Crochet Shell Stitch Dress Part 1
This is a two-part tutorial series in which you can learn to make this crochet bralette or continue to convert it into a crochet shell stitch dress. Below you will see the free crochet pattern and tutorial to make the bralette. You can find the second part here, where we will be adding the skirt. Also, I wanted to mention that the free pattern in part 2 is helpful for anyone who is looking to learn how to crochet a center increase with the shell stitch pattern.
Part 1: Crochet Shell Stitch Bralette
Part 1 of this series features a slip stitch ribbing and a low cut shell stitch bodice. This portion of the project is beginner friendly. However if you are having trouble crocheting a slip stitch ribbing, you can substitute for a single crochet ribbing to make it easier to do.
You will need to know chain stitches, slip stitches, single crochet and double crochet to complete this project. The yarn needed is a medium weight 4 yarn and you will also need a D Hook / 3.25 mm Hook for the ribbing and an E Hook / 3.5 mm Hook for the remainder of the project including the skirt in part 2.
I will say as a fair warning that I did not track how much yarn I used because I was frogging another dress. The bralette obviously doesn’t use too much yarn, but the skirt is a yarn eater and if I were to guess, the entire dress was about 2700 yards for size L. I just wanted you to know that this project isn’t small upfront. But let’s jump into the pattern & tutorial!
Materials
- D Hook / 3.25 mm Hook
- E Hook / 3.5 mm Hook
- Medium Weight 4 Yarn (Not sure how much this time, sorry)
Stitch Key
- Ch – Chain
- St – Stitch
- Sl St – Slip Stitch
- BLO – Back Loop Only / Work into the back loop only
- Valley – The space in between the rows of the ribbing, but not in the side of the stitch itself
- Sc – Single Crochet
- Dc – Double Crochet
- Shell – 5 double Crochets in the same stitch
Sizes
- XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X)
- A (B, C, D, DD)
Crochet Shell Stitch Dress Pattern Part 1: Crochet Shell Stitch Bralette
Begin with D Hook
Foundation: Ch 18
Row 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sl st in every st across. In total, 17 sl st.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 1 blo sl st in every st across.
***Repeat row 2 until waistband can stretch to specific hip length or use max hip length from chart for general sizing.
***Sl st the two ends of the waistband together by placing one sl st in each of the corresponding 17 st on each side of the band to create a circle.
E Hook for remainder of project.
***Ch 1, turn to work along top side of band, sc in first valley, *2 sc in next valley (see tutorial for visual), 1 sc in next valley*, repeat * around, sl st in sc. Also ensure that there are an odd amount of stitches in this row. Fasten off.
Making the seam the center back, mark front middle 73 (79, 91, 103, 115, 127, 139) sc.
Reattach yarn to front half on the front side (seam should be on inside of the garment) and pull up a loop.
Torso
Row 1: Ch 1, *sc, sk 2, shell, sk 2*, repeat across until reaching next st marker, ending with sc.
Row 2: Ch 2, 3 dc in 1st st, *sk 2, sc, sk 2, shell*, repeat * across until 3 st left, sk 2, 3 dc in last st.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until row 13 is complete.
Row 14: Ch 2, 3 dc in 1st st, sk 2, *sc, sk 2, shell, sk 2*, repeat * across until 3 st left, 3 dc in last st.
Row 15: Ch 1, turn, *sc , sk 2, shell, sk 2*, repeat * across.
Row 16: Ch 1, turn, sk 1, 3 sc dec, sk 2, *shell, sk 2, sc, sk 2*, repeat * until 6 stitches left (ending with shell in sc below), sk 3, 3 sc dec.
*According to A (B, C, D, DD), repeat rows 14-16 until row 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) or until desired cleavage coverage is reached.
1st Tie
Ch 240 (240, 260, 260, 280, 300, 320). Fasten off.
2nd Tie
Reattach yarn to the top opposite corner. Ch 240 (240, 260, 260, 280, 300, 320). Fasten off.
Back Border
Reattach yarn to corner stitch (row 13) of armhole on the right side out to work downward towards the waistband.
Ch 1, sc in corner st, ch 5, sk 1 (or sk approx 1 st length while working in sides of rows) , sc in next st*, repeat until reaching the other armhole corner. Fasten off.
Weave straps through back loops as shown.
