This is a crochet pattern review of the Alice Dress designed by Krista of Spirit and Thread Crochet. Review done by Emily of Crochet Aweigh for Cre8tion Crochet.
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It’s me, Emily with Crochet Aweigh.
When I was selected as a pattern tester for Spirit and Thread Crochet’s latest dress pattern I was ecstatic! Living in Florida I am always on the hunt for crochet patterns that are going to be light and breezy since we get MAYBE ten to fifteen cold days a year. This dress spoke to me the moment I saw it and I have made three so far! Dresses are definitely my favorite kind of project because they are so flexible, adaptable, and easy to wear in warmer weather such as the kind we encounter in Central Florida. They are also easy to layer for those who have to endure a “normal” winter.
I have tested for Krista of Spirit and Thread Crochet before and she is such a joy to work with! Even at the beginning of the testing phase, her patterns are already well-written, easy to follow, and loaded with helpful pictures. The Alice dress caught my eye with the beautiful Ombre yarn she chose for her sample, and the intricate-looking shell stitches of the skirt. And did I mention that dresses are my favorite??? I’m always on the hunt for stunning dress patterns. If you live for the “Thanks, I made it!” moments like I do then this dress is for you!
Visit with me on Instagram @Crochet.Aweigh for all kinds of awesome crochet makes and inspiration.
What Materials Do You Need to Crochet a Dress?
- Approximately 1,200 – 2,000 yards (depending on size) your choice of worsted weight yarn
- Hook size G6/4mm or size needed to obtain gauge
- Scissors and yarn needle for weaving ends
- Alice Dress Pattern, Paid Crochet Pattern from Spirit and Thread Crochet
Material Notes:
Since I have done this project three times I have some interesting input on materials. The first time I made it was for the pattern test, which had a deadline. I ordered some yarn from Hobbii that I thought would be perfect, but there was a delay in shipping. The deadline was starting to get closer so I went to Hobby Lobby to see what was in stock. I ended up with I Love This Cotton in two colors for the top and Yarn Bee Chloe for the skirt. Both worsted weight (4) yarns. Chloe is made up of mostly wool, which is not my usual choice. However, this yarn ended up having very nice drape and is fairly soft. The only thing I’m not a huge fan of here is that it is a little fuzzy looking, which is not typical for a warm-weather outfit. I was still pleased with the end result though.
The second Alice dress I went with my original choice because the Hobbii yarn did arrive. I stuck with the I Love This Cotton in two colors for the top because I loved how the first top turned out. The Hobbii yarn was an ombre cake yarn called Sultan, which I used for the skirt. More pricey, but definitely worth it for the amazing effect. Now Sultan is only a sport weight, so I purchased two cakes and held the two together to mimic a worsted weight. This also came out very nice, and was more lightweight than the Chloe. Sultan has a tendency to split so you have to be a little patient with it, but the result of the ombre color is so worth it!
The third Alice dress I made with this blog post in mind! I wanted to be able to take better step by step photos for the readers, which I had not done for the first two dresses. Again I used I Love This Cotton in ivory and sage for the top. This yarn is super soft when worked up, but still breathable since it is one hundred percent cotton. For the skirt I went a little different route. I chose Sugarwheel Cotton in Citrus Grove from Hobby Lobby, but this is only a DK (3) weight yarn. This might just be my favorite one yet! It is so much lighter weight, literally not as heavy as the first 2 dresses, but it still comes out wonderfully. If you go with a DK for the skirt, depending on your gauge, you may want to go up a hook size. I found that I did not need to, but you may want to consider it if the lace is coming out tight.
I made an XS on the top section. For all three dresses I used almost the entire skein of the top’s main color, ivory, in this case. I only used a little bit of the contrast color for the top. My dress is floor length and I found that I used about 1,100 yards for the skirt section. You can choose to make the dress whatever length you want!
How Long Does it Take to Crochet a Dress?
I spent about a week and a half on and off working on this one. My estimate is about 15-16 hours.
Gauge:
The pattern gauge is 15 half double crochets by 14 rows for a 4” square. Krista specifies a G6/4mm hook, but states in her pattern that she crochets tight so most people will have to go down a hook size. I found that I crochet even tighter than her so I went up to an H8/5mm hook and met the gauge.
Pattern Notes:
Once the bust is complete, you need to add length. I did 13 rows total where it said to repeat rows 2-3 until my natural waist. For the next step I obviously had more than 7 rows since I did 13, so I did 13 stitches up and sc in the first 5 stitches of the cup as stated for the XS size. I added 3 extra rows on the end of the waistband for extra width before doing the corset back loops.
Round 3 of the skirt is where it gets connected around the back. I chained 24 around to connect to the other side. That got me the multiple of 9 stitches that she is looking for. There is an increase indicated in the skirt so it fits over your hips. I did the increase after 2 full rows of shell repeats and only did the increase once, carrying on the rest of the skirt for that stitch count. I had 23 rows of the shell pattern to reach floor length, but this will be different for everyone! I chained 150 for back tie and chose to omit the middle belt bow accent.
I would say this pattern is for an advanced beginner looking for a challenge. Getting the bust right can be tricky if you’ve never done a bralette-style top before, but Krista makes it easy with step-by-step photos and written instructions. My favorite thing about this pattern is the flexibility. This pattern has instructions from XS/A cup to DDD cup and above so you can definitely find your size! There are also infinite color combinations to try. I used 3 colors every time, but you could alternate a different color for every shell repeat if you wanted to! Tell me what colors you are going to choose in the comments so I can be inspired by you!
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Alexandra says
Simply stunning! Wow! Also living in Central Florida, I am always on the hunt for lightweight projects, stitch patterns and cool cottony yarns. I am putting this dress on my list now.
Emma says
Such a beautiful dress! I love the design and the colours. You are so talented! I wish I could crochet, my grandmother used to crochet a lot and I should have got her to teach me. Thanks for linking up!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Carol says
I cant imagine crocheting an entire dress! It turned out beautifully. Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 57.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
Emily says
Thank you so much! A whole dress goes a lot faster than you might think!
Mica - Away From The Blue says
I love the colours you chose for this dress, I can see why the style is a favourite of yours, it looks so good! 🙂
Thanks so much for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup!
Emily says
Thank you!
Rhondda says
Your Alice Dress turned out beautifully! Thank you for linking up at our weekly Link Party! You are being featured at our Wednesday
Party #497 this week. Here’s the direct link to the post in case you’d like to share your feature:
https://oombawkadesigncrochet.com/spring-shakers-alice-dress-easter-bunny-applique-link-party-497/
Hope to see you again next week! Rhondda
Emily says
Thank you very much for featuring me <3