With multiple pattern combinations, you’ll choose your own crochet adventure with this free boho crochet dress pattern and video tutorial in women's sizes S-5X and children's sizes 2-16.
This free crochet dress pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.
Boho Crochet Dress Pattern
Welcome to the main hub of the Idlewild crochet dress pattern. With over 12 pattern combinations, you can customize the bodice length, the skirt length and the sleeve style of this crochet dress pattern.
Make a dress, tunic or peplum top that you can layer and dress up or down year round. Keep reading for the links to each stage of the free pattern.
Jump to:
- Boho Crochet Dress Pattern
- Pattern Section Details
- Plus Sizes and Children's Sizes
- Free Pattern + Video Tutorials
- Tell me more about the dress!
- Printable PDFS Downloads
- Lightweight Crochet Dress Yarn
- Can I use a different yarn?
- Yarn Amounts Required
- Avoid the Ads + Print the Pattern
- How to Customize Your Dress
- Show off your stitches on Instagram
- Invitation to our Facebook group
- More Shirts + Tops Free Crochet Patterns
Pattern Section Details
This boho crochet dress pattern is divided into four stages.
Below you'll find links to everything you need to complete this free crochet dress pattern including each stage of the women's and children's patterns, the accompanying video tutorials and supply lists.
Plus Sizes and Children's Sizes
The Idlewild Dress is written in women’s sizes small-5x and child’s sizes 2-16. (That’s a total of 16 sizes to choose from!) For ease of pattern reading, we’ve separated the women’s pattern instructions from the child’s pattern instructions, but if you know you’d like to own both, feel free to snag the two-pattern PDF here.
RELATED: Crochet Sweater Dress for Children
Free Pattern + Video Tutorials
Click the highlighted links below to be taken to the pattern portion + video tutorial.
Women's Crochet Dress Pattern Sections:
• Part 1: Working the bodice front
• Part 2: Working the bodice back + minimal seaming
• Part 3: Working the skirt
• Part 4: Adding sleeves + finishing: First Video (A), Second Video (B)
Girls Crochet Dress Pattern Sections:
• Part 1: Working the bodice front
• Part 2: Working the bodice back + minimal seaming
• Part 3: Working the skirt
• Part 4: Adding sleeves + finishing: First Video (A), Second Video (B)
Related: 30+ Free Crochet Top Patterns for Summer
Quick Video Overview
With a ton of video instruction included, this dress pattern is a wonderful chance to add some new skills to your crochet tool belt and make a piece that is wearable year round. Watch the video below for a quick introduction and then read on for all the bohemian dress details!
(If you're having any trouble playing the video above, make sure you're not running an ad blocker.)
Tell me more about the dress!
I’m a dress kind of lady and oh boy do I love wearing this dress. It’s drapey, comfy and strikes that perfect balance of “I care how I look, but it’s not the only thing I think about.” It’s flatteringly flowy in all the right places and I think you’ll find a million ways to wear this lace-accented stunner.
If bohemian dresses aren’t your thing, you can extend the bodice of the pattern and add a shorter lace “skirt” for a peplum-style top. You’ll get to play the designer a little bit in this pattern. But don’t worry, we’ve done all the hard work of figuring out the details. You’ll just be choosing the fun stuff!
Printable PDFS Downloads
• Purchase the Idlewild Dress PDF: Women's + Children's Sizes (best deal!)
• Purchase the complete Idlewild Dress PDF: Women's Sizes
• Purchase the complete Idlewild Dress PDF: Children's Sizes
Lightweight Crochet Dress Yarn
This boho dress pattern calls for Lion Brand’s Beautiful You yarn. I love this yarn for the Idlewild Dress because it drapes so beautifully, is fully machine washable and comes in some really fantastic colors. (Pictured here in Rooibos Tea (#165-138), Aquatic (#165-105) and Arrowood (#165-194).)
Order your yarn from Lion Brand ⇨
Order your yarn from Amazon with Prime shipping ⇨
Can I use a different yarn?
Yes! If you don’t have access to Beautiful You or there’s another yarn you’d like to use, please make sure it’s a Category 2 weight yarn. This is often referred to as Sport or Baby weight yarn. Lion Brand’s Dotted Line and L.B. Collection Merino Camel are both great options.
No matter what yarn you choose, please follow the instructions below to make a gauge swatch and adjust your hook size accordingly before you commit to the entire dress. (Gauge swatch instructions will can be found in Part 1 of the free pattern.)
If you’d like more ideas for yarn substitutions, check out YarnSub.com for yarns that closely resemble Beautiful You.
Yarn Amounts Required
See pattern PDF or Part 1 of free pattern for specific yarn amounts per size.
• Lion Brand Beautiful You (Weight: 2/fine - 326 yds, 3.5 oz)
Colors pictured:
- Rooibos Tea (#165-138) (adult dress)
- Arrowood (#165-194) (child peplum top)
- Aquatic (#165-105) (child dress)
Additional Supplies
• Size G (4.25mm) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch markers or safety pins
• An iron with steam setting or handheld steamer for blocking
• T-pins or rustproof straight sewing pins for blocking
Avoid the Ads + Print the Pattern
If you’d like to have access to the entire crochet dress pattern in one place, you can upgrade to the the ad-free, printable PDF version of the pattern right this very minute.
When you purchase the PDF, you'll also receive ALL the extra helpful resources we’ve created so you can knock this dress out of the park. The PDF includes additional measurements, stitch charts and photo tutorials not included in the free pattern. Plus, printing the PDF makes couch crocheting much easier. 🙂 Click here to purchase the pattern PDF.
How to Customize Your Dress
You get to play the designer a little bit in this pattern. But don’t worry, we’ve done all the hard work of figuring out the details. You’ll just be choosing the fun stuff, like the length, the sleeve style and if you'd prefer to make a peplum-style top instead.
Show off your stitches on Instagram
I personally LOVE seeing your crochet dress take shape and I know others participating do too. Share your photos on Instagram using #IdlewildDress and #MakeAndDoCrew (and be sure to tag me @MakeAndDoCrew) for a chance to be featured.
That was so fun! Now what?
Invitation to our Facebook group
Come discuss crocheting dress tutorial patterns and lots of other crochet projects and techniques in our Make & Do Crew Facebook group. Here thousands of helpful crocheters answer each others questions and share their stitches. Come join us here.
Celsa says
I subscribed but haven’t received any notice
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
I usually send my emails the following morning. You can always check on this main page for the link to the newest pattern stage each Friday morning. Happy crocheting!
Jess
Lena Alm-Diaz says
Ready, got yarn and hook waiting
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yay! I love hearing that!
Bracken says
I have wanted one of these dresses since my Auntie made one in the 70s. Very much look forward to learning more and hoping I can keep up with the CAL.
Jess says
Aw, that's so cool! I remember loving my mom's handmade crochet clothes from the 70s! The great thing about the CAL is that you will have access to all the video tutorials as they come out. They will never go away, so you can go at your own pace. 🙂
Julia Warren says
I purchased the full pattern, but only got the 4 pages for sizing. When do I get the rest??
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Julia,
Thanks for your purchase! As I described above and in the pattern listing, you'll receive the entire pattern when the CAL launches on Sept 13. 🙂
Just go to your LoveCrafts.com library and download the latest version of the pattern.
Glad you're joining us!
Jess
Annette says
Jess I absolutely love this dress it looks so versatile, I have to join in foe the CAL
Thank you.
Annette
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
I really hope do you, Annette! I think you'll find this to be a dress you can wear year round in different ways. 🙂
Jess
S. L. Easler-Weald says
Your children's size pattern / pdf is not working, the link takes to the ladies size every time.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Thank you for letting me know. It's corrected now. Sorry about that!
Jess
Bonnie says
Your link for the children size pdf takes you at every instance to the ladies' sizes.
Maria says
Love it! Thank you so much. Will it be easy to continue on to make it below-the-knee length? Any estimation on how much more yarn that would take? Can't wait to get started.
Debbie says
Thank you for a fun-for-me project!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yes! I hope this one is really fun for you, Debbie. 🙂
Jess
Trish Rose says
I love all the possibilities with this CAL! Looking forward to getting started!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yay! I really had fun customizing the options. So glad you'll be joining us.
Jess