Nightfall Lace Dress

Crochet this exquisite dress called Nightfall, which was designed by Paula Bennett. She has created this frankly flirtatious club-chic dress to show off your glamorous style and feminine curves. It's perfect for any summer soiree be it at poolside or at a wedding in a glamorous downtown hotel! Heads will turn when you enter the room wearing this dress. It exudes Crochet Pride!

Design by Paula Bennett

Skill Level

Intermediate

Finished Sizes

Instructions given fit size 28- to 30-inch bust (extra-small); changes for 30- to 32-inch (small), 34- to 36-inch (medium), 38- to 40-inch bust (large) are in [ ].

Finished Garment Measurement

31 1/2 inches (extra-small), [35 inches (small), 38 1/2 inches (medium), 42 inches (large)]

Materials

· J. & P. Coats Crochet Nylon fine (sport) weight size 18 (150 yds per tube): 10 [12, 14, 16] tubes #20 navy

· Size E/4/3.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge

2 dc lps = 1 3/4 inches; 4 rows = 1 3/4 inches

Special Stitch

Double crochet loop (dc lp): Ch 4, dc in 4th ch from hook.

Dress

Bottom

Row 1: Dc lp (see Special Stitch) 36 [40, 44, 48] times, do not turn.

Row 2 (RS): Working across lps on 1 side, ch 3 (counts as first dc throughout), 3 dc in same lp, 4 dc in each lp across to end, turn. (144 [160, 176, 192] dc)

Row 3: Ch 3, dc dec (see Stitch Guide) in next 3 sts, [ch 4, dc dec in next 4 sts] across, turn. (35 [39, 43, 47] ch-4 sps)

Row 4: Ch 3, 3 dc in first ch sp, [ch 4, 4 dc in each ch sp] across, turn. (34 [38, 42, 46] ch-4 sps)

Row 5: Ch 3, dc dec in next 3 sts, [ch 4, dc dec in next 4 sts] across, turn.

Row 6: Ch 3, 3 dc in first ch sp, [ch 4, 4 dc in next ch sp] across, turn. (33 [37, 41, 46] ch-4 sps)

Rnd 7: Now working in rnds, ch 3, dc dec in next 3 sts, ch 4, [dc dec in next 4 sts, ch 4] around, join with sl st in top of beg dc dec. (34 [38, 42, 46] ch-4 sps)

Rnd 8: Sl st in first ch sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch sp, ch 4, [4 dc in next ch sp, ch 4] around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 9: Ch 3, dc dec in next 3, ch 4, [dc dec in next 4 sts, ch 4] around, join with sl st in top of beg dc dec.

Rnds 10-17: Rep rnds 8 and 9 alternately.

Rnd 18: Sl st in first ch sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch sp, ch 6, [4 dc in next ch sp, ch 6] around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 19: Ch 3, dc dec in next 3 sts, ch 6, [dc dec in next 4 sts, ch 6] around, join with sl st in top of beg dc dec.

Rnds 20-25: Rep rnds 18 and 19 alternately.

Rnd 26: Sl st in first ch sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch sp, ch 8, [4 dc in next ch sp, ch 8] around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 27: Ch 3, dc dec in next 3 sts, ch 8, [dc dec in next 4 sts, ch 8] around, join with sl st in top of beg dec.

Rnds 28-33: Rep rnds 26 and 27 alternately.

Rnd 34: Sl st in first ch sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch sp, ch 10, [4 dc in next ch sp, ch 10] around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 35: Ch 3, dc dec in next 3 sts, ch 10, [dc dec in next 4 sts, ch 10] around, join with sl st in top of beg dec.

Rnds 36-41: Rep rnds 34 and 35 alternately.

Rnd 42: Sl st in first ch sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch sp, ch 12, [4 dc in next ch sp, ch 12] around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 43: Ch 3, dc dec in next 3 sts, ch 12, [dc dec in next 4 sts, ch 12] around, join with sl st in top of beg dec.

Rnds 44-49: Rep rnds 42 and 43 alternately.

Rnd 50: Sl st in first ch sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch sp, ch 14, [4 dc in next ch sp, ch 14] around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 51: Ch 3, dc dec in next 3 sts, ch 14, [dc dec in next 4 sts, ch 14] around, join with sl st in top of beg dec.

Note: Rep rnds 50 and 51 for added length.

Rnd 52: Sl st to center of next ch sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 5, 3 dc) in same ch sp, ch 10, [(3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc) in next ch sp, ch 10] around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 53: Sl st in each st across to ch-5 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 5, 3 dc) in same ch sp, ch 12, [(3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc) in next ch sp, ch 12] around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 54: Sl st in each st across to ch-5 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 5, 3 dc) in same ch sp, ch 14, [(3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc) in next ch sp, ch 14] around, join with sl st in beg ch-3. Fasten off.

Top Right Front

Row 1: With RS facing, working on opposite of dc lps on row 1 of Bottom, join with sl st in first dc lp, ch 3, 3 dc in same dc lp, 4 dc in each of next 9 [10, 11, 12] dc lps leaving rem dc lps unworked, turn. (40, [44, 48, 52] dc)

Rows 2-15: Sl st in each of first 2 sts, ch 3, dc in each st across leaving last st unworked, turn. (12 [16, 20, 24] dc) at end of last row.

Rows 16-22 or desired length: Ch 3, dc in each st across, turn. At end of last row, fasten off.

Top Back

Row 1: Join with sl st in next unworked dc lp on row 1 on Bottom, ch 3, 3 dc in same dc lp, 4 dc in each of next 15 [17, 19, 21] dc lps leaving rem dc lps unworked turn. (64 [72, 80, 88] dc)

Rows 2-7: Sl st in each of first 2 sts, ch 3, dc in each st across leaving last st unworked, turn. (52 [60, 68, 76] dc) at end of last row.

Rows 8-22 or desired length: Ch 3, dc in each st across, turn. At end of last row, fasten off.

Top Left Front

Row 1: Join with sl st in next unworked dc lp on Bottom, ch 3, 3 dc in same dc lp, 4 dc in each dc lp across, turn. (40, [44, 48, 52] dc)

Rows 2-15: Sl st in each of first 2 sts, ch 3, dc in each st across leaving last st unworked, turn. (12 [16, 20, 24] dc) at end of last row.

Rows 16-22 or desired length: Ch 3, dc in each st across, turn. At end of last row, fasten off.

Sl st shoulder seams tog.

Armhole Edging

Working around armhole in ends of rows, join with sc at underarm, evenly sp sc around, join with sl st in beg sc. Fasten off.

Rep around rem armhole.

Tie

Make ch 24 inches in length or to desired length. Fasten off.

Lace through ends of rows 1-6, beg at row 6. Tie ends in bow at top.