Using a fine weight yarn is perfect for delicate baby things, but finding patterns can be a challenge. Here’s a beautiful little pineapple lace dress. It’s so adorable layered over a sleeveless top.
Pineapple Cascade Baby Dress
designed by Kim Guzman © May 2016
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Technique: Regular Crochet
Finished Size
After light blocking, this dress is about size 12 months. Varying the tension and yarn weight will produce different results.
For instance, working at a tighter tension could produce a newborn dress whereas, working with a larger hook and worsted could produce something for a 4-year-old. It’s all about not being afraid to experiment.
Due to it being difficult to measure gauge and the differences in non-man-made fibers, you may not get exactly the size you want on the first go and you may need to try again.
Use Yarn Standards for typical baby measurements. The most crucial part of this dress is the neck. It currently stretches to 20″ which is minimum, according to the garment industry. Keep an eye on your neck measurement.
Materials
- Cascade 220 Fingering (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 273 yds per 50g): 2 hanks (or approximately 330 yards comparable light fingering weight yarn)
- Suggested hook size: E-4 [3.5mm]
- Needle (for weaving ends)
Notes
Dress is worked top-down, in joined rounds. Shown in #8903 Primavera.
I’ve rated this pattern at an intermediate. Nearly every single round is different and each round is long. Feel free to print and use highlighters to mark your progress and keep your place.
Gauge
It’s nearly impossible to determine gauge on a garment like this and even more impossible to swatch for it. Let your project itself become your swatch.
After blocking, neck stretches to 20″ around, armhole to armhole is about 11″, armhole height is approximately 4.5″.
Special Stitches
Cluster (cl): Yarn over, insert hook in chain or stitch indicated, yarn over, pull loop through, yarn over, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over, insert hook in same chain or stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, yarn over, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook.
Picot: Chain 3, slip stitch to third chain on hook.
V-Stitch (v-st): [Double crochet, chain 3, double crochet] in indicated space.
Notes: When instructed to work into a v-stitch, work into the ch-3 space. The [ch 6, dc] in same space counts as your first v-stitch and the ch-3 sp is treated the same as a full v-stitch.
Crochet Pattern Instructions
Rnd 1: Ch 80 loosely, using care not to twist length of chain, sl st to first ch to form a ring, ch 2, dc in same ch as joining (first cl made), *ch 1, sk 1 ch, [dc in next ch, ch 1] twice, sk 1 ch, cl in next ch (see Special Stitches), rep from * to last 4 ch, sk 1 ch, ch 1, [dc in next ch, ch 1] twice, sk 1 ch, sl st to top of first cl: 16 cl.
Rnd 2: Sl st into first ch-1 sp, ch 1, 2 sc in same ch-1 sp, 2 sc in next 2 ch-1 sps, *ch 1, 2 sc in next 3 ch-1 sps, rep from * around, sc in first sc (sc join made which also counts as a ch-1 sp): 96 sc and 16 ch-1 sps.
Note: Please just trust me on the final stitch. You don’t make a chain 1 and slip stitch to the first stitch to join. You make a single crochet join. It keeps the clusters on top of each other. You’re going to need to get accustomed to this because you’ll be joining with a half double crochet later. Just trust me and do what it says.
Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc around sc of sc join (first cl made), ch 10, *cl in next ch-1 sp, ch 10, rep from * around, sl st to first cl: 16 cl.
Rnd 4: Sl st in first ch-10 sp, ch 1, [6 sc, picot (see Special Stitches), 6 sc, ch 2] in first and next 2 ch-10 sps, [6 sc, ch 2] twice in next 5 ch-10 sps, [6 sc, picot, 6 sc, ch-2] in next 3 ch-10 sps, [6 sc, ch 2] twice in next 4 ch-10 sps, [6 sc, ch 2, 6 sc] in last ch-10 sp, hdc in first sc (hdc join made): 192 sc.
Rnd 5: (Armhole Split) Ch 6, dc around hdc of hdc join (first v-st made here and throughout), ch 16 loosely, sk 3 picots, v-st in next ch-2 sp, [ch 3, v-st in next ch-2 sp] 10 times, ch 16 loosely, sk 3 picots, v-st in next ch-2 sp, [ch 3, v-st in next ch-2 sp] 9 times, ch 3, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6: 22 v-sts with 2 ch-16 sps for armholes.
Rnd 6: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, [ch 4, sc, (ch 3, sc) 3 times, ch 4] in ch-16 sp, [v-st in next v-st, ch 4, 7 dc in next v-st, ch 4] 5 times, v-st in next v-st, [ch 4, sc, (ch 3, sc) 3 times, ch 4] in ch-16 sp, [v-st in next v-st, ch 4, 7 dc in next v-st, ch 4] 5 times, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6.
Note: After working into ch-16 sps, spread the stitches across the chain evenly by simply moving them with your fingers.
Rnd 7: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk ch-4 sp, v-st in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, v-st in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk ch-4 sp, [v-st in next v-st, ch 3, dc in third dc of 7-dc group, ch 3, dc in fifth dc of same 7-dc group, ch 3] 5 times, v-st in next v-st, ch 3, sk ch-4 sp, v-st in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, v-st in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sk ch-4 sp, [v-st in next v-st, ch 3, dc in third dc of 7-dc group, ch 3, dc in fifth dc of same 7-dc group, ch 3] 5 times, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6.
Rnd 8: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, ch 2, sk v-st, 7 dc in next ch-3 sp, sk v-st, ch 2, [v-st in next v-st, ch 2, 7 dc in ch-3 sp between 2 dc, ch 2] 5 times, v-st in next v-st, ch 2, sk v-st, 7 dc in next ch-3 sp, sk v-st, ch 2, [v-st in next v-st, ch 2, 7 dc in ch-3 sp between 2 dc, ch 2] 5 times, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6.
Rnd 9: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, *sk ch-2 sp, [ch 1, dc in next dc] 7 times, ch 1, v-st in next v-st, rep from * 10 times more, sk ch-2 sp, [ch 1, dc in next dc] 7 times, ch 1, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6.
Rnd 10: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, [sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3] 5 times, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, v-st in next v-st, rep from * 10 times more, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, [sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3] 5 times, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sl st in third ch of beg ch-6.
Rnd 11: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 2, [sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3] 4 times, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, v-st in next v-st, rep from * 10 times more, ch 2, [sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3] 4 times, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6.
Rnd 12: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 3, [sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3] 4 times, v-st in next v-st, rep from * 10 times more, ch 3, [sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3] 4 times, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6.
Rnd 13: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, [sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3] 3 times, v-st in next v-st, rep from * 10 times more, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, [sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3] 3 times, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6.
Rnd 14: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 3, 6 dc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 2, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, 7 dc in v-st, rep from * 10 times more, ch 2, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, sl st to top of beg ch-3.
Rnd 15: Ch 4 (counts as first dc plus ch 1), [dc in next dc, ch 1] 6 times, *sk ch-2 sp, v-st in ch-3 sp, ch 1, [dc in next dc, ch 1] 7 times, rep from * 10 times more, sk ch-2 sp, v-st in ch-3 sp, ch 1, sl st to third ch of beg ch-4.
Rnd 16: Sl st in first ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-1 sp, *[ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp] 5 times, ch 1, v-st in next v-st, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next ch-1 sp, rep from * 10 times more, [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp] 5 times, ch 1, v-st in next v-st, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sl st to first sc.
Rnd 17: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-3 sp, *[ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp] 4 times, ch 2, v-st in next v-st, ch 2, sc in next ch-3 sp, rep from * 10 times more, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp] 4 times, ch 2, v-st in next v-st, ch 2, sl st to first sc.
Rnd 18: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-3 sp, *[ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp] 3 times, ch 3, v-st in next v-st, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, rep from * 10 times more, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp] 3 times, ch 3, v-st in next v-st, ch 3, sl st to first sc.
Rnd 19: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-3 sp, *[ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp] 2 times, ch 3, v-st in next v-st, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, rep from * 10 times more, [ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp] 2 times, ch 3, v-st in next v-st, ch 3, sl st to first sc.
Rnd 20: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, 7 dc in next v-st, ch 2, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, rep from * 10 times more, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, 7 dc in next v-st, ch 2, sl st to first sc.
Rnds 21-31: Rep rnds 9-19.
Rnd 32: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, [dc, ch 3, dc, ch 3, dc] in next v-st, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, rep from * 10 times more, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, [dc, ch 3, dc, ch 3, dc] in next v-st, ch 3, sl st to first sc.
Rnd 33: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, [v-st in next ch-3 sp, ch 3] 2 times, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp, rep from * 10 times more, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, [v-st in next ch-3 sp, ch 3] 2 times, sk ch-3 sp, sl st to first sc.
Rnd 34: Sl st in each of 3 chs and in ch-3 sp of v-st, ch 6, dc in same ch-3 sp, [ch 3, v-st in next ch-3 sp] 2 times, *sk 2 ch-3 sps, v-st in next ch-3 sp, [ch 3, v-st in next ch-3 sp] 2 times, rep from * 10 times more, sl st to third ch of beg ch-6, fasten off.
Finishing
Block as desired and weave in all ends.
Notes on Blocking
If you’re going to use non-man-made fibers, you’re going to want to give your project a water bath. Even if you use acrylic, it doesn’t hurt to give your project a water bath to open up the lace a bit.
I don’t ever do any heavy blocking. I just wet the project and then placed it flat on a clean towel, adjusting it and flattening out or stretching out the lace so that it’s not all bunched up. Then, I just let it dry.