Lacy Shells Crocheted Toddler Top

I recently picked out some yarns that I wanted to try from Lion Brand Yarns. One of them was their Babysoft yarn. I chose a pretty purple shade thinking it would be perfect for a little baby sweater. I have been wanting to try designing a baby sweater for a long time. I think they are a little intimidating because of the fact that they need to be sized right, the neck needs to be the right size, the sleeve holes, the sleeves, the chest needs to fit, the length. It just seems like a lot to get right, but I have some ideas that I think would make cute little sweaters so I keep thinking that one of these days I just need to try it. I thought this would be the perfect yarn to do it with and was pretty excited to try. Then I remembered that it is June, the beginning of summer, probably the worst time to attempt a sweater. I decided that I wanted to try something a little bit more summery and maybe come back to the sweater idea in a couple of months.

I still wanted to make a garment of some kind, just to do something different, so I decided to go with a lacy little toddler top. It is kind of a sundress style but I designed it with the idea that it would be worn over something. The skirt part is made with a very open stitch and I think to be used as a dress you would want something a little more solid.

I have a 2 and a 3 year old and it fit both of them but it fit my 3 year old the best. I would say it is probably a 3-4 size but my 2 year old is also very petite so it would probably fit a more average sized 2 year old a little better.

The top portion is made by crocheting two section of half double crochet that are then joined at the waist. When you join the two pieces you will also be single crochet around the outside edges to give it a finished look and create the shoulder straps. A lacy shell stitch is worked in rounds to create the skirt, finished with a scalloped border of shells around the bottom. Two pretty little buttons complete the top. I used a couple buttons that were passed down me from my husband's grandma.

Lacy Shells Toddler Top

You will need:

• 1 ball Lion Brand Babysoft yarn (I used Lavender)
• G hook
• 2- 5/8inch buttons
• yarn needle

Instructions:

Top Portion 

Make 2, a front and back, after finishing the second do not cut yarn

turning ch 2 does not count as a stitch

ch 22

Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across, ch 2, turn (20 hdc)

Rows 2-9: hdc in each stitch across, ch 2, turn (20 hdc)

Row 10: 2 hdc in first stitch, hdc in next 18, 2 hdc in last stitch, ch 2, turn (22 hdc)

Row 11: 2 hdc in first stitch, hdc in next 20, 2 hdc in last stitch (24 hdc)

after the first side cut the yarn, after the second side do not cut the yarn, you will continue working with it

Straps, Edging, and Waist

ch 1, turn 90 degrees, sc up the side, 3 sc in corner, sc across top, 3 sc in corner, sc down side, ch 16, slip stitch to the corner of the other piece, sc up the side, ch 26, dc in in 6th ch from hook and each ch to the end, skip 1 stitch, sc in next stitch and across the top until 2 stitches are left, ch 26, dc in 6th ch from hook and each ch to the end, sc in corner and down the side, ch 16, slip stitch to corner where you started on the first piece

ch 1, sc in each stitch around, slip stitch to first sc

Skirt

Round 1: ch 1, sc in first stitch, [ch 5, skip 2, sc in next stitch] repeat around, slip stitch to first sc

Round 2: ch 1, slip stitch into center of the next ch 5 loop, ch 1, sc, [ch 5, sc in center of next ch loop, 5 dc in next sc, sc in center of next ch loop] repeat around, slip stitch to first sc

Round 3: ch 1, slip stitch into center of the next ch 5 loop, ch 1, sc, [ch 5, sc in 3rd dc, ch 5, sc in ch 5 loop] repeat around, slip stitch to first sc
Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until you reach desired length, I repeated them 10 more times each

Repeat round 2 one more time

Last Round: ch 1, slip stitch in center of next ch loop, ch 1, sc in same loop, [5 dc in next sc, sc in center of next ch loop] repeat around, slip stitch to first sc, finish off, cut yarn and weave in ends

The yarn for this project was provided by Lion Brand. The pattern design and creation is my own. 

*edited 6/23 to fix skirt pattern, round 3 added