Made and counted by Wren —

Pastel rainbow cloud pull-on sundress crochet pattern

4.0mm & 3.75mm hooks, DK weight cotton: pull-on sundress with cloud and rainbow appliques.

IntermediateLevel

10-14 hoursTime

4.0 mmHook

DKYarn

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About this pattern

A pull-on sundress with a bottom-up bodice and a downward-growing gathered skirt, built from a 120-stitch foundation single crochet waist in joined rounds. It fits a 34.5 inch bust and 30 inch waist with 0 to 2 inches of ease, using two hook sizes (4.0 mm and 3.75 mm) and nine cloud plus six rainbow appliques sewn on after blocking. Fitted gauge and applique placement both require checking before assembly.

This pull-on sundress starts with a 120-stitch foundation single crochet waist, then builds the bodice upward in joined rounds while the skirt grows downward from that same waist edge in half double crochet. The bust reaches 34.5 inches, the waist 30 inches, at 0 to 2 inches of positive ease, finished in pastel color bands. Nine cloud appliques and six rainbow appliques get sewn on after blocking, split between bodice and skirt. Two hook sizes are used throughout: 4.0 mm for the main fabric, 3.75 mm for straps and appliques.

The pattern

Written out round by round

Materials

Yarn

DK weight or light worsted cotton or cotton-acrylic blend yarn, approximately 1,450 yards (1,326 meters) total.

Butter yellow

280 yards

Mint

310 yards

Powder blue

270 yards

Lilac

260 yards

Blush pink

250 yards

White

60 yards

Recommended yarn brands

Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK offers crisp stitches and many pastel shades
Knit Picks Comfy Worsted provides soft cotton-acrylic with gentle drape
Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/8 gives sturdy cotton for a defined handmade texture
When substituting yarn, choose a smooth DK or light worsted that matches both gauges listed below. Pick soft pastels with similar fiber content so the skirt hangs evenly.

Hooks

US G/6 (4.0 mm) hook for the main bodice and skirt
US F/5 (3.75 mm) hook for straps and appliques

Notions

Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Pins
Tape measure
Removable progress markers

Abbreviations

BLO = Back loop only. Insert your hook under just the back loop of the stitch instead of both loops.
ch = Chain. Yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
dc = Double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, (yarn over and pull through 2 loops) twice.
fsc = Foundation single crochet. A method that creates your chain and first row of single crochet at the same time.
hdc = Half double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
inc = Increase. Work 2 stitches in the next stitch.
rem = Remaining
rnd = Round
RS = Right side
sc = Single crochet. Insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops.
sc2tog = Single crochet 2 together (decrease). Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert hook in following stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
sl st = Slip stitch. Insert hook, yarn over and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
st(s) = Stitch(es)
WS = Wrong side

The Bodice

With butter yellow yarn and your 4.0 mm hook, work a foundation single crochet of 120 stitches. Join without twisting to work in the round. Place a marker at the join.

Round 1through 6: Chain 1, single crochet in each stitch around, join. Use lilac for these rounds. (120 sc)

Round 7Chain 1, single crochet in next 19 stitches, increase in next stitch; repeat from 6 times, join. (126 sc)

Round 8through 13: Single crochet in each stitch around, join. Change to mint at end of round 8. (126 sc)

Round 14Single crochet in next 20 stitches, increase in next stitch; repeat from 6 times, join. (132 sc)

Round 15through 20: Single crochet in each stitch around, join. Change to powder blue at end of round 15. (132 sc)

Round 21Single crochet in next 21 stitches, increase in next stitch; repeat from 6 times, join. (138 sc)

Round 22through 30: Single crochet in each stitch around, join. Change to butter yellow at end of round 24. (138 sc)

Round 31through 38: Single crochet in each stitch around, join. Fasten off after round 38. (138 sc)

Checkpoint: Your bodice should measure about 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) tall. The waist edge should measure about 30 inches (76 cm) around. The top edge should measure about 34.5 inches (87.5 cm) around.

The Skirt

Turn the bodice upside down. Join yarn in the unused base loops of the foundation single crochet waist so the skirt grows downward. Work with your 4.0 mm hook.

Round 1Chain 1, half double crochet in next stitch, 2 half double crochet in next stitch; repeat from around, join. (180 hdc)

Round 2through 14: Half double crochet in back loop only in each stitch around, join. Work butter yellow through round 12, then change to mint. (180 hdc)

Round 15Place 12 markers every 15 stitches. At each marker: 2 half double crochet in back loop only in marked stitch, half double crochet in back loop only in all other stitches. (192 hdc)

Round 16through 28: Half double crochet in back loop only in each stitch around, join. Continue mint, then powder blue from round 25. (192 hdc)

Round 29Move markers to center of each panel. Increase at each marker. (204 hdc)

Round 30through 42: Half double crochet in back loop only in each stitch around, join. Continue powder blue, then lilac from round 41. (204 hdc)

Round 43Increase at each marker. (216 hdc)

Round 44through 56: Half double crochet in back loop only in each stitch around, join. Continue lilac, then blush from round 53. (216 hdc)

Round 57Increase at each marker. (228 hdc)

Round 58through 68: Half double crochet in back loop only in each stitch around, join. Continue blush. (228 hdc)

Round 69Single crochet in each stitch around, join, fasten off. (228 sc) Checkpoint: Skirt length from waist should be about 21.25 inches (54 cm). Hem circumference should be about 65 inches (165 cm) after blocking.

The Straps

Strap placement:

Mark center front and center back. On the front top edge, count 22 stitches left and right from center. Mark two 4-stitch strap bases.

Repeat on back, placing back strap bases 18 stitches left and right from center back for a slight V-shaped angle.

Try on before sewing! Adjust strap length by adding or removing rows.

Make 2 straps:

Round 1With 3.75 mm hook and yellow, join to first marked 4-stitch base. Chain 1, single crochet in 4 stitches. Turn. (4 sc)

Round 2through 46: Chain 1, single crochet in each stitch across. Turn. (4 sc) Attach: Slip stitch strap to matching back 4-stitch base or sew securely with yarn tail.

Small Cloud

Chain 10.

Round 1Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook and next 8 chains. (9 sc)

Round 2Chain 1, single crochet in first stitch, cloud puff in next stitch, single crochet in next 2, cloud puff in next, single crochet in next 2, cloud puff in next, single crochet in last stitch. (6 sc + 3 puffs)Edge: Single crochet evenly around lower edge, placing 2 single crochet at each corner. Embroider eyes and cheeks if desired for that kawaii look!

Rainbow Applique

With red, chain 17.

Round 1Half double crochet in 2nd chain from hook and each chain across. (16 hdc)

Round 2through 5: Change color each row in this order: orange, yellow, green, blue. Chain 1, half double crochet across. (16 hdc)

Curve the strip into an arch. Tack the inner edge slightly tighter than the outer edge while sewing.

Armhole and Strap Edging

With yellow, single crochet evenly around each armhole and strap outer edge at a ratio of about 3 single crochet for every 4 strap rows, plus 1 single crochet in each top-edge stitch. Join and fasten off. This ratio prevents ruffling while keeping the edge smooth.

Assembly

Step 1Finishing Your Dress: Weave in all ends on the wrong side. Secure color-change tails vertically so they do not show through the pastel fabric. Steam block lightly or wet block flat. Shape the bodice to measurements and spread the skirt evenly at the hem. Sew appliques after blocking so they sit flat and do not distort the fabric. Optional: line the bodice or skirt for comfort and opacity.

Step 2Care Instructions: Hand wash cool with mild soap. Roll in a towel to remove water. Lay flat to dry, smoothing the skirt pleats with your hands. Store folded rather than hung to protect the straps.

Tester's notes

Two hooks are required: the 4.0 mm hook for the bodice and skirt, the 3.75 mm hook for straps and appliques. Do not substitute one hook for both sections.

Place a marker at the join after the 120-stitch foundation round and move it up every round; this keeps rounds 1 through 6, and the round 7 increase to 126 stitches, checkable against the pattern.

Round 15 of the skirt increases at 12 markers set every 15 stitches; place all 12 before working the round, since the jump from 180 to 192 stitches is hard to recount mid-row.

Color changes land mid-round, not at the join (mint at the end of round 8, powder blue from round 25); carry the old tail loosely for a stitch or two before cutting, then weave color-change ends in vertically so they do not show through pastel fabric.

Nine clouds and six rainbows are needed in total: 4 clouds and 2 rainbows for the bodice, 5 clouds and 4 rainbows for the skirt. Pin all nine motifs in place on the blocked dress before sewing any of them down.

At a glance

Rounds	25
Parts	6
Level	Intermediate
Time	10-14 hours
Hook	4.0 mm
Yarn	DK

Gauge check

After round 6 of the bodice, before the first increase round, lay the piece flat and measure a 4 inch span across the 120 stitches; it should read close to 16 sc, with 18 rounds matching 4 inches of height on a separate swatch.

Stitch-count checkpoints

The Bodice · Round 7: 126 sts
The Bodice · Round 14: 132 sts
The Bodice · Round 21: 138 sts
The Bodice · Round 31: 138 sts
The Skirt · Round 15: 192 sts
The Skirt · Round 30: 204 sts

If something looks wrong

The waist measures tighter or looser than 30 inches after the increase rounds.: Gauge has drifted from the 16 sc x 18 round bodice gauge. Swatch again and size the hook up for a tight result, down for a loose one, before working past round 8.
The skirt flares unevenly or the hem sits crooked.: The 12 increase markers on round 15 were spaced unevenly, or back loop only was skipped on an earlier round. Recount to confirm 192 stitches after round 15 and check that rounds 2 through 14 are consistently worked in the back loop only.
The straps sit at different angles or twist when worn.: Front strap bases need to sit 22 stitches from center front and back bases 18 stitches from center back for the intended V-shaped angle; one side was likely marked off-center. Remark both bases against center points and try the dress on before sewing straps in place.
Appliques pucker the surrounding fabric after sewing.: Clouds or rainbows were sewn on before blocking, so the base fabric was still unshaped. Remove the stitching, steam or wet block the dress flat and dry, then re-sew with a whipstitch.

Yarn substitutions

100% cotton, DK weight	Matches the stated DK weight and roughly the same 1,450 yard total, but drapes heavier, so the skirt's gathered pleats hang closer to the body. Hook size may need to go up from 4.0 mm if stitches come out tight.
Cotton-acrylic blend, DK weight	Keeps the same weight category and yardage as the materials list, with a lighter, softer drape close to the original fiber content. The 4.0 mm and 3.75 mm hooks should still produce correct gauge.
100% acrylic, worsted weight	Runs slightly heavier than DK, so total yardage may exceed 1,450 yards. Drape stiffens and the skirt holds a more sculpted pleat; size the hook up from 4.0 mm to keep the 16 sc x 18 round bodice gauge.

Original pattern: https://crochr.com/pastel-rainbow-cloud-dress-free-crochet-pattern/

FAQs

Questions

What happens if gauge does not match 16 sc x 18 rounds for the bodice?

The 34.5 inch bust and 30 inch waist measurements shift away from the stated size, since bodice gauge controls both. Swatch before starting and change hook size until a 4 inch square reads 16 sc by 18 rounds, per the pattern's own gauge note.

Can the straps be adjusted for a longer or shorter torso?

Yes; the strap section allows adding or removing rows to change length, and recommends trying the dress on before sewing. The front strap bases sit 22 stitches from center front, the back bases 18 stitches from center back, and those placements can also be reset if torso width differs from the sample.

How many appliques does the full dress need?

Nine clouds and six rainbows total, split as 4 clouds and 2 rainbows on the bodice and 5 clouds and 4 rainbows on the skirt. All nine should be pinned to the blocked dress before any are sewn on.