This sweet dress is perfect for summer with its watermelon hues, A-line skirt, keyhole back and button closure. Make this dress for your one in a melon little one for summertime occasions.

Skill Level: Easy

Size: 12m (18m, 2yrs, 4yrs) Finished Chest Size 18 (20, 22, 24)”

Gauge: 18 sts and 18 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Pattern Stitch after blocking

Materials

Yarn: Berroco Modern Cotton (60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal Rayon; 209 yards [191 meters]/100 grams): #1639 Waterfire (MC, 1 skein), #1622 Spinnaker (CC1, 1 skein), #1626 Mackeral (CC2, 1 skein), #1649 Breakers (CC3, 1 skein)

Hooks: US size I/9 (5.50 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle, one 0.5” button, sewing needle, matching thread, one sheet black felt

Special Stitches

Pattern Stitch

Row 1:  Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * to last 2 sts, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in last sc.

Rep Row 1 for patt.

Stripe Pattern

2 rows in CC3

4 rows in CC2

12 rows in CC1

Work remaining rows in MC

Pattern Notes

On some rows you will have to work the pattern stitch over an uneven number of stitches. Work in pattern st for first row, ending with a ch-1, sc in last st. On second row, sc in first sc, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next st; rep from *, ending with a sc in ch-1 sp and last sc. Repeat these two rows.

When decreasing in pattern stitch the row is reversed, the two single crochets will come at the beginning of a row.

When pattern states “work in established pattern”, sc in each ch-1 space, ch-1, skip sc.

Pattern

Back

Skirt

With CC3, ch 65 (73, 81, 91).

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *skip next ch, ch 1, sc in next ch; rep from * to last ch, sc in last ch, turn. (64 (72, 80, 90) sts)

Row 2: Work even in Pattern Stitch.

Rows 3-5: Work even in Pattern Stitch.

Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog in first 2 sts, work in established pattern to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (62 (70, 78, 88) sts)

Rep Rows 3-6, 1 (2, 3, 3) times, turn. (60 (66, 72, 82) sts)

Rows 7-8: Ch 1, work even in Pattern Stitch.

Row 9: Rep Row 6.

Rep Rows 7-9, 9 (10, 10, 13) times, turn. (40 (44, 50, 54) sts)

Body

Work even in established pattern for 16 (18, 16, 18) rows.

Shape Armholes

Row 1: Slip st in first 2 (2, 2, 3) sts, ch 1, work in established pattern to last 2 (2, 2, 3) sts, leave last 2 (2, 2, 3) sts unworked, turn. (36 (40, 46, 48) sts)

Work 2 (2, 6, 6) rows even in established pattern.

Neck Shaping

Row 1: Ch 1, work 16 (18, 21, 22) sts in established pattern, turn, leaving remaining sts unworked. (16 (18, 21, 22) sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog in first 2 sts, work in established pattern to end, turn. (15 (17, 20, 21) sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, work even in established pattern, turn.

Rows 4-7: Rep Rows 2-3. (13 (15, 18, 19) sts)

Row 8: Rep Row 3.

Row 9: Ch 1, work in established pattern to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn. (14 (16, 19, 20) sts)

Row 10: Ch 1, work even in established pattern, turn.

Rows 11-12: Rep Rows 9-10. (15 (17, 20, 21) sts)

Row 13: Rep Row 9. (16 (18, 21, 22) sts)

Row 14: Rep Row 9. (17 (19, 22, 23) sts)

Row 15: Rep Row 9. (18 (20, 23, 24) sts)

Fasten off.

Join yarn at opposite edge and repeat Neck Shaping.

Front

Work same as Back to Neck Shaping.

Neck Shaping

Row 1: Ch 1, work 15 (17, 19, 20) sts in established pattern, turn, leaving remaining sts unworked. (15 (17, 19, 20) sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog in first 2 sts, work in established pattern to end, turn. (14 (16, 18, 19) sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, work in established pattern to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn. (13 (15, 17, 18) sts)

Rows 4-5: Rep Rows 2-3. (11 (13, 15, 16) sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, work even in established pattern, turn.

Row 7: Rep Row 3. (10 (12, 14, 15) sts)

Rows 8-15: Rep Rows 6-7. (6 (8, 10, 11) sts)

Fasten off.

Join yarn at opposite edge and repeat Neck Shaping.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams.

With RS facing, join MC at Right Back Neck Edge. Sc evenly around neck edge, working 2 sc at Back Neck edges, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Sew side seams.

With RS facing, join MC at armhole side seam. Sc evenly around, join with sl st to first sc.  Fasten off.

Sew button to Left Back Neck edge.

Button Loop

Join MC to Right Back Neck edge.

Ch 6, join to neck edge with sl st. Fasten off.

Cut 0.75” seed shapes from black felt and sew to dress, using photos as a guide.

Weave in ends.