Crochet Maxi Dress Pattern for a Wedding

Who said crochet isn’t trendy?! There has been such a shift in popularity in recent years and I’m here for it! My crochet maxi dress pattern showcases everything that is amazing about crochet garments. Modern, easy, versatile and you can even make it into a wedding dress – what’s not to love?

With a simple construction beginning at the sleeves, working from the top down, we can create a simple summer crop top with the ribbing sitting just under the bust, add the skirt on for a knee length crochet dress or keep working to create a maxi dress perfect for the beach or wedding.

The choice is yours!

In adult sizes from XS to 5XL (30″-62″ chest sizes) you can create any type of top or dress you want – it’s all detailed in the pattern to guide you through.

In this post you’ll find everything you need to know how to crochet a wedding dress, short dress or crop top, including materials, stitches, a detailed video tutorial and free written pattern for blog subscribers.

Read on to find out about the crochet along and Season’s Collection that this design is part of too!

I adore working with delicate lace stitches in crochet, especially those that use long crochet stitches. I am so excited to introduce this design to you using my new favourite stitch teamed with a simple single crochet rib for the detailing.

To create a delicate yet wearable crochet dress I needed to make sure that the design had enough drape and space so that it didn’t become too heavy but with enough structure to make it sit well on any body.

If you love delicate and light crochet patterns too then you might enjoy exploring my Evelyn lace crochet wrap pattern which is perfect for summer evenings.

Or if dresses are your thing then you could also explore the Cynthia lace crochet dress which you can make in any length too!

For this design I went for an adaptation of the traditional wedge stitch because I love the diagonal slant that you get to add interest and texture to the fabric.

By substituting a couple of stitches for chains instead we can create a stunning lace version that is perfect for this Summer crochet dress pattern!

Crop Top, Knee Length or Maxi Dress – you choose the length!

The thing I love to offer with my designs is the option to tailor it to suit you (or whoever you’re making it for!). Not only are we all different shapes and sizes but we have differing styles and tastes too.

So when thinking about the construction of this dress I wanted to make sure that you could stop at any point and create any length of not only dress but top that you want.

If you’d like to just create a crop top then you crochet the sleeves, pop the under bust band on and you’re done!

The fabulous thing is that you can make those sleeve sections (they are just rectangles) as long as you like so that if crop tops aren’t your thing then it can be longer and sit on your waist 🙂

Then the choice of skirt comes next. We work the front and back panels of the skirt directly onto the dress so you can try it on to see how long you’d like it.

The choice is yours and I can’t wait to see what you do. Transform it into any length of top or even wear it as a crochet beach cover up too!

If you would like to make a top rather than a dress then I also have a co-ordinating crochet skirt pattern that has an option to have a closed wedge stitch rather than a lace one! It can also be made to any length but the mini version looks like this with the top for an awesome crochet beachwear look:

Comfy Sport is the ultimate solution for stunning summer makes. The breathability and softness of Pima cotton allow for easy wearing while the touch of acrylic microfiber adds just the right amount of elasticity.

This blend offers a cotton-based yarn that has superior wearability and longevity, as well as easy care, which you are sure to appreciate over the years.

It’s a category 2, sport weight yarn which gives a fabulous drape and delicate feel to the dress. Check our handy yarn weight chart and guide to find out more about sport weight yarns.

How much yarn do I need to crochet the dress or top?

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)

Crop Top:

Will require approximately 332 (344, 396, 437, 487) (537, 587, 637, 705) metres, 365 (390, 435, 480, 535) (590, 645, 700, 775) yards of yarn to make the crop top version. This is 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) (5, 6, 6, 6) balls of the recommended yarn.

Knee Length Dress:

Will require approximately 625 (668, 743, 823, 917) (1011, 1105, 1200, 1330) metres, 688 (735, 816, 904, 1007) (1111, 1214, 1318, 1460) yards of yarn to make the knee length dress version. This is 6 (6, 6, 7, 8) (9, 10, 11, 12) balls of the recommended yarn.

Maxi Dress:

Will require approximately 913 (976, 1090, 1201, 1340) (1477, 1624, 17509, 1940) metres, 1005 (1073, 1200, 1320, 1471) (1623, 1775, 1925, 2132) yards of yarn to crochet the maxi dress version. This is 8 (8, 9, 11, 12) (13, 14, 15, 16) balls of the recommended yarn.

Don’t forget to join HanJan Crochet to receive regular discount codes (and more free patterns!) and Pin this crochet wedding dress pattern to your Pinterest board!

Video Tutorial: Follow Along to Create Your Top or Dress

Included in the video tutorial:

We begin by creating two lace panels for the sleeves and top of the dress. Each of these panels have a section of ribbing added to one of the long sides for the neck line.

Using the Join As You Go method we then add the under bust band and join the two rectangles to form the shape of the top.

With the top complete, we begin working the front of the skirt in the same lace stitch. This works directly into the under bust band.

Once complete, we work a matching back for the skirt. The sides are them seamed as much or as little as you’d like to create a side split.

The neckline and underarms can also be seamed to your choice to create the perfect shape and fit.

Crochet Terms You’ll Need to Know

Glossary and Abbreviations

beg – beginning

blo – back loop only

ch(s) – chain(s)

ch-sp(s) – chain space(s)

rep – repeat

RS – right side

sp – space

ss/sl st – slip stitch

st(s) – stitch(es)

WS – wrong side

Yoh – yarn over hook

Stitches

The pattern is written in standard US terms and uses the following crochet stitches:

sc – single crochet (UK dc – double crochet)

dc – double crochet (UK tr – treble crochet)

dtr – double treble crochet (UK ttr – triple treble crochet)

Special Stitches

LWS – Lace Wedge Stitch

A set of 2 rows including a FLWS (forward lace wedge stitch) and RLWS (return lace wedge stitch).

FLWS – Forward Lace Wedge Stitch

Ch6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch1, skip next ch, dc in next ch, ch1, skip next ch, dtr in next ch.

RLWS – Return Lace Wedge Stitch

Sc in 2nd ch of FLWS, ch1, skip next ch, dc in next ch of FLWS, ch1, skip next ch, dtr in next ch of FLWS.

If like me you fall in love with the stitch then make sure to whip up a cute summer crochet headband to match too!

Dtr2tog – Double Treble Two Together

Yoh 3 times, insert hook into next stitch. Yoh and pull through stitch, (yoh and pull through two loops on the hook) three times [2 loops left on hook]. Yoh 3 times, insert hook into next stitch. Yoh and pull through stitch, (yoh and pull through two loops on the hook) three times [3 loops left on hook]. Yoh and pull through all loops on the hook.

Variations and Ideas: Making Your Dress Unique

The top and dress are designed to have very little ease so that it skims your body but you can change it to be loose fitting if you’d like to. There are a couple of ways to do this.

Begin by choosing the chest size from the pattern that you would like to make.

Hip Measurement: If you would like to add more room at your hip area then add as many LWS (Lace Wedge Stitch) across the Front and Back as you like to create a fuller skirt. Make sure to add the same number to both the Front and Back panels.

Garment Length: Continue to work as many repeats of the LWS as you would like to for the length.

Skirt Seams: You can increase or decrease the size of the side splits by seaming as far as you would like down the sides of the skirt from the Under Bust Band.

Under Bust Band: You can make the band tighter or looser by slip stitching into more or less stitches as you work the band.

Underarm Seams: Seam as much or as little as you like from the top of the Under Bust Band upwards on each side.

Neck Seams: You can seam both the Front and Back V of the garment as much or as little as you like.

There are lots of options discussed in the video tutorial so make sure to give it a watch before beginning your project.

• A ch1 at the beg does not count as a st.
• A ch5 at the beg does count as a st.
• The pattern is worked in turned rows.
• Read through the entire pattern before beginning.
• Before you start, go through the pattern and highlight/mark the stitch and row counts that correspond to the size you are making (this will make your life much easier!).
• Make sure that you are familiar with all of the stitches in the abbreviations list before you begin.
• Instructions are given for the smallest size, with larger sizes in brackets ( ). E.g. XS (S, M, L, XL), (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL).
• If an instruction does not apply to a particular size then a – is used instead of a number. E.g. – (-, 4, 4, 5) (5, 5, 6, 6) means that the XS and S sizes do not apply to this instruction.
• Stitch counts are given in [ ] at the end of each Row. If no stitch count is given, then the count is the same as the previous Row.
• Make sure to check your gauge before beginning using the Gauge Swatch instructions to ensure the garment meets the desired measurements.

Copyright Notice

The Penelope Maxi Dress Crochet Pattern and its contents are fully owned and copyrighted by HanJan Crochet Ltd., and all rights are reserved.

This pattern is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author (Hannah Cross of HanJan Crochet Ltd).

Unauthorised distribution or reproduction of this pattern or elements of the instructions is strictly prohibited. The free to view crochet pattern is intended for personal viewing only. By accessing this pattern, you acknowledge and agree to comply with these copyright terms and conditions.

Pattern Support

I am delighted to invite you to join the HanJan Crochet Community Facebook Group where we host all pattern support queries and love to see your progress, yarn choices and finished projects!

Crochet Pattern Free for Blog Subscribers to View

US Terminology

Making a crochet gauge swatch is particularly important when crocheting garments to ensure that it ends up the desired size.

Gauge Swatch:

Foundation chain: ch 26.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, *FLWS, skip next 5chs, sc in next ch; rep from * to end, turn. [4 FLWS]

Row 2: ch5 (counts as dtr), *sc in sc of FLWS, work a RLWS along the 5chs of FLWS from previous row; rep from * to last FLWS, sc in sc of last FLWS, sc in 2nd ch of last FLWS, ch1, skip next ch of last FLWS, dc in next ch of last FLWS, ch1, skip next ch of last FLWS, dtr2tog over last ch of FLWS and last st of row, turn. [4 LWS completed over 2 rows]

Row 3: ch1, sc in 1st st, *FLWS, skip next 5sts, sc in next st; rep from * to end, turn.

Row 4: Rep Row 2.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until you have enough to measure and be sure your gauge is correct.

CUSTOMISE YOUR BAND

You can make your Under Bust Band tighter if desired by slip stitching into more stitches on each repeat of Row 3.

Continue with the Under Bust Band and join the next Sleeve Panel, ensuring that you begin with the edge with the Neckband Edging first.

Continue until you reach the end of the second Sleeve Panel. Fold the second Sleeve Panel in half and continue to work the Under Bust Band onto the other short edge of the second Sleeve Panel.

Work the ribbing along the other short edge of the second Sleeve Panel, then continue to work the other short edge of the first Sleeve Panel, finishing back at Row 1 of the Under Bust Band. Join the last Row to the first Row with a slip stitch seam.

The Crop Top version completes here. Break yarn and weave in ends to complete.

Do not break yarn and continue for any other length of top or dress.

SKIRT

The skirt is added to the Under Bust Band in two flat panels, one for the Front and one for the Back.

Please note – the amount of side of Rows to skip between each LWS is a guide and will depend on how you have worked your Under Bust Band. You need to work a total of 12 (14, 16, 17, 18) (20, 21, 23, 24) LWS across both the Front and Back of the garment.

CUSTOMISE  YOUR SKIRT

You can add as many LWS across the Front and Back as you like to create a fuller skirt. Make sure to add the same number to both the Front and Back panels.

Row 1: Working from the join of the Under Bust Band, sc in side of 1st st, *FLWS, skip next 3 (or your choice – see note above) rows of Under Bust Band ,sc in side of next st of Under Bust Band; rep from * to halfway round the Under Bust Band, turn.

Row 2: ch5 (counts as dtr), *sc in sc of FLWS, work a RLWS along the 5chs of FLWS from previous row; rep from * to last FLWS, sc in sc of last FLWS, sc in 2nd ch of last FLWS, ch1, skip next ch of last FLWS, dc in next ch of last FLWS, ch1, skip next ch of last FLWS, dtr2tog over last ch of FLWS and last st of row, turn.

Row 3: ch1, sc in 1st st, *FLWS, skip next 5chs, sc in next ch; rep from * to end, turn.

Row 4: Rep Row 2.

Rows 3 and 4 create the Set Pattern for the Skirt Panels.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 as many times as you like to get the length you desire.

The following are some suggestions for different lengths.

Mini (mid thigh) – great for a short summer cover up: 34.5”

Rows 5 – 30 (30, 30, 28, 28) (28, 24, 24, 24): repeat the Set Pattern for the Skirt Panels.

Knee Length – 39.5”

Rows 5 – 38 (38, 38, 36, 36) (36, 32, 32, 32): repeat the Set Pattern for the Skirt Panels.

Midi Length – 48”

Rows 5 – 52 (52, 52, 48, 48) (48, 46, 46, 46): repeat the Set Pattern for the Skirt Panels.

Maxi Length – 56”

Rows 5 – 64 (64, 64, 60, 60) (60, 58, 58, 58): repeat the Set Pattern for the Skirt Panels.

At the end of the Front Skirt Panel break yarn. Repeat the instructions for the Back Panel, joining to begin at the side of the next Row of the Under Bust Band after the Front Panel ends.

Before seaming the sides block the Front and Back Skirt Panels.

SEAMING AND FINISHING

There are lots of options within the seaming for you to customise your garment to fit exactly as you’d like it too.

Sew all seams with the WS facing you, using your preferred seaming method (whip stitch or mattress stitch work well).

SKIRT SEAMS

Begin with sewing the side seams of the skirt together from the Under Bust Band down as far as you would like towards the bottom of the Skirt.

Leave them with a large side split or no split at all, it’s up to you.

UNDERARM SEAMS

Using standardised body measurements for a regular armhole depth, leave 10 (11, 11.5, 12.5, 13) (14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16) LWS unseamed at each armhole.

If you would like to close your underarm more, then seam as much or as little as you like from the top of the Under Bust Band upwards on each side.

Leave them completely open if you want a looser, beach cover up style.

Close them so that it sits just under your arm for a more formal dress or top.

NECKLINE SEAMS

You can seam both the Front and Back V of the garment as much or as little as you like.

Beginning in the centre at the top of the Under Bust Band, seam as many stitches of each Sleeve Panel together at the centre as you would like to.

When you are happy with the fit of your garment, weave in all ends and block to measurements.

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Inspiration: Other Crochet Dress and Top Patterns To Try

If you enjoy crocheting lace summer garments then you’ll love these too:

• Cynthia Dress – a delicate lace crochet dress with sleeves.
• Easy Peachy Bikini Cover – a classy cover up for the beach.
• Hawthorne Tee – a delicate lace features on the sleeves of this V neck tee design.

Congratulations on completing your crochet wedding dress (or whichever version you decide on)! 🌟 Now that you’ve crafted this stunning piece, why stop here? Dive into my other fun adult crochet garment patterns, each waiting to be transformed into your next crochet masterpiece.

Don’t forget to share your creations with me on social media—I love seeing your unique twists and colourful creations! Join our community of crochet enthusiasts, where we share tips, tricks, and plenty of crafting inspiration. So, grab your hooks, explore more patterns, and let’s continue this crochet adventure together! Happy stitching! 🧶✨