This baby girl’s coming home/baptism/christening outfit crochet pattern is designed to fit infants from newborn to 3 months—up to 12 pounds. It is for crochet artists who enjoy making baby garments with a traditional look.

The work requires intermediate skill. This pattern is definitely not for beginners.

The outfit can be made with fingering yarn or with size 3 crochet thread. The photo samples illustrate both Bernat Baby Fingering Yarn (fine, #1 weight) and Aunt Lydia’s Fashion 3 cotton thread. Two pattern testers used a wool-bamboo, and a cotton-bamboo blend thread. DMC’s Petra Crochet Cotton #3 will also work.

All of the various pieces are made with a size 3.5 mm (US) crochet hook.

The complete outfit includes 4 garments:

(1) The dress features a lacy skirt that hangs in gathers from the yoke and increases in circumference to its widest point at the hem. The pattern includes instructions for both a regular-length coming-home dress and for a longer baptism/christening dress. For those special little girls, two dresses in both lengths would not be an overindulgence! She will be able to wear her dress(es)for 3 months or so.

 The dress yoke is constructed in simple dc/sc rows to give ample space for personalizing your baby girl’s dress with decorative ribbons, silk roses, buttons, jewelry, or crocheted florals. 

 A tutorial for steam blocking the dress is also included.  All of the dresses in the sample photos have undergone this process.

(2) Because an undergarment is a big plus in showing off the lacy pattern in the dress, I have included a slip pattern printable as a bonus. It’s ready to go in two lengths—one for the short dress and a second for the christening dress. No resizing or redrawing is necessary! Just print, assemble, cut fabric, sew 4 straight seams, and follow the detailed instructions for adding crochet trim with size 10 crochet cotton.

(3) The bonnet features the same lace pattern as the dress and ties in place with a ribbon. The pattern includes instructions for 2 bonnet sizes--newborn and 1-3 months.

(4) The booties also come in two different sizes to accommodate growing feet. They tie with ribbons around the ankle.