Bowtiful Doll Dress Free Crochet Pattern

Bowtiful 18″ doll dress description

The Bowtiful doll dress free crochet pattern is an easy project and it even includes a matching headband. For those of you who follow my blog you probably know I have a passion for designing doll’s clothes and have been crocheting for 18″ dolls over the last few weeks.

I wanted to make a pretty and classic doll’s dress which is quick and easy to make. I came up with the ‘bowtiful’ dress and headband, named after the simple but beautiful bow design.

The simple doll dress includes a pattern for a matching headband, and both are totally free! The doll’s clothes are designed to fit 18″ child style dolls and the pattern is suitable for both thinner and wider waisted dolls.

The doll’s dress is fitted up to the waist and flows out in a classic A-line skirt. The doll’s dress buttons up at the back and has a subtle trim on the skirt. The doll’s headband and waistband are completed with a pretty bow.

How to crochet a dress for an 18″ doll

The 18″ doll dress crochet pattern is easy skill level and would also be suitable for confident beginners. You will need to know all your basic crochet stitches as well as the V-stitch. You’ll also need to know how to increase and work into a raw edge.

The dress in made in one-piece and the bows and buttons are the only parts you’ll need to sew on. Overall it’s a very fast, easy crochet pattern. To make the crochet doll’s dress I used Aran (weight 4) yarn.

I used a 5mm crochet hook for my small waisted 18″ doll, I recommend using a 5.5mm crochet hook for a doll with a larger waist. The actual pattern below includes clear instructions on this. The doll’s outfit uses approximately 72g (142m/156yd) of yarn.

Why You’ll Love The Bowtiful Doll Dress Free Crochet Pattern

• The dress itself is made in one-piece, you just need to sew on the bow and button
• Easy skill level project
• Free crochet pattern with the option to upgrade
• Uses worsted or aran, weight 4 yarn
• Perfect for 18″ child style dolls

---

Crochet pattern information

Supplies

• 5mm (H-8) for small doll (waist 22″ – 14″ / Hips 11″ – 12″)
• 5.5mm (I-9) for large doll (waist 11”-14” / hips 12”-13”)
• Worsted yarn
• Sewing needle
• 15mm buttons x 2
• Stitch markers

Yarn

• Weight – Aran / Worsted / #4
• Brand – Stylecraft special aran
• A – Fondant – 121 yards
• B – Silver – 35 yards
• Total -156 yards

Sizes & Gauge

• 5mm hook – 2” x 2” gauge swatch = 5 rows of 7 hdc
• 5.5mm hook – 2” x 2” gauge swatch = 5 rows of 6 hdc
• Headband – W14cm
• 5mm hook dress – L23cm x W15cm
• 5.5mm hook dress – L24cm x W16cm

Skill Level

Easy

Abbreviations

US Terminology (UK Translation)

• BLO – Back loop only
• ch – Chain
• dc – Double crochet
• 2dc – 2 dc in 1 space (increase)
• hdc – Half double crochet
• 2hdc – 2 hdc in 1 space (increase)
• sc – Single crochet
• 2sc – 2 sc in 1 space (increase)
• sl st – Slip stitch
• st/sts – Stitch/Stitches
• V-st – V-Stitch (dc, ch, dc)

Pattern notes

• Chains and finishing slip stitches are not included in the stitch counts.
• Stitches separated with a comma are to be made in separate spaces. For example, (sc, inc) would mean sc in first stitch then inc in next stitch.
• Change colors while completing the last stitch on the previous row.

Important Information

By using Hookfully’s website you are agreeing to its terms & conditions, copyright agreement and safety disclaimer. Read more…

This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you choose to make a purchase using my links.

Doll dress – Free crochet pattern

VIP members can download the premium pattern from the top of this page to get more progress photos and zero ads. Not a member? Sign up here.

Bow

---

Make 2 Bows.

Row 1

• Use color B (grey) & a 5mm hook
• ch x 8 then start in 2nd ch from hook
• hdc x 7
• ch x 2 & turn
• (7 sts)

Row 2

• V-st in 1st st
• (Skip 1, v-st) 3 times
• ch x 2 & turn
• (4 sts)

Rows 3 – 5

• V-st in ch space x 4
• dc in 2nd turning ch from previous row
• ch x 2 & turn between rows / ch & turn after row 5
• (3 rows of 5 sts)

Row 6

• sc x 13 (1 in every dc & ch space)
• sc in 2nd turning ch from previous row
• Fasten off & weave in ends
• (14 sts)

Row 7

• Attach yarn to row 1 chain spaces
• hdc x 7
• ch x 2 & turn
• (7 sts)

Rows 8 – 12

• Repeat rows 2-6 for 2nd half of the bow
• Wrap plenty of yarn tightly around the centre
• (5 rows) *Premium pattern has 2 images here*

Headband

---

Row 1

• Use colour B (grey) & a 5mm hook
• ch x 45 then sl st into 1st ch to make a circle & ch x 1
• hdc x 45
• sl st to 1st st & fasten off
• Sew on bow and weave in ends

45 sts

Doll Dress

---

Row 1

• Use color A (pink) & hook recommended on page 2
• ch x 25 then start in 2nd ch from the hook
• (2hdc, hdc x 2) 8 times
• ch & turn
• (32 sts)

Row 2

• (2hdc, hdc x 3) 8 times
• ch & turn
• (40 sts)

Row 3

• (2hdc, hdc x 4) 8 times
• ch & turn
• (48 sts)

Row 4

• (2hdc, hdc x 5) 8 times
• ch & turn
• (56 sts)

Row 5

• (2hdc, hdc x 6) 8 times
• ch & turn
• (64 sts)

Row 6

• (2hdc, hdc x 7) 8 times
• ch & turn
• (72 sts) *Premium pattern has image here*

Row 7

• The skipped stitches will be the arm holes
• hdc x 10, skip 16 sts, hdc x 20, skip 16 sts, hdc x 10
• ch & turn
• (40 sts)

Row 8

• hdc x 40
• ch & turn
• (40 sts) *Premium pattern has image here*

Row 9 – 10

• Change to color B (grey)
• hdc x 40
• ch & turn
• (40 sts)

Round 11

• Change to color A (pink)
• hdc x 40
• sl st into 1st st & ch x 2
• (40 sts)

Round 12

• (2dc, dc) 20 times
• sl st into 1st st & ch x 2
• (60 sts)

Round 13

• (2dc, dc x 2) 20 times
• sl st into 1st st & ch x 2
• (80 sts)

Round 14 – 19

• dc x 80
• sl st into 1st st & ch x 2
• (6 rounds of 80 sts)

Round 20

• (V-st & skip 1) 40 times
• sl st into 1st st & ch
• (40 sts)

Round 21

• sc x 80 (1 between every v-st & 1 in every ch sp)
• sl st into 1st st, fasten off & weave in ends
• Sew the bow onto the waistband and weave in all the ends.
• (80 sts) *Premium pattern has 2 images here*

Dress Buttons

---

Row 1

• Use yarn color A (pink)
• Attach yarn to row 1 chains – left side
• sc x 10 down raw edge (1 at the end of every row)
• ch & turn
• (10 sts)

Row 2

• sc x 2
• ch x 2 & skip 2 (button hole)
• sc x 2
• ch x 2 & skip 2 (button hole)
• sc x 2
• Fasten off & weave in ends
• (6 sts)

Row 3

• Use yarn color A (pink)
• Attach yarn to row 1 chains – right side
• sc x 10 down raw edge (1 at the end of every row)
• ch & turn
• (10 sts)

Row 4

• sc x 10
• Fasten off & weave in ends
• Sew buttons on the opposite side to button holes
• (10 sts) *Premium pattern has image here*

Published: November 26, 2022 | Last Updated: June 10, 2026