caroline top and dress

Skill level: INTERMEDIATE [includes automatic stitches calculator] Even though the calculator handles all the math for you, Caroline is designed for intermediate crocheters mostly because it uses more detailed body measurements. With the automatic stithes calculator, you can use any yarn weight, no need to match gauge, choose your own yarn and the stitches calculator will do all the math for you~~ A made to measure pattern crochet pattern that is specially customizable to your own body measurement, which means it is 100% size inclusive disclaimer: • Please note that the final drape may vary slightly depending on your yarn choice, tension, and body measurements. The calculator is designed to create a balanced, flattering drape tailored to your proportions while accommodating the characteristics of your chosen yarn. • A testers lookbook is included, featuring detailed feedback (e.g. when ruching appeared more or less pronounced than expected) and how these insights have been refined and incorporated into the final version of the calculator. About this pattern: • This pattern is suitable for intermediate crocheters (the maker should know how to differentiate between ch, sc, dc, and the maker should have experience in measuring their own body). • The hyperlinks in this file won’t work if you open it directly in Google Drive, you need to download the PDF file and open it with other programs / app, or you can open the PDF file with Microsoft Edge. • As I am right-handed, this pattern is written with right-handed crocheters in mind, left-handed crocheters should crochet in the opposite direction. About Caroline: • This pattern will have a slight boat neck silhouette and cinched waist detail. • This pattern is designed with a closed back and a button-down closure. • You can choose the direction of the drape (from left or right shoulder), and the calculator will automatically adjust the drape for the most flattering fit. • The top part works bottom-up, starting from the waist working to the shoulder. • The peplum and dress part works top-down, starting from the waist working to the end of the peplum / skirt. • This piece will work continuously, we will keep adding panels to the existing panel. • This piece will work in rows for the top part and works in rounds for the skirt part. • There will be no distinct RS (right side) and WS (wrong side), both sides will look the same until you add the buttons and button band. • This piece will require two seams at the shoulders. • This pattern offers two types of skirts: slim skirt and a-line skirt. p.s: I know some might say that my written pattern looks so intimidating because of the oh so many pages and the supplementary calculator. But don't worry, this long pdf file means there are tons of step by step picture and diagrams to help you get through it. ++ with the excel spreadsheet, you won't need to do math, the calculator will do it for you (because I know, I am not the only one who hate math, and I am not the only one who are just too lazy to match gauge). PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A DIGITAL CROCHET PATTERN AND TUTORIAL ONLY, NOT A FINISHED ITEM / PRODUCT. There will be NO physical item, product, material or tools to be send. All the pattern and instruction is written in English, using standard US terms. Materials & tools needed: • ANY YARN WEIGHT WORKS (#0 lace weight yarn / #1 Fingering weight yarn / #2 Sport weight yarn, technically the pattern will work with #3 DK weight yarn but please be in mind that the drape will not turn out as dainty and as flowy with thicker yarn) • Crochet Hook that is the recommended size for your yarn weight and second crochet hook that is one size larger (one size larger means 3.00 mm and 3.50 mm, 4.00mm and 4.50 mm, etc). • Scissors • Stitch markers (you’ll need at least 8 stitch markers to avoid counting stitches) • Darning needle (to weave the end tails) • Measuring tape / ruler • Darning needle (to weave the end tails) • Elastic thread for better fit on waist (optional) • 5-7 Buttons (diameter 1 – 1.2 cm) Yarn usage based on my measurements (bust 81 cm, shoulder 38 cm, waist 69 cm) • #1 fingering weight yarn (women bust size S): top without peplum, length 33 cm, I used approximately 189g (535m) of cotton bamboo blend yarn, used 2.50 mm hook • #1 fingering weight yarn (women bust size S): top with peplum, length 36 cm, I used approximately 238g (674m) of cotton bamboo blend yarn, used 2.50 mm hook • #0 lace weight yarn (women bust size S): top without peplum, length 33 cm, I used approximately 135g of sequined cotton bamboo blend yarn, used 2.00 mm hook Note: if you use pure cotton yarn, the weight will be doubled as it is heavier than cotton blend and acrylic blend. (How much yarn you required is highly depends on the yarn weight, yarn type, crochet hook size, your tension, bust size, I put the detailed info on how much yarn does each testers used in the lookbook) Yarn recommendation: • Heavier weight yarn will create boxier stitches and a more constructed piece. • Lighter weight yarn will create more flowy drape. • Heavier yarn such as pure cotton yarn will create a boxy piece. • Yarn with more drape such as cotton bamboo and linen blend will give more flowy drape and provide stretch. • Acrylic yarn will create a fluffier piece. • If you want to make kid’s version: - 0-3 years old: lace weight or fingering weight yarn - 4-10 years old: sport weight yarn (max) Crochet hook reference: Note: You can make couple of gauge swatches to see which version you like the best. For those who have loose tension and for those who use stretchy yarn (such as bamboo, silk blend), I highly recommend you to size down your hook. This will help prevent your stitches from becoming too loose and will maintain better drape and definition in your finished piece. For example, the hook that I used for my Rene (my tension is on the loose side): • #1 fingering weight cotton bamboo blend yarn: 3.00 mm for FC, 2.50 mm for everything else • #0 lace weight sequined cotton bamboo blend yarn: 2.50 mm for FC, 2.00 mm for everything else Please appreciate fellow makers <3 This is my original design and this pattern is not to be copied and reproduced for monetary purposes, I'd love if you made as many as you liked for yourself or to give as gifts, or even sell for profit (giving credit to me as designer), but please do not make copies of the pattern or make a tutorial out of it. You are allowed to sell products made from my patterns, but please give credit to the maker of this pattern by tagging or mentioning @yumeijie.crochet when uploading pictures of your finished crochet item(s). Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. If you have any questions and problem regarding this pattern, you can contact me here / via email (ruanjie.yumeijie@gmail.com) / via Instagram (@yumeijie.crochet). Thanks!