• Turn dress right side out and proceed to border.

Armhole Border

*Note: Aim to work approximately 1 sc st in each sc row end and 2 sc sts in each dc row end. The exact amount of sc sts worked into the armhole will vary by size. What is crucial is that the sts are evenly spaced and not too crowded around the armhole.*

Attach a new strand of yarn with a sl st at underarm.

Round 1: Ch 1, sc in same st, work sc sts evenly around entire armhole opening, sl st to beg ch-1 to join.

Fasten off. Repeat for other side.

Neck Border

Attach a new strand of yarn with a sl st into the first dc st of the right corner (facing you) of the back of the neck.

Round 1: Sl st in next dc, *1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc in next st, sl st in each of next 2 sts; repeat from * across back panel until reaching shoulder (row ends), work sc sts evenly into row ends at shoulder; repeat from * for front and opposite shoulder, sl sl to beg sl st.

Fasten off. Weave in all ends.