“I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved the idea of summer…” ~ Olaf

Over a year ago, I posted about the “Barbie Spring Princess Dress” and said I wanted to make one for each season (having already made the winter one.) It took a while, but I’ve finally made the summer version, just in time for your Barbies to wear for the warmer weather!

I also shamelessly borrowed acquired use of a new camera and brought the Barbies outside for some fresh air and a photo shoot. I think we all had a good time, plus the lighting was wonderful. 🙂

This is Merida’s first time modeling a crocheted dress ~ Disney Barbies are such fun to crochet for! 😀

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Materials

• About 50 yards of fingering weight yarn (this is an approximation; I started with about 100 yards and used roughly half.)
• Size D (3.25 MM) crochet hook

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Abbreviations & Special Stitches

I use US crochet terms in all of my patterns. Here’s a chart that shows US -> UK and the abbreviations.

There are a great deal of verrrry tall stitches in this pattern. That’s what makes the skirt lacy and summery. The below descriptions should help ~ you’ll get the pattern very quickly, if it says 5yo-tr, for example, you yarn over 5 times, and work the loops off your hook just like a normal triple crochet (I have included the description for a normal triple just so you can see the pattern.)

Triple crochet with 2 yarn-overs (normal triple crochet or ‘tr’): YO 2 times, pull up a loop in designated stitch. *YO, pull thru 2 loops* 3x.

Triple crochet with 3 yarn-overs (3yo-tr): YO 3 times, pull up a loop in designated stitch. *YO, pull thru 2 loops* 4x.

Triple crochet with 4 yarn-overs (4yo-tr): YO 4 times, pull up a loop in designated stitch. *YO, pull thru 2 loops* 5x.

Triple crochet with 5 yarn-overs (5yo-tr): YO 5 times, pull up a loop in designated stitch. *YO, pull thru 2 loops* 6x.

Triple crochet with 6 yarn-overs (6yo-tr): YO 6 times, pull up a loop in designated stitch. *YO, pull thru 2 loops* 7x.

I first learned the super-tall variation of a triple crochet from Crochet Spot. Click for a tutorial on that website. I wondered what would happen if you did graduated heights with super-tall stitches, and this is what came from it.

Because you’re using such tall stitches, it takes a long time to complete the first few rounds. You will need a bit of patience. But the finished skirt is light and summery, and I think it was worth it. 😉

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Ch 70, join with a sl st to form a ring, being careful not to twist the chain.

Foundation Round: Ch 8, 7yo-tr in next ch and in each ch around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 8 to join. Fasten off.

Join the yarn to the bottom of the foundation round. To make the lacy look, we’ll be working between the stitches on the other side of the starting chain as follows. So join it into any big space between the 7yo-trs and continue as follows.

Round 1: Ch 7. Work between the stitches of the foundation round. 6yo-tr in next space and in each space around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 7 to join.

Round 2: Sl st in each st around, keeping tension tighter than usual but making sure not to pull stitches too tight. Sl st to top of starting chain from last round to join.

Round 3:  Ch 6. Work between the stitches from Round 1. 5yo-tr in each space around (there should be 70 total.) Sl st to top of beginning ch 6 to join.

Round 4: Repeat Round 2.

Round 5: Ch 5. Work between the stitches from Round 3. 4yo-tr in each space around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 5 to join.

Round 6: Repeat Round 2.

Round 7: Ch 4. Work between the stitches from Round 5. 3yo-tr in each space around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 4 to join.

Round 8: Repeat Round 2.

Round 9: Ch 4. Work between the stitches from Round 7. Tr in each space around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 4 to join.

Round 10: Repeat Round 2.

Round 11: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from Round 9. Dc in each space around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 12: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from the previous round. Dc in next 7 spaces, dc2tog. *Dc in next 8 spaces, dc2tog* around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 13: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from the previous round. Dc in next 6 spaces, dc2tog. *Dc in next 7 spaces, dc2tog* around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 14: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from the previous round. Dc in next 5 spaces, dc2tog. *Dc in next 6 spaces, dc2tog* around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 15: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from the previous round. Dc in next 4 spaces, dc2tog. *Dc in next 5 spaces, dc2tog* around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 16: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from the previous round. Dc in next 3 spaces, dc2tog. *Dc in next 4 spaces, dc2tog* around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 17: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from the previous round. Dc in next 2 spaces, dc2tog. *Dc in next 3 spaces, dc2tog* around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 18: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from the previous round. Dc in next space, dc2tog. *Dc in next 2 spaces, dc2tog* around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 19: Ch 2. Work between the stitches from the previous round. Dc2tog. *Dc in next space, dc2tog* around. Sl st to top of beginning ch 2 to join.

Round 20: Ch 1. Work between the stitches from the previous round. *Sc in next space, 2 sc in next space* around. Sl st to first sc to join.

Rounds 21 – 28: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join.

Round 29: Ch 1, sk 1st st, sc in next st. *Ch 2, sk next st, sc in next st* around, omitting last sc. Sl st to first sc to join.

If you want, you could make a chain to use as a drawstring and thread it through the holes from Round 29 to help keep it on ~ it does tend to sag a little. Or you could loop it through just one of the loops and tie it behind her neck. You could also leave off Rounds 21 – 28 and make it into a skirt as well. Lots of possible variations!

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If you liked this pattern, you might be interested in the other Seasonal Princess Dresses… ?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winter . . . . . . . . . . .

Here’s a slideshow if you want to see the whole photo shoot. Looking back on it, some of the pictures are overdramatic…but that’s what makes it fun, right?

When fall comes closer I will think about how to crochet the Fall Princess Dress…but for now I’m going to enjoy the sunshine. ☀️ I hope you get some sunny days soon, too!

Have a fabulous day! And do let me know if you crochet a summer dress for your barbie… <3