Free Crochet Pattern: Lock It Down Dress

There are affiliate links for Amazon and Yarn Crafts & Coffee included in the post below. If you click on them and make a purchase I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support :)

Below you will find the free crochet pattern for the Lock It Down Dress!

Hi, its me, Emily at Crochet Aweigh! The “I Think He Knows” collection is back for a couple (?) more patterns in November! I Think He Knows is a song from Taylor Swift’s Lover album and it is SO catchy! It is a cute song about having a crush. There is a part of the song that goes, “I think he knows he better lock it down or I won’t stick around ’cause good ones never wait”. If I was trying to “lock someone down” I would wear a fun and flirty dress! The Lock it Down Dress is just that with its strapless design and ruffles!

If you would like to support my very lofty yarn dreams then you can purchase a PDF of this pattern from my site, Etsy, or Ravelry.

Pattern Notes:

• This dress pattern is considered intermediate level.
• This pattern is written made to measure, so as long as you have the measurements for yourself or whoever you want to make this top for, you can make it to fit.
• This dress is designed to fit snug with 0″ ease.
• The dress is based on your bust measurement.
• For reference, my bust is 42.5″ around, so that is what the sample is based on. I wear an XL or size US 14.
• The concept is to increase or decrease the number of double crochets per shell based on your body. Below I include instructions for how I made mine fit to me, but you are welcome to increase or decrease as you see fit.
• Lion Brand Summer Nights is discontinued, but you can use any fingering weight cotton or polyester yarn!
• Pattern is worked in the round without turning after each row.
• I didn’t do a regular wet block on this, but I did wet down the edges of the ruffles and hung it to dry. The ruffles were rolling up a little for me.

Materials:

• Lion Brand Summer Nights – Fingering #1 weight. This yarn is hard to find, but you can also use Copper Corgi Savannah Sock Glitzy for a higher end option!
• Sample used 550 grams or approximately 1975 yards, 2.25 skeins of the Summer Nights
• US size F/3.75mm crochet hook
• Round Elastic Cord
• Soft Tape Measure
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• The Lock It Down Dress Pattern: either free on this page, or paid on my website, Etsy, or Ravelry.

Abbreviations:

Gauge:

This pattern is made to measure, so gauge is not crucial. Mine came out to: 4.5 shells = 4″; 13 Rows = 4″. These are the 5dc shells..

Pattern Instructions:

Measure above your bust where the top of your dress will sit.

Round 1: Fsc until you have your measurement. Make sure your stitch count is a multiple of 4. Being careful not to twist, sl st to 1st fsc.

Rd 2: Ch 1, sc in 1st, Sk 1, 5dc in next, sk 1, *sc in next, sk 1, 5dc in next, sk 1. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc here & throughout), 2 dc in same, sk 2 dc, sc in 3rd dc of shell, sk 2 dc, *5dc in next sc, sk 2, sc in 3rd dc of shell, sk 2. Repeat from * around. 2 dc into same sc as 1st 3 dc, sl st to beg ch3.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in same st, sk 2, 5dc in next sc, sk 2, *sc in 3rd dc of next shell, sk 2, 5dc into next sc, sk 2. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Repeat rows 3 & 4 until you have enough to cover your bust.

Waist Decrease:

Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in same, sk 2 dc, sc in 3rd dc of shell, sk 2 dc, *4dc in next sc, sk 2, sc in 3rd dc of shell, sk 2. Repeat from * around. 2 dc into same sc as begch, sl st to begch3.

Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in same st, sk 1, 4dc in next sc, sk 2, *sc in between 2nd and 3rd dc of shell, sk 2, 4dc into next sc, sk 2. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 7: Ch 3, 1 dc in same, sk 2, sc in between 2nd and 3rd dc of shell, sk 2, *3dc in next sc, sk 2, sc in between 2nd and 3rd dc of shell, sk 2. Repeat from * around. Dc in same sc as begch, sl st to begch3.

Rnd 8: Ch 1, sc in same, sk 1, 3dc in next sc, sk 1, *sc in next dc, sk 1, 3dc in next sc, sk 1. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Repeat rounds 7-8 until you reach the end of your natural waist, where your hips meet your waist.

Hips Increase:

Rnd 9: Ch 3, dc in same, sk 1 dc, sc in 3rd dc of shell, sk 1 dc, *4dc in next sc, sk 1, sc in 3rd dc of shell, sk 1. Repeat from * around. 2 dc into same sc as begch, sl st to begch3.

Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in same, sk 1, 4 dc in sc, sk 2, *sc in between 2nd and 3rd dc of shell, sk 2, 4dc in sc, sk 2. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 11: Ch 3, 2dc in same, sk 2, *sc in between 2nd and 3rd dc of shell, sk 2 5dc in sc, sk 2. Repeat from * around. 2dc in same st as begch, sl st to begch3.

Rnd 12: Ch 1, sc in same, sk 2, 5dc in sc, sk 2, *sc in next dc, sk 2, 5dc in next sc, sk 2. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 13: Ch 3, 2dc in same, sk 2, *sc in next dc, sk 2 5dc in sc, sk 2. Repeat from * around. 2dc in same st as begch, sl st to begch3.

Rnd 14: Repeat Rnd 12.

Rnd 15: Ch 3, 2 dc in same, sk 2, *sc in next dc, sk 2, 6dc in next sc, sk 2. Repeat from * around. 3dc in same st as begch, sl st to begch3.

Rnd 16: Ch 1, sc in same, sk 2, 6dc in sc, sk 3, *sc in between 3rd & 4th dc of shell, sk 3, 6dc in sc, sk 3. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 17: Ch 3, 2dc in same, sk 2, sc in between 3rd & 4th dc of shell, sk 3, *6dc in sc, sk 3, sc in between 3rd & 4th dc of shell, sk 3. Repeat from * around. 3dc in same sc as begch. Sl st to begch3.

Rnds 18-19: Repeat rnds 16-17 once.

Rnd 20: Ch 1, sc in same, sk 2, 7dc in next sc, sk 3, * sc in between 3rd & 4th dc of shell, sk 3, 7dc in next sc, sk 3. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 21: Ch 3, 3dc in same, sk 3, sc in next dc, sk 3, *7dc in next sc, sk 3, sc in next dc, sk 3. Repeat from * around. 3dc in same st as begch, sl st to begch3.

Rnd 22: Ch 1, sc in same, sk 3, 7dc in next sc, sk 3, *sc in next dc, sk 3, 7dc in next sc, sk 3. Repeat from * around. Sl st to 1st sc.

Repeat rounds 21-22 until you reach desired length to where the bottom ruffle will start.

Bottom Ruffle:

Rnd 1: Ch 3, dc in same, *1 dc in next, 2 dc in next. Repeat from * around. Sl st to begch3.

Rnd 2: Repeat round 1.

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in each st around. Sl st to begch3.

Repeat Round 3 until desired length. Fasten off & weave in ends.

Top Ruffle:

Cut a piece of elastic a little smaller than your upper bust measurement.

Rnd 1: With WS facing, attach with a sl st to any of the foundation stitches. Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, crocheting over the elastic to hold it in place. Sl st to 1st sc. Do NOT turn.

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same, *1 dc in next, 2 dc in next. Repeat from * around. Sl st to begch3.

Rnd 3: Repeat round 2.

Rnd 4: Ch 3, 1 dc in each st around. Sl st to begch3.

Repeat round 4 until desired length. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends. Your Dress is done!

I hope you love your new Lock It Down Dress Comment below if you have any questions, and if you make this dress please post it on social media and tag me so I can see! I love seeing your creations!