A sundress is one of the most rewarding small garments to crochet. It is worked mostly in the round with very little shaping, it uses far less yarn than a sweater, and because it is meant to be loose and airy, the fit is forgiving in a way that fitted garments never are.
Choosing yarn
Cotton or a cotton blend, in a light or sport weight. This matters more than usual: the whole point of a sundress is that it is cool to wear, and acrylic in warm weather is uncomfortable against a child’s skin. Cotton breathes, washes well, and holds the stitch definition that makes an open lace skirt look deliberate rather than loose.
Cotton has no memory, which is worth knowing before you start. It will not spring back the way wool does, so the bodice needs to fit properly rather than relying on stretch. If the pattern includes a tie or button back, use it – it lets the dress adjust as the child grows.
Construction
Most sundresses of this kind are worked top down: the bodice first, then the skirt widened out below it in a repeating stitch pattern. Working top down means you can try the dress on as you go and stop the skirt when it reaches the length you want, rather than trusting a chart.
Sizing for growth
Make it slightly long. A sundress that is a little big in the first summer will fit properly in the second; one that fits exactly will be outgrown before the season ends. Length is where children grow fastest, so add an inch or two to the skirt rather than to the bodice.
Finishing
Block the finished dress. Cotton lace looks unremarkable straight off the hook and opens up considerably once wetted and pinned out to dry.
