This vintage crochet pattern creates a sleeveless A-line dress and a triangular headscarf. The dress has a textured, openwork bodice and a slightly flared skirt. The headscarf uses the same stitch pattern as the dress.
Skill Level: Due to the stitch pattern, shaping, and vintage instructions, this pattern is best suited for an intermediate to advanced crocheter. The required skills are:
- Chain (ch)
- Slip stitch (sl st)
- Single crochet (sc) – The pattern uses UK Terminology, meaning it’s a US sc.
- “gr” stitch (a cluster stitch) – Defined in the pattern as: yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch and draw through a loop, yarn over and draw through first 2 loops on hook, (yarn over hook, insert hook into same stitch and draw through a loop, yarn over and draw through first 2 loops on hook) twice, yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook. This is similar to a 3-double crochet cluster (US terminology), but worked slightly differently.
- Working in rows
- Increasing (implied, but the pattern mostly decreases)
- Decreasing (skipping stitches and working stitches together)
- Changing colors
- Shaping (armholes, neck, shoulders)
- Seaming (shoulder and side seams)
- Working an edging
- Making a button loop
- Attaching a button
- Creating fringe (for the headscarf)
- Understanding vintage pattern instructions
It is crucial to understand that this pattern uses UK terminology. A “sc” in this pattern is a US single crochet. The “gr” stitch is a modified cluster stitch, and care should be taken to follow the specific instructions.
Sizing:
- Chest: 20 inches [22 inches] – Two sizes are provided.
- Length to shoulder: 15 1/2 [17] inches
Materials:
- Yarn: Bucilla Fingering Yarn (1 oz balls) – This is a vintage yarn, so a modern fingering weight yarn would need to be substituted.
- Main color (A): 4 [4] balls
- Contrast color (B): 4 [4] balls – This seems like a lot of contrast color yarn, given the stripe pattern. It’s possible there’s a typo, or the contrast color is used more extensively than it appears.
- Hook: Size C crochet hook (2.75-3.25mm would be closest – a precise modern equivalent isn’t standard)
- Other:
- One button
- Needle
Gauge: 4 pattern repeats and 14 rows = 4 inches over the pattern stitch.
Construction:
Dress Front:
- Foundation: Starts with a chain of 86 [92].
- Rows 1-3: Establish the basic stitch pattern, using single crochet and the “gr” stitch (cluster stitch), along with chain spaces.
- Rows 4-5: Introduce the stripe pattern (2 rows A, 2 rows B).
- Body: The pattern continues in the established stitch and stripe sequence, with shaping (decreases) worked over several rows to create a slight A-line shape.
- Armhole Shaping: Stitches are skipped at the beginning and end of rows to shape the armholes.
- Neck Shaping: The front neck is shaped by working fewer stitches in the center and then working each side separately.
- Shoulder Shaping: Slip stitches are used to shape the shoulders.
Dress Back:
- Worked the same as the front until the armhole shaping is complete.
- The back is then divided for an opening (likely a button closure).
- Each side of the back is worked separately, with shoulder shaping to match the front.
Finishing (Dress):
- The shoulder and side seams are joined (seamed).
- A neck edging is worked using single crochet and the “gr” stitch pattern.
- The armholes are finished with the same edging.
- A button is sewn to one side of the back opening, and a loop is created on the other side.
Headscarf:
- Foundation: Starts with a chain of 99.
- Rows 1-4: The headscarf uses the same stitch pattern and stripe sequence as the dress.
- Shaping: Decreases are worked at each end of every other row to create a triangular shape.
- Front Edging: A row of the pattern stitch is worked along the front edge.
Finishing (Headscarf):
- A fringe using the remaining yarn, is added
Key Features:
- Textured Stitch Pattern: The “gr” stitch and chain spaces create an openwork, textured fabric.
- Striped Design: Uses two contrasting colors in a stripe pattern.
- A-Line Shape: The dress has a slight A-line silhouette.
- Vintage Pattern: Uses older terminology and construction techniques.
- Matching Set: Includes both a dress and a headscarf.
- UK Terminology: The pattern uses UK crochet terms. This is extremely important to understand.
