Nothing says summer like a baby in a watermelon dress, and this one comes in sizes 12m through 4yrs so you can make it again as they grow.

Design Story and Inspiration for This Adorable Crochet Baby Dress

I designed this dress for an issue of I Like Crochet magazine’s summer edition, and watermelon felt like the obvious choice. It’s the fruit that basically defines summer, whether that’s a picnic, a backyard, or a trip to the farmers market, and I wanted a dress that captured that same feeling the second you saw it.

I built it from the bottom up in two pieces, starting with that rind border in white, green, and dark teal stripes, then finishing with the bright pink body. Working it in two pieces this way is what lets those stripe and seed details line up so cleanly, and it’s what makes the dress feel finished rather than just decorative. The “seeds” are simply black felt shapes sewn on.

It’s simple enough for confident beginners to make, but the details give it that extra something that makes people stop and ask where you got it. And since it comes in sizes 12m through 4yrs, you can make it once for summer and then make it again next year in a bigger size.

Yarn Options for a Crochet Baby Dress

I made this dress in Berroco Modern Cotton because summer clothes for kids need to actually be comfortable in the heat, and cotton is what gets you there. It’s soft against little skin, it breathes, and it holds up to the washing machine, which matters a lot when you’re dressing a toddler who’s going to get watermelon juice all over herself anyway.

If you want to swap yarns, just stick with a cotton or cotton blend in a similar weight (worsted weight, category #4) so you keep that same lightweight, breathable feel. Acrylic will work up fine, but it won’t give you the same cool, crisp drape that makes this dress so nice for summer.

Crochet Watermelon Baby Dress

What You’ll Need

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) – Worsted weight #4

Hooks: US size I/9 (5.50 mm)

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

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

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

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.

Watermelon Baby Dress 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.

Final Thoughts on the Watermelon Crochet Dress Pattern

This Watermelon Crochet Baby Dress is one of those patterns that’s just as fun to make as it is to see on a little one running around at a summer picnic. Grab your Berroco Modern Cotton, pick a size, and you’ll have the sweetest handmade piece for this summer or the next.

Happy Crocheting!
Amanda