Sunflower granny square maxi dress crochet pattern

This is the signature motif for the entire dress. It is worked in 4 rounds using 3 colors. The square measures 4 in x 4 in / 10 cm x 10 cm after blocking.

Working into BLOs of Round 3 only (petals sit to the front and are not engaged in this round): Work 6 dc into BLOs of 6 consecutive Round 3 stitches, ending at a natural corner point, then work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the BLO of the next stitch to form the corner. Continue working 6 dc across the side, then corner. Repeat for all 4 sides. Sl st to top of beg ch-3 to join. Fasten off Color C.

Stitch count verification for Round 4: Each side has 6 dc between corners plus 4 dc that are part of the corner cluster (2 dc before ch-2 sp plus 2 dc after), giving (6 + 4) x 4 = 40 dc plus 4 ch-2 corner spaces. Total: 40 dc, 4 ch-2 sps.

Used at waist shaping wedges and underarm curves. These are worked back and forth in rows, not rounds, and create a right triangle shape half the size of a full square.

The long straight edge of the HGS equals one full side of a SGS (4 in / 10 cm). The two short sides each equal half a square side (2 in / 5 cm). Use HGS pieces to fill diagonal openings at the underarm and waist step shaping.

Before assembling panels, make 4 test squares and block them. Confirm each measures exactly 4 in x 4 in / 10 cm x 10 cm.

Work all squares following the SGS instructions. For JAYG squares, work Round 4 while joining to adjacent squares.

Make starter squares for each panel: Front Bodice: 1 starter square Back Bodice (each panel): 1 starter square Front Skirt: 1 starter square

Back Skirt (each panel): 1 starter square Sleeves: 1 starter square per sleeve

The front bodice panel is built from bottom to top (waist to shoulder). Add squares left to right, then begin a new row above. Use JAYG for all squares after the first in each row.

Row 1 of Front Bodice (bottom row, waist level): Place starter square at left position. JAYG squares 2 through 5 (size M) to the right of the first, joining along the right side of each preceding square. (5 squares in Row 1 for size M)

XS and S: 4 squares. L and XL: 5 squares. 2XL: 6 squares.

Row 2 of Front Bodice: JAYG new square at left above Row 1 square 1, joining new square’s bottom edge to top edge of Row 1 square 1. Continue JAYG across to the right, joining each square’s left side to the previous square and bottom to the corresponding Row 1 square below. (Same width as Row 1)

Rows 3 through 6 of Front Bodice: Rep Row 2 for each subsequent row. Work straight, no shaping, for rows 3 through 4. (Same width throughout)

Neckline Shaping (Rows 5 and 6):

In Row 5, work the full width of the panel. In Row 6, leave the center 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2) square(s) unworked at top center to create the neckline opening.

Work the left side: make squares for positions 1 and 2 from the left, JAYG to Row 5 below. Work the right side: make squares for positions 4 and 5 from the left (size M), JAYG to Row 5 below. Leave position 3 (center) open.

For XS and S (4-wide): leave center 2 squares of Row 6 open (positions 2 and 3), work 1 square on each shoulder.

For L, XL: leave center 1 square open, work 2 squares on each shoulder.

For 2XL (6-wide): leave center 2 squares open, work 2 squares on each shoulder.

Checkpoint: The Front Bodice Panel should measure approximately 20 in / 51 cm wide and 24 in / 61 cm tall for size M. The neckline opening is approximately 4 in / 10 cm wide and 4 in / 10 cm deep.

Each back bodice panel is 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3) squares wide x 6 squares tall. The center back edge remains as a finished straight edge.

For size M: Each panel is 3 squares wide x 6 squares tall.

Row 1 (bottom of each back panel): Make starter square. JAYG 2 additional squares to the right. (3 squares for size M)

Rows 2 through 5: Work straight, 3 squares wide. JAYG each square to the one below and to the left-neighbor square.

Row 6 (shoulder row): Work full width. For size M, work all 3 squares. Checkpoint: Each back bodice panel should measure 12 in / 30 cm wide and 24 in / 61 cm tall for size M.

Each sleeve is a 2 square wide x 2 square tall panel (all sizes). This creates a cuff-to-shoulder span of approximately 8 in x 8 in / 20 cm x 20 cm.

Make 1 starter square. JAYG 1 square to its right. JAYG 1 square below the starter square. JAYG 1 square to the right of the third square, completing the 2×2 grid. (4 squares total per sleeve)

Sleeve puff gathering row:

Join Color C at top left corner of sleeve panel. Work sc evenly across the top 2 square edge: approximately 18 to 20 sc across 8 in / 20 cm. At the halfway point, work a gentle decrease by skipping 1 st once on each side of center. This pulls the sleeve top inward very slightly for the puff effect. (16 to 18 sc across gathering row)

Set sleeve aside.

The skirt is wider than the bodice at the hip and flares further to the hem.

Front Skirt Panel:

Begin at the waist edge with the same width as the bottom of the front bodice, then increase by 1 square per side every 2 rows.

Size M front skirt starts 5 squares wide at the top and expands to 8 squares wide at the hem over 7 rows.

Row 1 of Front Skirt (waist row, attached to front bodice): JAYG 5 squares (size M) across, joining the top edge of each square to the bottom edge of the corresponding front bodice Row 1 square. (5 sq for size M; XS: 4 sq, S: 4 sq, L: 5 sq, XL: 5 sq, 2XL: 6 sq)

Row 2 of Front Skirt: JAYG same width as Row 1. (5 sq)

Row 3 of Front Skirt (first expansion row): Add 1 HGS at each end of the row before adding the full square at the outer edge. This expands the panel by 1 full square per side. (7 sq for size M)

Row 4 of Front Skirt: Work straight, same width as Row 3. (7 sq)

Row 5 of Front Skirt (second expansion row): Add 1 sq per side again. (8 sq for size M)

Rows 6 and 7 of Front Skirt: Work straight at full hem width. (8 sq for size M) Front Skirt width progression by row (size M):

Row 1: 5 sq, Row 2: 5 sq, Row 3: 7 sq, Row 4: 7 sq, Row 5: 8 sq, Row 6: 8 sq, Row 7: 8 sq Total height: 7 rows x 4 in = 28 in / 71 cm skirt length

Back Skirt Panels (Make 2):

Each back skirt panel begins at the same width as the corresponding back bodice panel and expands similarly. For size M, each back skirt panel begins at 3 sq wide and expands to 4 sq wide by the hem.

Row progression for each back skirt panel (size M): Row 1: 3 sq (attached to back bodice bottom)

Rows 2-4: 3 sq Rows 5-7: 4 sq (expand by 1 sq on outer edge only; inner edge remains at center back straight edge)

Checkpoint: The combined front skirt panel should measure 32 in / 81 cm wide and 28 in / 71 cm tall for size M. Each back skirt panel should measure 16 in / 41 cm wide and 28 in / 71 cm tall for size M.

For each sleeve, with RS facing, join Color C to the lower edge of the sleeve panel using a US F-5 / 3.75 mm hook. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the cuff edge. Ensure count is divisible by 6. Work the Scallop Shell Border. Fasten off.

With RS facing, join Color C to the bottom edge of the skirt. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the entire hem. Ensure count is divisible by 6. Work the Scallop Shell Border. Fasten off.

Reinforce both center back edges with a row of sc worked evenly from neckline to the point where the back seam begins (approximately 10 in / 25 cm down from neckline).

On the right back edge, work button loops: at evenly spaced intervals (approximately 3 to 5 loops), ch 6, sl st back into the edge to create a loop. Sew buttons to the left back edge to correspond with loops.