Crochet Crochet - Puki formal gown pattern

Here's a pattern for a formal gown I labored on for a good three or four days before finally declaring it satisfactory. This is further evidence that I might be OCPD... But enough about that! On to the pattern!




I used:
US size 8 (1.50mm) crochet hook - It's the smallest I had, but you could probably use a 7 with the same results
White size 10 100% cotton crochet thread
Black size 10 100% cotton crochet thread

Gauge: About 9dc = 1in. I like to keep a fairly tight tension, so your mileage may vary.

Abbreviations:
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
st - stitch
sk - skip

NOTE: I would have used size 30 if I had any, because I like the smaller scale on Tinies. This particular crochet thread (Red Heart mercerized cotton), while soft and pliable while working, produces a slightly stiff fabric, so it might not be suitable for ruffly or otherwise voluminous dresses.
The end result should be a somewhat bell-shaped dress that you will need to "pinch" and shape into several gathers.

I started off with the top part from this pattern using the white thread. When you're finished, come back here. This top part is a wonderful base for any strap dress, or can work alone as a tank top, so this is a good pattern to bookmark or jot down!

SKIRT:
Holding dress top bottom side up, attach black thread with slip stitch to right corner. This is where your tail from the white part would be. You can work over it and your black tail to hide and secure them. Ch2 more for a total of ch3.
Row 1: In same stitch where you attached the thread, work 1sc. Sc in each st across. (26sc) Ch1 turn.
Row 2: Sc in each st across. (26sc) Ch3 turn.
Row 3: The ch3 will not count as the first dc. Dc2 in the same stitch. Dc2 across until last st, 1dc in last st. (52dc) Ch3 turn.
Row 4: Dc in same st as ch3, dc2 in next st, *dc in next st, dc2 in next st** rep from * to ** across. (78dc) Ch3 turn.
Row 5: DC in same st as ch3, dc in each st across. (78dc) Ch3 turn. At this point, the work is probably getting quite curly. Don't worry, you can flatten it out and straighten the sides and see that it's coming together as a rather ruffly dress.
Row 6-9: Repeat row 5. (78dc) Ch1 turn.
Row 10: Sc in each st across. (78sc) Ch3 turn.
Row 11: This time the ch3 counts as first dc. Dc2 in same st as ch3. *Skip 2 st, sc in next st, sk2 st, 5dc in next st** repeat from * to ** across, making only 3dc in last st. You should end up with 12 complete shells and a half shell on each end of the row.

ENDING OFF:
You can either leave a tail long enough to sew up the edges of the skirt, or you can do what I did and sew a hook-and-eye to the white bodice and slip stitch the two half-shells together on the very bottom so the dresses closes on the top and the bottom. This second method will be a little more bulky in the back, so be careful about having your Puki sit in the dress if you do it this way.

I wanted the black sc row to look like a sort of "sash" part, but it's hard to tell it's even there. All it really does is lower the waist so the "gathers" start later. The double crochet even is pretty much up to personal preference... I was aiming for a tea length gown so I made it a little long, but I think the proportions would have worked just as well for a knee-length skirt. Since I made up this pattern purely by trial and error, feel free to try and err your way through any adjustments until you get something you like!