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Blue and White Shell Stitch Dress: vintage crochet pattern
A toddler's A-line dress with a Baby Blue skirt worked in shells that shrink from 7 dc to 4 dc as the rows rise, a White shell-stitch yoke and short shell-stitch sleeves, closed at the back with three buttons. Originally published as "Blue and White Dress" in Babies Are Such Fun to Dress: Sizes 6 Months to 4.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Fine (#2) |
| Yardage | 2 (3) skeins of 1 oz (28 g) Baby Blue and 2 (2) skeins of 1 oz (28 g) White baby yarn; check the label for yardage. (as printed; yardage not given) |
| Hook | 3.75 mm |
| Gauge | 2 shells of 7 dc = 3 in (7.5 cm). |
| Finished size | Sizes 2 (4) years. Finished measurements not printed; the front and back start on a chain of 62 (74) with 10 (12) shells across. |
| Time | about 15 hours |
Materials
- Fine (CYC #2) baby yarn — the original was Wintuk baby yarn or Orlon: 2 (3) skeins of 1 oz (28 g) Baby Blue and 2 (2) skeins of 1 oz (28 g) White
- Crochet hook (original: plastic crochet hook size F)
- 3 buttons, tapestry needle
- Hook: Start with 3.75 mm (US F-5) and change size to match the gauge
Yarn Kit & Substitution Options
This pattern calls for 350 yards of weight #2 yarn. Select a suggested yarn to see required skeins and estimated cost:
Lion Brand Coboo · 50% Cotton, 50% Bamboo
232 yds per skein · Silky breathable drape, lovely stitch shine
2 skeins required
approx. $$12.98 total
Abbreviations (US terms)
- chain
- single crochet
- double crochet
- slip stitch
- skip
- stitch
- stitches
- space
- repeat
- round
- shell
- turning chain
- right side
- wrong side
- beginning
Notes before you start
- Source: "Blue and White Dress", Babies Are Such Fun to Dress: Sizes 6 Months to 4 Years, Knit & Crochet (Star Book No. 220), American Thread Company. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD; DAWN “WINTUK” BABY YARN or; “DAWN” ORLON; 2 (3)—1 oz. skeins Baby Blue; 2 (2)—1 oz. skeins White; Plastic Crochet Hook Size F OR ANY SIZE HOOK WHICH WILL RESULT IN STITCH GAUGE BELOW; 3 Buttons. Gauge: 2—7 d c shells = 3 inches.
- Modernisation note: Original is written in US crochet terms; kept as US terms (sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet).
- Modernisation note: Spaced abbreviations (s c, d c, sl st, yo hook) written as sc, dc, sl st, yo; "1st" written as "first"; "st of ch" / "st from hook" written as "ch" where the stitch is a chain; "d c group" written as "dc group".
- Modernisation note: "Cut yarn" / "break thread" written as "fasten off"; "attach yarn" / "fasten thread" written as "join yarn".
- Modernisation note: Long printed paragraphs split into one row, round or step per line; stitch order unchanged.
- Modernisation note: Row and round numbers added where the original prints "NEXT ROW", "NEXT 5 ROUNDS" or "Repeat last 2 rows"; the numbering follows the printed sequence and does not change it.
- Modernisation note: The booklet's own rule for asterisks is kept: "repeated the given number of times plus the original" — so "rep from * 9 times" means 10 repeats in all.
- Modernisation note: Vintage sizing and ease differ from today's — compare any printed measurements with the child's own before choosing a size.
- Modernisation note: "7 d c shell", "6 d c shell" etc. written as "7-dc shell", "6-dc shell"; "turning ch 3" written as "turning ch-3".
- Modernisation note: Front Row 7: printed "* 6 d c shell d c shell in next s c"; the repeated "d c shell" is an obvious typo and is written "*6-dc shell in next sc".
- Modernisation note: Front Rows 25–28 (25–32) label added for the printed "Repeat last 2 rows 2 (4) times". Neck, shoulder and sleeve-cap rows numbered in the order printed.
- Modernisation note: Part of the front is printed on a later page ("continuation from page 20"); the rows are joined in order.
- Modernisation note: Check: several rows (front Rows 3, 7, 13 and 15; sleeve Rows 3, 4, 6 and 8) end without a printed turning chain before the next row begins with ch 3 or sc; left as printed — turn as the next row requires.
- Modernisation note: Check: armhole shaping ends "ch 2, turn" but the following row begins with a sc and gives no use for the ch 2. Left as printed.
- Modernisation note: Check: sleeve Row 9 prints "Ch 3, s c in center of next shell" with no half shell at the start of the row, unlike the matching rows. Left as printed.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions added.
Row progress: 0 of 17 done (0%)
Front — Skirt
0 of 17 done- Note: Directions are given for size 2; changes for size 4 are in parentheses.Mark row complete
- Row 1: With Baby Blue ch 62 (74), sc in 2nd ch from hook, *sk 1 ch, 2 dc in next ch, 3 dc in next ch, 2 dc in next ch, sk next ch, sc in next ch; rep from * 9 (11) times, turn.Mark row complete
- Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 3 dc in first sc, *sk next 3 dc, sc in next dc, sk next 3 dc, 7 dc in next sc (7-dc shell); rep from * across row, ending with 4 dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.Mark row complete
- Row 3: Sc in first dc, *7-dc shell in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * across row, ending last rep with sc in top of turning ch-3.Mark row complete
- Rows 4 and 5: Rep Rows 2 and 3.Mark row complete
- Row 6: Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc, sc in center dc of next shell, *6-dc shell in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * across row, ending with 3 dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.Mark row complete
- Row 7: Sc in first dc, *6-dc shell in next sc, sc in sp between the 2 center dc of next shell; rep from * across row, ending last rep with sc in top of tch.Mark row complete
- Row 8: Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc, sc in sp between the 2 center dc of next shell, *6-dc shell in next sc, sc in sp between the 2 center dc of next shell; rep from * across row, ending with 3 dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.Mark row complete
- Rows 9–12: Rep Rows 7 and 8 twice.Mark row complete
- Row 13: Sc in first dc, *5-dc shell in next sc, sc in sp between the 2 center dc of next shell; rep from * across row, ending with sc in top of tch, turn.Mark row complete
- Row 14: Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc, *sc in center dc of next shell, 5-dc shell in next sc; rep from * across row, ending with 3 dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.Mark row complete
- Row 15: Sc in first dc, 5-dc shell in next sc, *sc in center dc of next shell, 5-dc shell in next sc; rep from * across row, ending with sc in top of tch, turn.Mark row complete
- Rows 16–21: Rep Rows 14 and 15 three times.Mark row complete
- Row 22: Ch 3, dc in first sc, sc in center dc of next shell, *4-dc shell in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * across row, ending with 2 dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.Mark row complete
- Row 23: Working in 4-dc shells, rep Row 7.Mark row complete
- Row 24: Ch 3, dc in first sc, sc in sp between the 2 center dc of next shell, *4-dc shell in next sc, sc in sp between the 2 center dc of next shell; rep from * across row, ending with 2 dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.Mark row complete
- Rows 25–28 (25–32): Rep Rows 23 and 24 two (four) times. Fasten off, turn.Mark row complete
Working on:
Note: Directions are given for size 2; changes for size 4 are in parentheses.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Blue and White Shell Stitch Dress pattern is in the Vintage Crochet Baby & Kids' Patterns
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Front — Yoke
- Back
- Sleeves (make 2)
- Finishing
Included with 133 patterns for $12 — $0.09 per pattern.
Errata
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the Blue and White Dress pattern from?
It was published as "Blue and White Dress" in Babies Are Such Fun to Dress: Sizes 6 Months to 4 Years, Knit & Crochet (Star Book No. 220) by American Thread Company. The publication is in the public domain in the United States; this version is transcribed and modernised by crochetpatterns.io.
What yarn or thread do I need for the Blue and White Dress?
fine (#2) yarn. Not printed — 2 (3) skeins of 1 oz (28 g) Baby Blue and 2 (2) skeins of 1 oz (28 g) White baby yarn; check the label for yardage.
What hook should I use?
Start with 3.75 mm (US F-5) and change size to match the gauge Gauge: 2 shells of 7 dc = 3 in (7.5 cm).
