FREE Shell Brook 18" Doll or Preemie Baby Dress Crochet Pattern

If you have little girls who love dressing up their dolls, this crochet pattern is for you.  The Shell Brook doll dress pattern is a quick and easy project using less than a skein of yarn.  It's great for travel projects, great to use up scrap yarn and great for filling in the time with quick results.  
This dress is worked from the neck down giving you the option to turn it into a fun doll shirt or work it longer for a full gown.

With a skill level of Easy, and a full video tutorial below, anyone should be able to feel confident and complete this crocheted dress in no time.  

This dress is just 1 in a collection of 5 basic doll crochet patterns that can be found here on my website. 

One of the things I've loved about these doll dresses is that they will also work for preemie babies.  I know from having small babies that it's not always easy to find dresses that fit for our precious infants.  This dress and the other 4 dresses in the collection are a great option preemie blessing or christening dresses.  

This post may contain affiliate links through which I may receive a small commission for purchases made at no cost to you.

Here's what you'll need to know:

Materials:
160 yards Caron Simply Soft or similar 4ww yarn
30" Ribbon (3/16"-3/8" wide)
(1) 1/2"-5/8" Button

Hook: G-6 4.25mm & H-8 5.00mm
Gauge: With H hook 15 hdc & 11 rows = 4"
Finished Size: 18" Generic or American Girl sized doll or Preemie baby
Skill Level: Easy
​US Crochet Terms

Stitch Abbreviations:
st(s) - stitch(es)
sl st - slip stitch
ch - chain
yo - yarn over
hdc - half double crochet
dc - double crochet
​

Special Stitches:

Hdc Foundation Chain: This is shown in the video at the bottom of this post
You can also view the photo & video tutorials HERE

V Stitch - (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in indicated stitch

7 Shell - 7 dc in indicated stitch

Notes:
1. Beginning ch-2 is not counted as a stitch unless otherwise indicated
2. Photos showing stitch placement are included below
3. When changing colors, do so in the last step of the last stitch of the row before the color change
4. This pattern is worked from the neck down
5. If you prefer to start with a basic chain, chain 37, turn, hdc in 2nd chain from hook & each chain across for a total of 36 hdc

A full video tutorial is available at the bottom of this post.

An ad free pdf is also available for purchase to use at your convenience if you prefer.    

Crochet Pattern, 18" Shell Brook Doll Dress

$3.00

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With G hook
Row 1: Hdc Foundation chain of 36

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, hdc in next 4 sts, *V Stitch in next st, hdc in next 8 sts,* repeat from *to* 2x, V Stitch in next st, hdc in remaining 4 sts

Row 3: Ch 2, turn, hdc in next 5 sts, *V Stitch around ch-2 of next V Stitch, hdc in next 10 sts,* repeat from *to* 2x, V Stitch around ch-2 of next V Stitch, hdc in remaining 5 sts

Row 4: Ch 2, turn, hdc in next 6 sts, *V Stitch around ch-2 of next V Stitch, hdc in next 12 sts,* repeat from *to* 2x, V Stitch around ch-2 of next V Stitch, hdc in remaining 6 sts

With H hook
Round 5: (If you want a different color edging on the sleeves, change colors here)
Ch 2, turn, hdc in next 7 sts, *V Stitch around ch-2 of next V Stitch, [sl st in next st, skip next st, 7 dc in next st, skip next st]3x, sl st in next st, skip next st, V Stitch around ch-2 of next V Stitch, hdc in next 14 sts, repeat from *to* 1x, V Stitch around ch-2 of next V Stitch, hdc in remaining 7 sts, sl st to beginning ch-2 to connect

Round 6: (This round will create the armholes)
Ch 2, turn, hdc in next 8 sts, *3 hdc around ch-2 of next V Stitch, ch 4, 3 hdc around ch-2 of next V Stitch,* hdc in next 16 sts, repeat from *to* 1x, hdc in final 8 sts, sl st to beginning ch-2 to connect

Round 7: (This round is for the ribbon)
Ch 2 (counts as hdc), turn, hdc in same space as ch-2, ch 1, skip next st, *2 hdc in next st, ch 1, skip next st,* repeat from *to* around, sl st to beginning ch-2 to connect   (52 hdc,  26 ch-1)

Skirt Section
Round 8: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, skip next 2 hdc, 7 Shell in next ch-1, *dc in next ch-1, 7 Shell in next ch-1,* repeat from *to* around, sl st to beginning ch-3 to connect    (13 dc,  13  7-Shell)

Round 9: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, 7 Shell in 4th dc of next 7 Shell, *dc in next dc, 7 Shell in 4th dc of next 7-Shell,* repeat from *to* around, sl st to beginning ch-3 to connect  (13 dc, 13  7-Shell)

Rounds 10-17: Repeat Round 9 until you ureach 9 1/2" from shoulder to bottom or desired length

Fasten off & weave in ends

Stitch button to top left back of dress opening
Use the chain space from the foundation chain as the button hole

Weave ribbon through Round 7 and cut to desired length for bow

And with that, I hope you have enjoyed working this quick little crochet project.  More doll dress patterns are on the way!

If you find the video tutorial helpful, please give it a thumbs up so I can know what projects to bring you going forward.

​Happy Crocheting my friends!