The Hope Dress is one of Plyful’s featured patterns of October - it will be released on October 1st.

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Rainbows have long been symbols of hope — a quiet reminder that brighter days are ahead — and the Hope Dress carries that promise into everyday life. Crocheted in light sport-weight cotton, it drapes beautifully, offering comfort without bulk for year-round wear. The adjustable fit and elasticated waist ensure ease and freedom of movement, while discreet pockets add practical charm for keeping essentials close at hand. Equally at home paired with sandals on a summer stroll or layered for cooler days, this dress blends timeless style with effortless wearability.

Get the sister patterns: Hope Dress Kids (2 to 12) and Hope Romper (newborn to 2).

Skill Level: Easy

Skills used in this pattern:

Shell st, slst ribbing, sc, hdc, dc, stkd dc, working both in the round and on the BLO or FLO. 

Sizes + Measurements

This pattern comes in 9 different sizes. The instructions for each size are color-coded and in the order shown here: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9). To avoid confusion, it’s recommended to circle or highlight the instructions that match your size when printing.

To fit bodies of approximately these measurements - if you find yourself between sizes, choose the smallest and adjust during the process:

Underbust: 59.5 - 65.5 (69 - 75, 78.5 - 84.5 , 88 - 94, 97.5 - 103.5) (107 - 113, 116.5 - 122.5, 126 - 132, 135.5 - 141.5) cm / 23 ½ - 25 ¾ (27 ¼ - 29 ½, 31 - 33 ¼, 34 ¾ - 37, 38 ½ - 40 ¾) (42 ¼ - 44 ½, 46 - 48 ¼, 49 ¾ - 52, 53 ½ - 55 ¾) in

Waist: 58 -64 (65.5 - 71.5, 73 - 79, 84.5 - 90.5, 92 - 95) (102 - 108, 111.5 - 117.5, 119 - 125, 128.5 - 134.5) cm / 22 ¾ - 25 ¼ (25 ¾ - 28 ¼, 28 ¾ - 31 ¼, 33 ¼ - 35 ¾, 36 ¼ - 38 ¾) (40 - 42 ½, 43 ¾ - 46 ¼, 46 ¾ - 49 ¼, 50 ½ - 53) in

These are the approximate measurements of the finished item:

Front Rainbow Width: 40 (43.5, 46.5, 50, 53.5) (56.5, 60, 63.5, 66.5) cm / 15 ¾ (17, 18 ¼, 19 ¾, 21) (22 ¼, 23 ½, 25, 26 ¼) in

Front Rainbow Height: 23.5 (24, 25, 25.5, 27) (29, 30.5, 32, 34) cm / 9 ¼ (9 ½, 9 ¾, 10, 10 ¾) (11 ¼, 12, 12 ¾, 13 ¼) in

Waistband (unstretched): 61 (68.5, 76, 87.5, 95) (105, 114.5, 122, 131.5) cm / 24 (27, 30, 34 ½, 37 ½) (41 ¼, 45, 48, 51 ¾) in

Skirt Circumference at its Widest : 120 (135, 150, 172.5, 187.5) (206.5, 225, 240, 259) cm / 47 ¼ (53 ¼, 59, 68, 73 ¾) (81 ¼, 88 ½, 94 ½, 101 ¼) in

Skirt Length 1: 57 cm / 22 ½ in

• Adjustable to size and taste.

** Skirt circumference grows significantly based on hook size used and can easily be adjusted.

Sample is size 4; model measures about 103 cm / 40½ in around bust.

Materials

YARN

Sport weight yarn (size 2)

Approx 1375 (1545, 1720, 1965, 2145) (2365, 2590, 2775, 2995) m / 1505 (1690, 1880, 2150, 2345) (2585, 2830, 3030, 3275) yds total for a dress as schematics.

Approx 140 (155, 175, 190, 215) (245, 275, 305, 335) m / 155 (170, 190, 210, 235) (265, 300, 330, 365) yds total, for the bodice of the dress (including rainbow front + back band) as schematics and divided into as many colors as desired (Back band uses about 40% of Bodice total).

Approx 1235 (1390, 1545, 1775, 1930) (2120, 2315, 2470, 2660) m / 1350 (1520, 1690, 1940, 2110) (2320, 2530, 2700, 2910) yds total, for a 57 cm / 22 ½ long skirt ONLY.

Every 5 cm / 2 in of added length in the skirt will add approx 110 (120, 135, 155, 170) (185, 205, 215, 235) m / 120 (135, 150, 170, 185) (205, 225, 235, 255) yds of yarn.

Yardage provided includes 5% extra for swatching and margin of error. Adjust amounts for desired length. 

Yarn used in the sample:

Scheepjes, Stonewashed (78% Cotton, 22% Acrylic, 50g, 130 m) in colors A: Yellow Jasper (809), B: Stilbite (837), C: Deep Amethyst (811), D: Blue Apatite (805), E: Larimar (828), F: Crystal Quartz (814), G: Smokey Quartz (802) and H: Graphite (852). 

In the sample, less than 1 ball was used of each of the colors except H, of which about 13 balls were used for the skirt and straps.

HOOKS

4 mm or size needed to meet gauge for rainbow bodice

4.5 mm, 5 mm, 5.5 mm, 6 mm and 6.5 mm (optional) hooks for skirt, increasing as the skirt lengthens

NOTIONS

tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors, 1 cm wide elastic (enough length to go around your waist), 2 buttons of 1.5 - 2 cm / 1 - 1 ¼ in diameter.

Gauge

Rainbow Gauge: 20 sts x 12 rows in hdc pattern worked flat after blocking = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in.

Hdc stitch pattern for rainbow gauge:

Ch as many as desired – recommend a minimum of 30.

Row 1 (RS): Ch1, hdc to end, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Ch1, hdcFLO to end, turn.

Row 3 (RS): Ch1, hdcBLO to end, turn.

Repeat Rows 2 - 3 for the desired gauge swatch size.

Other gauge measurements used in pattern 

(it’s optional to swatch for these, but they are here as a reference)

Shell St Skirt: 2 Shell Sts x 2 Shell rows worked in the round with a 6 mm hook = 7.5 cm wide x 5 cm tall / 3 in wide x 2 in tall.

Be sure to block and check gauge before starting by making a big enough gauge swatch (at least 15 x 15 cm / 6 x 6 in). 

Certain materials might sag, and fabric may extend too much with drape, so adjust hook size appropriately.