The Chloe Crochet Dress – A Vintage Inspired Dress for Babies & Children
There are some patterns that start with a very clear plan.
The Chloe Dress crochet pattern was not one of them.
When I first started dreaming up this design, there was really only one thing I knew for certain. It had to have a bow.
From there, the dress slowly started to take shape. I played with the stitch pattern, changed little details, pulled things back and tried again, until eventually Chloe became exactly the dress I had been picturing.
A soft, textured crochet dress with a full skirt, a delicate Peter Pan collar, a little bow at the neckline and lace edging around the hem.
When I look at the finished Chloe Dress, I picture a wildflower garden, homemade lemonade, a lace parasol and a little girl twirling barefoot in the sunshine.
And today, I am so happy to finally introduce you to the Chloe Dress.
A Vintage Inspired Crochet Dress for Little Girls
The Chloe Dress is a top down crochet dress pattern designed for babies and children from 0–6 months through 10–12 years.
The main fabric is made using a simple hdc v-stitch. I wanted a stitch that gave the dress texture and interest without creating the large gaps that some traditional v-stitches can have.
Once the stitch pattern is established, it becomes wonderfully repetitive.
The yoke is worked flat from the top down with raglan shaping. The sleeves are then separated and the body continues before increasing into the full skirt.
The dress is finished with one of my favourite parts of the whole design: a contrasting Peter Pan style collar.
The collar is worked in two separate sections, leaving a little space at the front for the bow. A delicate scalloped edging finishes both the collar and the bottom of the skirt.
At the back, small buttons finish the opening and add another lovely little vintage detail.
A Crochet Dress That Looks Detailed But Is Lovely to Make
Chloe has quite a few special little details, but the actual stitch pattern is very repetitive once you understand how it works.
The same hdc/ch1/hdc stitch is used throughout the yoke for both the v-stitch texture and the raglan increases.
I have included lots of help inside the pattern for this because I know that the first few rows of a garment are often where you need the most reassurance.
There are stitch counts throughout the yoke, colour coordinated sizing, photographs, diagrams and linked video tutorials showing the key techniques.
Once the yoke is complete, the body becomes a simple repeating pattern that is perfect for settling into in the evening.
I would consider Chloe a lovely project for a confident beginner who is ready to make a garment, while still being an enjoyable and relaxing pattern for a more experienced crocheter.
The Little Details
There are so many little things about the Chloe Dress that I love.
The hdc v-stitch gives the bodice a delicate texture without feeling too open.
The skirt is increased to create lots of fullness and movement.
The contrasting lace edging makes the hem feel extra special.
The Peter Pan collar gives the whole dress its vintage feel.
And then, of course, there is the bow.
I originally knew I wanted a bow before I knew almost anything else about the design, and I love how that tiny detail became such an important part of the finished dress.
The back is just as pretty, with the collar continuing around the neckline and a row of small buttons running down the opening.
It feels like the kind of dress that could be worn for birthdays and family photographs, but also for picking flowers in the garden, running through the grass and all of those ordinary childhood days that somehow end up becoming the ones you remember.
Sizes Included
The Chloe Dress pattern includes seven sizes:
0–6 months
6–12 months
1–2 years
3–4 years
5–6 years
7–9 years
10–12 years
The finished chest measurements range from approximately 46 cm (18 in) for the smallest size to 74 cm (29 in) for the largest.
The dress is designed to fit with approximately 0–5 cm (0–2 in) of positive ease.
As always, I recommend choosing your size using the finished chest measurement rather than age alone. Children can vary so much in both height and build, and checking the chest measurement will give you a much better idea of which size will fit your child best.
Inside the Chloe Dress Pattern
The Chloe Dress crochet pattern includes:
Detailed written instructions and a full video tutorial to help you through every step.
Seven sizes from 0–6 months to 10–12 years
Colour coordinated sizing throughout the pattern
Individual stitch counts throughout the yoke
A full stitch count chart to help you keep track of your progress
Helpful photographs and diagrams
Gauge swatch instructions
Top down construction
Hdc v-stitch texture
Raglan shaping
Full skirt
Two piece Peter Pan collar
Contrasting lace edging
Bow detail
Back button fastening
U.S. crochet terminology
Tested by Real Crocheters
Before any of my patterns are released, I send them out to a group of real crocheters to make in different sizes, yarns and colours.
The Chloe Dress has now been worked across the size range, and my testers have helped me check the stitch counts, fit, construction and instructions before the pattern is released.
This stage of the design process has become more important to me than ever.
There are so many crochet patterns appearing online now, and it can sometimes be difficult to know what has actually been designed, made and tested by a real person.
Chloe has been crocheted by real hands, worn by real children and carefully worked through by testers who have taken the time to tell me when something could be clearer or better.
Seeing all of their Chloe Dresses come together has also been one of my favourite parts of this whole design.
Different yarns and colours give the dress completely different personalities, but that little collar and full skirt somehow make every one unmistakably Chloe.
I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped me test this pattern.
Below you can see some of their beautiful finished Chloe Dresses.
Yarn & Materials
For my Chloe Dress, I used Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton in the colour Sea foam.
It is a DK weight yarn with 250 m / 273 yds per 100 g skein.
I paired the soft sea foam colour with cream for the collar, bow and skirt edging, which gave the finished dress the slightly old-fashioned look I had imagined from the beginning.
You can use another DK weight yarn as long as you are able to meet gauge.
You will need:
DK weight yarn
4.0 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
8–12 buttons, approximately 1 cm (0.5 in)
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
The gauge for the Chloe Dress is:
16 sts and 16 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in) in the hdc v-stitch pattern.
Approximate yarn requirements are included for every size in both meters, yards and grams.
Shop the Chloe Dress Crochet Pattern
The Chloe Dress is a digital PDF crochet pattern written in English using U.S. crochet terminology.
I really hope you love making this one.
Chloe feels like one of those dresses that belongs in a memory box one day. Something made slowly by hand, worn and loved, and perhaps passed on when the little person you made it for is not quite so little anymore.
If you make the Chloe Dress, please tag me on Instagram @themoulehole or share your finished dress in the Moule Hole Made Facebook group.
Seeing what you create from my patterns will never stop being one of my favourite parts of this job.
You May Also Like
If you love romantic crochet dresses for babies and children, you may also love the Sienna Dress.
The Sienna has a completely different stitch pattern and construction, with a softly shaped round yoke, ruffled sleeves and a textured shell stitch skirt, but it shares that same timeless, handmade feeling that I love in children’s clothing.
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