There’s something truly magical about a handmade dress, especially one that captures the essence of summer and ocean breezes. I’ve always been drawn to pieces that feel unique and have a bit of a story, and this Coastal Blue Bell Sleeve Crochet Dress is exactly that. It’s designed to evoke those dreamy coastal vibes with its beautiful striped bodice, delicate mesh waist panel, and dramatic bell sleeves featuring a chevron ripple edge.
What I love most about this pattern is how it blends different crochet techniques into one cohesive and stylish garment. You’ll work with single crochet for the bodice, learn the elegant open mesh diamond stitch for the waist, and master the fun chevron ripple stitch for the hem and cuffs. It’s a fantastic project for those ready to expand their crochet skills beyond the basics, offering just the right amount of challenge without being overwhelming. The construction is top-down, which means minimal seaming – always a plus in my book! If you’re looking for a statement piece that will turn heads and become a cherished part of your wardrobe, this dress is calling your name.
Coastal Blue Bell Sleeve Crochet Pattern
Materials
- Worsted weight yarn (CYCA #4), approximately 1,400 yards (1,280 meters) total, divided across five colors:
- Color A (Deep Navy): 250 yards (229 meters)
- Color B (Bright Teal): 300 yards (274 meters)
- Color C (Aqua/Light Teal): 250 yards (229 meters)
- Color D (Cream/Off-White): 350 yards (320 meters)
- Color E (Sandy Tan/Warm Beige): 250 yards (229 meters)
- Hook: US Size J-10 (6.0 mm) for main fabric
- Hook: US Size I-9 (5.5 mm) for neckline finishing
- Yarn needle for weaving ends
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (at least 8)
- Measuring tape
Finished Size
This pattern is written for size Small/Medium with the following measurements:
- Bust: 34 to 36 inches (86 to 91 cm)
- Waist: 28 to 30 inches (71 to 76 cm)
- Hip/Hem Circumference: 52 inches (132 cm)
- Total Length (shoulder to hem): 30 inches (76 cm)
- Sleeve Length (shoulder to cuff): 22 inches (56 cm)
- Bell Cuff Circumference: 20 inches (51 cm)
Yarn Information
Worsted weight yarn (CYCA #4). Approximately 1,400 yards (1,280 meters) total. Yarn suggestions include Lion Brand Pound of Love or Cascade 220 Superwash for excellent stitch definition. Avoid fuzzy yarns to ensure stitch details are visible.
Hook and Tools
- US Size J-10 (6.0 mm) crochet hook
- US Size I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (at least 8)
- Measuring tape
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch — chain
- sl st — slip stitch
- sc — single crochet
- dc — double crochet
- sc2tog — single crochet two together
- st(s) — stitch(es)
- sp — space
- ch-sp — chain space
- sk — skip
- rep — repeat
- rnd — round
- RS — right side
Pattern Notes
- This dress is constructed top down, starting at the neckline and working down through the yoke, bodice, waist mesh panel, flared skirt, and chevron hem. Sleeves are worked separately and attached.
- All rounds are joined rounds. Do not turn at the end of rounds unless instructed.
- To change colors: work the final slip stitch join of the previous round by drawing the new color through the final loop.
- Place stitch markers at the beginning of each round and at each underarm join point.
- The open mesh sections mean this dress works best over a swimsuit, slip, or coordinating bralette.
Gauge
With J-10 (6.0 mm) hook and worsted weight yarn:
- 14 single crochet (sc) = 4 inches (10 cm)
- 16 rows of sc = 4 inches (10 cm)
Please swatch in each stitch pattern before beginning. Wash and block your swatch before measuring to ensure accurate sizing.
Special Stitches
Chevron Ripple Stitch
This creates the wavy zigzag at the hem and cuffs. Each repeat uses 14 stitches.
Here’s how one 14-stitch repeat works:
- Sc in each of the next 4 stitches
- Sc2tog over next 2 stitches
- Sc2tog over next 2 stitches
- Sc in each of the next 4 stitches
- Work 3 sc into the next stitch (this is your peak)
The peaks add 2 stitches and the valleys remove 2 stitches, so your count stays the same throughout.
Mesh Diamond Stitch
This creates the open lacework at the waist. Your stitch count needs to be a multiple of 4 plus 2.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), sk next st, dc in next st, (ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st) around, ch 1, sl st to top of beginning ch-3.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in first ch-sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch-sp) around, ch 3, sl st to first sc.
Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, (sk ch-3 sp, 2 dc in next sc) around, sl st to top of beginning ch-3.
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in next st, (ch 1, sk 1 st, sc in next st, sc in next st) around, sl st to first sc.
Sc2tog (Single Crochet Decrease)
Insert hook into next stitch, draw up a loop (2 loops on hook). Insert hook into following stitch, draw up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. You’ve just turned two stitches into one.
Instructions
To Begin: Yoke
With J-10 hook and Color A, ch 80, sl st to first ch to join into a ring, being careful not to twist. (80 ch sts)
Round 1 (Setup): Ch 1 (does not count as st throughout), sc in each ch around, sl st to first sc to join. (80 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 18 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 18 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st, sl st to first sc to join. (86 sc)
The 6 increase points are evenly distributed at each shoulder and at front/back midpoints. Continue placing increases at these same 6 points for Rounds 3 through 8.
Round 3: Change to Color D. Ch 1, work 6 increases evenly, sc in all other sts, sl st to join. (92 sc)
Round 4: Color D. Ch 1, work 6 increases evenly, sc in all other sts, sl st to join. (98 sc)
Round 5: Change to Color B. Ch 1, work 6 increases evenly, sc in all other sts, sl st to join. (104 sc)
Round 6: Color B. Ch 1, work 6 increases evenly, sc in all other sts, sl st to join. (110 sc)
Round 7: Change to Color C. Ch 1, work 6 increases evenly, sc in all other sts, sl st to join. (116 sc)
Round 8: Color C. Ch 1, work 6 increases evenly, sc in all other sts, sl st to join. (122 sc)
After Round 8, the yoke should measure approximately 2 inches (5 cm) from the neckline. Place stitch markers at the 4 armhole dividing points.
Armhole Separation
Round 9 (Separation Round): Color C. Ch 1, sc across the next 31 sts (front panel), ch 8 (underarm chain bridge), skip the next 30 sts (leave on hold for sleeve), sc across the next 31 sts (back panel), ch 8 (underarm chain bridge), skip the next 30 sts (leave on hold for sleeve), sl st to first sc to join. (78 working stitches)
Round 10: Ch 1, sc in each sc and each ch across, sl st to join. (78 sc)
Bodice
Work Rounds 11 through 40 in sc, changing colors as follows. There is no shaping in the bodice until the waist decrease section.
Stripe Sequence:
- Rounds 11 to 12: Color A (2 rounds)
- Rounds 13 to 14: Color D (2 rounds)
- Round 15: Color B (1 round)
- Round 16: Color D (1 round)
- Rounds 17 to 18: Color C (2 rounds)
- Rounds 19 to 20: Color D (2 rounds)
- Round 21: Color E (1 round)
- Rounds 22 to 23: Color B (2 rounds)
- Rounds 24 to 25: Color A (2 rounds)
- Rounds 26 to 27: Color D (2 rounds)
- Round 28: Color B (1 round)
- Round 29: Color D (1 round)
- Rounds 30 to 31: Color C (2 rounds)
- Rounds 32 to 33: Color D (2 rounds)
- Round 34: Color E (1 round)
- Rounds 35 to 36: Color B (2 rounds)
- Rounds 37 to 38: Color A (2 rounds)
- Rounds 39 to 40: Color D (2 rounds)
For each round: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc to join. (78 sc per round)
Waist Shaping
Round 41: Color C. Ch 1, (sc in next 11 sts, sc2tog) 6 times, sl st to join. (72 sc)
Round 42: Color C. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (72 sc)
Round 43: Color D. Ch 1, (sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog) 6 times, sl st to join. (66 sc)
Round 44: Color D. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (66 sc)
Waist Mesh Panel
Mesh Round 1 (Color E): Ch 3 (counts as dc), sk next st, dc in next st, (ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st) 32 times, ch 1, sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (33 dc, 33 ch-1 spaces)
Mesh Round 2 (Color D): Ch 1, sc in first ch-1 sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) 32 times, ch 3, sl st to first sc. (33 sc, 33 ch-3 spaces)
Mesh Round 3 (Color C): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same sc, (sk ch-3 sp, 2 dc in next sc) 32 times, sk last ch-3 sp, sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (66 dc)
Mesh Round 4 (Color D): Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in next st, (ch 1, sk 1 st, sc in next st, sc in next st) 16 times, ch 1, sl st to first sc. (66 sts)
After the mesh panel, work 1 round of sc in Color A across all 66 stitches. (66 sc)
Skirt
Round 45 (Increase Round 1): Color A. Ch 1, (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) 13 times, sc in last st, sl st to join. (79 sc)
Round 46 (Increase Round 2): Color B. Ch 1, (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) 15 times, sc in last 4 sts, sl st to join. (94 sc)
Rounds 47 to 48: Color D. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (94 sc)
Round 49 (Increase Round 3): Color B. Ch 1, (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st) 15 times, sc in next 4 sts, sl st to join. (109 sc)
Round 50 (Increase Round 4): Color C. Ch 1, sc in each st around, adding 3 evenly spaced increases to reach 112 stitches, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Rounds 51 to 52: Color D. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Rounds 53 to 54: Color A. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Rounds 55 to 56: Color B. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Round 57: Color C. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Chevron Hem
Work 8 rounds of Chevron Ripple Stitch with 8 repeats of 14 stitches. The stitch count remains 112 throughout.
Chevron Round 1: Color E. Work Chevron Ripple across 8 repeats, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Chevron Round 2: Color D. Work Chevron Ripple across 8 repeats, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Chevron Round 3: Color C. Work Chevron Ripple across 8 repeats, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Chevron Round 4: Color B. Work Chevron Ripple across 8 repeats, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Chevron Round 5: Color A. Work Chevron Ripple across 8 repeats, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Chevron Round 6: Color D. Work Chevron Ripple across 8 repeats, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Chevron Round 7: Color E. Work Chevron Ripple across 8 repeats, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Chevron Round 8: Color A. Work Chevron Ripple across 8 repeats, sl st to join. (112 sc)
Sleeves (Make 2)
Return to the held sleeve stitches. With RS facing, join Color A to the center of the 8-ch underarm bridge.
Setup Round: Ch 1, sc across the 8 underarm chain stitches, then sc across the 30 held sleeve stitches, sl st to first sc to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Rounds 1 to 2: Color A. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Rounds 3 to 4: Color D. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Round 5: Color B. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Round 6: Color D. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Rounds 7 to 8: Color C. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Rounds 9 to 10: Color D. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Round 11: Color E. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Rounds 12 to 13: Color B. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (38 sc)
Sleeve Bell Shaping
Sleeve Round 14: Color A. Ch 1, (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) 7 times, sc in last 3 sts, sl st to join. (45 sc)
Sleeve Round 15: Color A. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (45 sc)
Sleeve Round 16: Color D. Ch 1, (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) 9 times, sl st to join. (54 sc)
Sleeve Round 17: Color D. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (54 sc)
Sleeve Round 18: Color B. Ch 1, (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st) 9 times, sl st to join. (63 sc)
Sleeve Round 19: Color B. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (63 sc)
Sleeve Round 20: Color C. Ch 1, (sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st) 7 times, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Sleeve Rounds 21 to 24: Continue in pattern with Colors C, D, E, D. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Bell Cuff Chevron
Work 8 rounds of Chevron Ripple with 5 repeats of 14 stitches. (70 sc per round)
Cuff Round 1: Color E. Work Chevron Ripple across 5 repeats, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Cuff Round 2: Color D. Work Chevron Ripple across 5 repeats, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Cuff Round 3: Color C. Work Chevron Ripple across 5 repeats, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Cuff Round 4: Color B. Work Chevron Ripple across 5 repeats, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Cuff Round 5: Color A. Work Chevron Ripple across 5 repeats, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Cuff Round 6: Color D. Work Chevron Ripple across 5 repeats, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Cuff Round 7: Color E. Work Chevron Ripple across 5 repeats, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Cuff Round 8: Color A. Work Chevron Ripple across 5 repeats, sl st to join. (70 sc)
Finishing
Fasten off. Weave in all ends for the dress body and sleeves.
Neckline Finishing
Using the smaller I-9 (5.5 mm) hook and Color A, join to any stitch of the neckline edge. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the neckline, placing 1 sc in each foundation chain stitch. (80 sc) Sl st to join. Fasten off.
Size Customization Tips
- To size up (Large to XL): Add 8 to 16 stitches to the starting chain, keeping the count divisible by 8. Target 126 stitches (9 chevron repeats) for the skirt hem.
- To size down (XS): Reduce the starting chain to 72 stitches. Target 98 stitches (7 repeats) for the skirt chevron.
- To add length: Work additional stripe rounds in the bodice and skirt. Each 4 rounds adds approximately 1 inch.
Olivia’s Tips
This dress is truly a labor of love, but the result is so rewarding! Don’t let the “intermediate to advanced” skill level intimidate you. Each section builds on itself, and mastering the different stitches will be incredibly satisfying. I find that keeping a stitch marker at the beginning of each round is crucial, especially when you’re working with color changes and increases. Also, don’t skip the gauge swatch! It’s the best way to ensure your dress will fit beautifully after all your hard work. Blocking your finished dress will really make those chevron ripples pop and give the mesh panels their intended drape. It makes a huge difference in the final look!
Blocking and Care Instructions
Wet block your finished dress by submerging it in cool water for 20 minutes. Gently press out excess water in a towel without wringing. Lay flat to dry on a blocking mat. Pin the chevron edges open while damp, pinning each peak outward and each valley inward to create crisp waves. Pin the mesh panels open to show off that diamond lattice. Allow to dry completely before unpinning.
Hand wash in cool water with gentle wool wash. Lay flat to dry. Do not tumble dry or iron directly on the fabric. Store folded to prevent stretching of the mesh panels.