Elli's Dress English Translation

Hello all!

Recently I made a little dress for my niece using this pattern (Elli's Kleidchen) by Kathleen Engler on Ravelry. It's an adorable dress, and fun to make if you like crocheting in Crocodile Stitch (which I really do; the technique is a big yarn hog, but it's lots of fun). The only problems I encountered were the lack of skirt instructions (which I had to improvise), and the fact that it's only in German. But, thanks to my crochet knowledge, prior basic German knowledge from high school (about 10 years ago now, wow) and Google Translate, I was able to figure out the pattern for this.

After a bit of effort deciphering my own note-taking scribble handwriting, I have typed up my translation of this pattern, along with the instructions for how I made the skirt!

If you want to check out my project page on Ravelry, you can find it by clicking here.

Elli's Dress--Translated

DK weight yarn

Gauge: 22 sts x 28 rows

Crochet Hook: 3.5 mm-4mm (US E-G; I used a G everywhere except for joining the skirt to the bodice, and the bodice opening edging, then I used an E)

Stitch translation (into US terms)

~~hStb/halbe Stäbchen = hdc

~~Stb/Stäbchen = dc

~~Lm/Luftmasche = ch

~~Vd/Verdoppelung = literally means "doubling" (essentially a double increase though: 2 hdc in each of the next 2 sts—2 sts increased, I’ve used this same abbreviation when this stitch comes up)

Bodice

Using US G (4mm) hook, Chain 44

Row 1: Dc in each ch across, beginning with 4^th ch from hook—42 sts (beg ch counts as st)

Row 2: Ch 2, hdc 5, 2 hdc in each of the next 2 sts (“Vd” in German instructions), hdc 6, Vd, hdc 12, Vd, hdc 6, Vd, hdc 5, turn—50 sts

Row 3: Ch 2, hdc 6, Vd, hdc 8, Vd, hdc 14, Vd, hdc 8, Vd, hdc 6, turn—58 sts

Rows 4-10 follow the same increase pattern, increasing 8 sts each row, row 10 ends with 114 sts

Row 11: Ch 2, hdc across

Row 12: Ch 2, hdc 15, sk next 26 sts, hdc 32, sk next 26 sts, hdc 15, turn—62 sts

Row 13-14: Ch 2, hdc across

Row 15: Ch 2, hdc 14, Vd, hdc 30, Vd, hdc 14, turn—66 sts

Row 16: Ch 2, hdc 15, Vd, hdc 32, Vd, hdc 15, turn—70 sts

Rows 17-18: Ch 2, hdc across

Row 19: Ch 2, hdc 16, Vd, hdc 34, Vd, hdc 16—74 sts

Row 20: Ch 2, hdc across

Fasten off.

Skirt

There are no written instructions for skirt, but what follows is what I did:

Still using size G (4mm) hook, Ch 96, join.

Rnd 1: ch 3, dc around—95 dc+beg ch 3 = 96 sts

Rnd 2: ch 4, dc in same s as join (counts as 1^st V-st), sk 2 dc, *(dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, sk 2 dc* repeat from * to * around, join to 3^rd ch of beg ch 4—32 V sts

Rnd 3: ch 3, 4 dc down 1^st leg of V st, ch 2, 5 dc up 2^nd leg of same V st, sk next V, *5 dc down 1^st leg of V st, ch 2, 5 dc up 2^nd leg of V st, sk next V* repeat from * to * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch 3 together with ch 1 sp of last skipped V st—16 scales

Rnd 4: ch 4, dc in same sp as join, make V st in each ch 1 sp of each V around, join to 3^rd ch of beg ch 4—32 V sts

Rep rnds 3 and 4 until you have 12 rounds of scales, ending with Rnd 3 (scale round)

Next rnd (rnd 26): ch 3, *dc in next 2 dc (2^nd and 1^st legs of V sts, respectively), dc in next sp* repeat from * to * around, join—96 dc

Rnd 26: ch 2, (hdc 2, hdc2tog) 24 times, join, turn—72 sts

Bodice join, ties, and edging

Change to hook size E

With RS tog, join skirt to bodice with sl st, sl st sides of bodic together, about halfway up. Turn work such that RS is now facing out, towards you. Sc 22 sts up left side of bodice opening, ch 45, sl st in each ch back, join to top of bodice, FO.

Join to top of other side of bodice opening, ch 45, sl st in each chain back. Make sure RS of work is facing you, sc 22 down right side of bodice opening, join to base of opening, fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

Hope this helps any and all who want to make this dress!