The dress is crocheted from Alize Forever crochet yarn (50 g = 300 m) using a 3 mm crochet hook.
Naturally the first job was a test swatch, though even with that I unravelled the work several times. I made the bodice first.
Once the armhole was the right size, I joined the sleeves into the round by crocheting a chain of 5 stitches between the joining points. I joined the back in the same way and then continued crocheting in the round.
I worked a few more rows in treble crochet, then made a drawstring row: 4 trebles, 2 chain stitches over the space of 2 stitches, then another 4 trebles. After that I worked two rounds of trebles and began crocheting the skirt. It is wise to calculate the number of stitches needed in advance so the pattern joins neatly. I did not, and mostly got away with it. I was two stitches short, but managed to sort that out nicely 🙂
I talk about the post-stitch symbol here. Now the stitch has to be worked around the post from the wrong side. I made the chain stitches between the post stitches tighter than the rest of the crochet; drawing them in slightly gives the pattern its effect. To make it a little brighter, I used two colours and introduced the second one with what I considered a smooth transition. Smooth in my opinion, at least.
I finished the neckline, back opening and sleeve edges in crab stitch. I made three buttonholes at the back and buttons from yarn. I did consider taking the easy route and using ordinary buttons, and even found three pink ones, but in the end I stuck to my little obsession and made my own buttons. As the yarn was quite fine, I wrapped it around an ordinary pencil thirty times and worked around the edges three times. They still stayed a little soft, but that was actually useful because the buttonholes came out a little small and the buttons can be bent to fit through them.
I crocheted a belt, making a chain by eye and working the return row in half trebles.
With the biggest job finished, I started the hat. I had known for ages what sort I wanted and had already found the pattern. For me the hardest part is finding the right number of stitches to get the correct size. It is always trial and error: make it and unravel it.
I aimed for a hat circumference of 46 cm and a depth of 15 cm. Finished, it measures 44 cm and 16.5 cm.
My hat has fewer rows at the crown.
I made the lower edge very simply: trebles into the dips, then finished it in crab stitch.
All that remained were the decorations. I decided to make a flower and a butterfly. Which would go on the dress and which on the hat I decided only after both were finished and I could arrange them and look. I liked the butterfly on the dress and the flower on the hat, so that is where they went.
I made the butterfly like this and the flower following this tutorial
I pressed the finished pieces lightly using a shop-bought starching/ironing spray.
