Summer Crochet for Sasha Baby

Earlier this summer, on the Ravelry "Sasha Friends" group, a few of us decided to do a Summer doll project. It could be anything we wanted, so long as it was for one of the Sasha dolls, and could be worn in the summer. I chose to crochet something for Sasha Baby. Although there are a number of people doing knitting patterns for the Sasha dolls, crochet patterns are a bit harder to come by, so I decided to try making one up myself. For inspiration, I looked through my patterns for real babies. I found a couple I liked that were worked from the neck down. I've done several lacy little doll dresses for the Tonner 10" Ann Estelle dolls that were worked that way, and I felt very comfortable with the style, so I decided to give it a try.

It came out rather well, and for once, I remembered to write the instructions down as I went along, so I'm sharing the pattern for those who might enjoy crocheting a dress or top for their Sasha Baby. Feel free to direct friends here to get the pattern, but please do not sell it! If you find a mistake in my directions, please let me know so that I can correct it, and keep in mind that I am not a professional designer! I will be adding a pattern for the diaper cover later, as it still has a few kinks that need to be worked out. For friends in the UK, please remember that here in the US we use different terms. Our double crochet is, I believe, your treble, and our single crochet is your double. (Or something like that!) Without further ado, here is the pattern:

Lacy Crocheted Summer Top or Dress for Sasha Baby

Materials: 1 ball #10 crochet cotton

#7 Steel crochet hook (1.5 mm)

Gauge is not critical, as the lacy fabric is pretty stretchy, and you can try the yoke on the doll for fit before you start the shells. Mine is 9 dc = 1" and there is about 5/8" from the center of one shell st to the center of the next one.

Shell St = (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same st

Picot St = (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch 2 space

Row 1- Ch 43, sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across, (42 sc) ch 3, turn

Row 2- Dc in next 2 sts, *(2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts,) repeat from * 9 more times, dc in last 3 sts, (53 sts) ch 3, turn

Row 3- Dc in next 3 sts, *2dc in next st, 1dc in next 4 sts,) repeat from * 9 more times, dc to end, (63 sts) ch 3, turn

Row 4- Repeat Row 3, (75 sts)

Row 5- Dc in bottom of ch 3 turning, (1/2 shell made,) *(skip next st, shell in next st,) repeat from * across, ending with 2 dc on top of ch 3 from last row, (35 shells, plus ½ shell at each end) ch 3, turn

Row 6- Dc in bottom of ch 3, shell in next 5 shells, ch 3, (forming underarm,) skip nine shells, shell in next 7 shells, ch 3, skip nine shells, shell in last 5 shells, 2dc on top of ch 3 from last row, ch 3, turn

Row 7- Dc in bottom of ch 3, shell in next 5 shells, dc in each of 3 underarm chs, shell in next 7 shells, dc in each of 3 underarm chs, shell in last 5 shells, 2 dc in top of ch 3 from last row, ch 3, turn

Row 8- Dc in bottom of ch 3, shell in next 5 shells, shell in center dc of underarm sts, shell in next 7 shell, shell in center dc of underarm sts, shell in next 5 shells, 2 dc in top of ch 3 from last row, ch 3, turn.

Row 9- Dc in bottom of ch 3, shell in each shell across, 2 dc in top of ch 3 from last row, ch 3, turn.

Row 10 and subsequent rows – Repeat row 9

Work a total of 13 rows for a top or 17 for a dress.

Edging: Attach thread at neck edge on Right hand side of dress back. With outside of dress facing you, work a row of sc down the back edge of the dress. When you reach the bottom corner, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner st, (picot made,) then working across the bottom of the dress, *(sc in top of each dc of shell, picot in ch 2 space of shell,) repeat from * around to left corner of dress back, work picot in top of ½ shell, then turn and sc up the left back. When you reach the yoke, make a button hole at the bottom and another at the top neck edge, by working a sc, ch 2, sk a space, sc. Fasten off and work ends in. Sew tiny buttons to right back yoke under button holes