Crochet Shift Dress

A 60’s inspired crochet shift dress to spice up your evening out or in.

Inspiration and Design

Ever since I saw I dream of Jeanie, talking about 12 years old here, I have loved the versatile look of the shift dress. In fact, I was fascinated by all the different dress styles in the show. However, it wasn’t until recently that I fell down the vintage rabbit hole. Because of this, I started seriously considering recreating all the fashions. Since then, I have dedicated considerable time to looking at vintage patterns. I even have two Pinterest boards dedicated to vintage and fashion.

I also blame my two other bobble stitch designs for the creation of this dress. The image of the bobble border in a shift dress wouldn’t leave my mind. Then, I saw this picture of a sequin bottom shift dress and knew I had to recreate it! Of course, if the 60’s provided such awesome inspiration, wouldn’t you know that there was a crochet version.

I’m just in love with this dress shape.

The Yarn

Because I imagined this crochet shift dress to be fairly form fitting but soft, I hunted for a yarn that would have structure and drape. If you guessed cotton/bamboo blend, you know me well. The crochet shift dress is designed in LB Collection Cotton/Bamboo . I LOVE THIS YARN. The yarn is soft, has a silky sheen because of the bamboo and perfect stitch definition! You absolutely cannot go wrong with this yarn. The only downside to it is the color variety. That being said, I do like most of the colors the yarn comes in.

I highly recommend the yarn. In fact, I want 400g of at least 3 more colors.

Can I make this Crochet Shift Dress?

Yes you can! Although, I’m of the opinion that you can crochet anything as long as you don’t pressure yourself, work a little bit each day, and use YouTube.

The crochet shift dress is made up of two panels that are worked bottom up. The pattern in divided into dress sections to help you keep track of your progress.

Description

A 60’s crochet shift dress. I have often admired the fashion in 60’s sit-comes and I wanted to re-create this iconic look in crochet. The dress is a fitted shift dress, but play around with the shape to best suit your style. Highly encourage you to do this!

PDF Available Here

Crochet Shift Dress – Instructions

Materials:

5(6,6.5,7,9) Skeins of LB Collection Cotton Bamboo
US, G(4.25) and 3.75mm hook
Measuring tape
Scissors
Darning Needle

Sizes

XS(S/M, L, XL)
XS – Bust (29) W(24) Hips (33)
S – Bust (33) W (25) Hips (35)
M – Bust (35) W(34) Hips (38)
L – Bust (41) W(33) Hips (39)
XL – Bust (45) W(37) Hips (47)

Gauge:

Done in the pattern (1 row ext-sc,1 row sc) with a 3.75mm hook pre steaming or blocking. 17 stitches x 18 rows = 4”

With a Us G hook – 7 Bobble Rows = 4.5”

Skill Level: Intermediate

increasing
decreasing
seaming
shaping
picking up stitches

Abbreviations:

sl st – slip stich
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
rsc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
ex-sc – extended single crochet
exsc2dec – extended single crochet decrease
inc – increase

Special Stitches:

Bobble Stitch-Yarn over, insert your hook and pull up a loop. Yarn over pull through 2. Repeat this 4 times, you will have 6 loops in the hook, yarn over and pull through all 6 loops.
ex-sc – insert hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over pull through one loop, yarn over pull through remaining loops.

Notes:

Bobble Rows and ex-sc rows = right side of work.

Measure your bust, waist, and hips to determine which size will be the best fit for you. Pro tip – measure yourself in your underwear while in front of a mirror.

Of course, you can combine sizes and stitch counts to get the perfect fit for your body. The model (me) chained for a size medium and at 20” decreased to accommodate her smaller bust.

There are many ways in which you can adjust the look and fit of the pattern. For example, if you don’t like the fitted look of the garment, you can choose to cast on a larger size and avoid the increases. This will create a more t-shirt like fit with your dress.

FRONT PANEL CROCHET SHIFT DRESS

*** Using your US-G hook Ch 56(65,74,83, 110)

Section 1 (Bobble Band):

R1 – sc in the second ch from hook and in each ch across.Ch3 and turn

R2 – *Bobble in the first stitch, sc in the next. * Repeat from to until the end of the row. Ch1 and turn.

R3 – sc in each stitch

Repeat rows 2 & 3 until you have completed a total of 7 bobble rows. You will end on row 3. 15 rows total for the bobble band.

Section 2 (Upper Leg, Hip Section):

Switch to a 3.75mm hook

Row 1 – sc 4, *inc, sc8* Repeat from *to* until you have 5 stitches remaining, sc 4 inc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn. 62(72,82,92,122)

Row 2 – ex-sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn.

Row 3 – sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn.

Repeat rows 2 & 3 your work measures 12” and you are past the widest part of your hip (this measurement was taken placing the skirt 4” above the knee). 33 rows for me. Ch1 and turn.

Section 3 (Waist decreases):

Row 1 – ex-sc2dec, ex-sc in each stitch, stopping 2 stitches before the end of the row, ex-sc2dec. Ch1 and turn. 60(70,80,90,120)
Row 2 – sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn.
Row 3 – ex-sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn.
Row 4 – sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn.
Row 5 – ex-sc2dec, ex-sc in each stitch stopping 2 stitches before the end of the row, ex-sc2dec. Ch1 and turn. 58(68,78,88,118)

Repeat rows 2 – 5 twice more. Once you finish the decreases your stitch count should be 54(64,74,84,114) and your work should measure approximately 14(16,18,20,27)” wide. My piece measured 18” wide.

Continue working in ex-sc, sc pattern (your next row after you complete your decreases should be a sc row.) until your work measures 26.5” or 27”

Optional – When I reached 20” (row 69)I decreased as follows to accommodate my smaller bust.
Row 70 ex-scdec, ex-sc in each stitch until you have 2 stitches remaining. ex-scdec. Ch1 and turn.
Row 71 – sc in each stitch, ch1 and turn.
Row 72 – repeat row 70. I decreased a total of 4 stitches.

Section 4 (Armhole Shaping)

Your work should measure 26.5 – 27” in length
Armhole depth for this dress 5.5(6,6,7,7.25)

Wrong side facing you.

Row 1 – Sl St 3(4,4,5,6)sc in the next stitch, sc2dec, sc in each stitch until you have 6(7,7,8,9) stitches remaining. sc2dec over next 2 stitches, sc in following. Leave remaining 3(4,4,5,6) stitches unworked.Ch1 and turn.

Row 2 – ex-sc in first stitch, ex-scdec, ex-sc in each stitch until you have 3 stitches remaining. Ex-scdec, ex-sc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn.

Row 3 – sc in first sttich, sc2dec. sc in each stitch until you have 3 stitches remaining. sc2dec, sc in last stitch. ***

Continue in pattern (ex-sc row followed by sc rows) until you have completed 3.5(4,4,5,5.25)” Finish this section on a wrong side row.

Section 5 (Neckline Shaping)

Row 1 – Right side facing: 12(12,13,14,15)ex-sc, sl st until you have 12(12,13,14,15) stitches remaining, ex-sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn

Row 2 – sc in each stitch, stop 2 stitches before the first sl st, sk 1, sc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn

Row 3 – ex-sc, sk 1, ex-sc to the end of the row.

Row 4 – repeat row 2

Row 5- ex-sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn

Row 6- sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn.

Row 7 – repeat row 5

Row 8 – repeat row 6 / fasten off leave a long enough tail to seam shoulder using sc.

Wrong side facing you, Attach your yarn to complete the neck shaping on the remaining side.

Row 1 – sc, sk 1, sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn

Row 2 – ex-sc in each stitch, stop 2 stitches before the end of the row. sk 1, ex sc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn.

Row 3 – Repeat row 1.

Row 4 – ex-sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn

Row 5 – sc in each stitch. Ch1 and turn.

Row 6 – repeat row 4

Row 7 – Repeat row 5.

Fasten off, leave a long enough tail to seam shoulder using sc.

Back Panel of the Crochet Shift Dress:

Repeat instructions given for the front panel from *** to *** .

Continue in pattern (ex-sc row followed by sc rows) until you have completed 5.5 (6,6,7,7.25)” Make sure to end on a sc row.

Work 9(9,10,11,12) ex-sc. Fasten off. With right side facing, attach yarn, 9(9,10,11,12)stitches from the end of the row ch1 and work ex-sc. Fasten off.

Seaming:

With right sides facing join the front and back panels at the sides and shoulder. Attach yarn at the armhole and join sides with slip stitch. Join shoulders with sc.

Neckline:

With your 3.75mm hook and right side facing, attach yarn to the back of the back of the dress.

Round 1 – Ch1, ex-sc around the neckline. sl st to the first stitch to join.

Repeat round 1, 2 more times.

Round 4 – rsc around. sl st to join and fasten off.

Sleeves

Attaching your yarn to the bottom of the armhole (the skipped stitches from the shaping) work 1 round of sc. For reference, I worked 49 sc for my 6” of armhole depth.

Repeat for remaining sleeve.

Steam block the dress to settle seams and stitches. Be careful not to steam the bobble stitches.