purlJam

<pattern>
# Bohemian Dreams Maxi Dress

A flowing, romantic maxi dress featuring an open shell stitch pattern perfect for summer festivals or beach getaways. The fitted bodice with adjustable straps transitions seamlessly into a full, sweeping skirt that dances with every step.

## Sizes
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X)

**Finished Bust Measurements:** 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48)"
**Finished Length:** 48 (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)" from shoulder

*Pattern is written for size XS with larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.*

## Materials
- **Yarn:** Worsted weight cotton or cotton blend yarn (approximately 1800 (2000, 2200, 2400, 2600, 2800, 3000) yards)
  - *Suggested: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton or similar with good drape*
- **Hook:** Size H/8 (5.0mm) for bodice and skirt, Size G/6 (4.0mm) for waistband
- **Notions:**
  - Stitch markers
  - Tapestry needle
  - 1" wide elastic: 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 40)" length for waist
  - Sewing needle and thread
  - 2 removable stitch markers for try-on fitting

## Gauge
16 sts × 8 rows = 4" (10 cm) in shell pattern with H/8 hook

**To Check Gauge:** Ch 24, work in shell pattern for 10 rows. Block swatch and measure. Gauge is critical for proper fit.

## Abbreviations
- ch = chain
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = triple crochet
- sk = skip
- inc = increase
- dec = decrease
- sp = space
- RS = right side
- WS = wrong side
- rep = repeat
- BLO = back loop only
- FLO = front loop only

## Special Stitches
**Shell:** (2dc, ch 1, 2dc) in same st or sp

**V-stitch (V-st):** (dc, ch 1, dc) in same st or sp

**Picot:** Ch 3, sl st in first ch

**Beginning Shell (beg shell):** Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st or sp, ch 1, 2dc in same st or sp

## Pattern Notes
1. Bodice is worked flat in rows from bottom edge (underbust) to top edge
2. Skirt is worked in joined rounds from waist down
3. Turning chain-3 counts as dc throughout unless otherwise stated
4. Stitch count appears in parentheses at end of each row/round
5. Pattern repeat is 4 sts for shell pattern - all stitch counts must be divisible by 4
6. Try on garment before finishing to ensure proper length
7. For longer bodice, add rows before decreasing. For longer skirt, work additional rounds before final rounds
8. Ch-1 spaces do not count as stitches

## BODICE (Make 1)

**Foundation Row:** With H/8 hook, ch 132 (140, 148, 156, 164, 180, 196), dc in 4th ch from hook (skipped chs count as first dc), dc in each ch across, turn. (130, 138, 146, 154, 162, 178, 194 dc)

**Row 1 (RS):** Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in next st, *sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, dc in next st; rep from * across to last 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts, turn. (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 shells + 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 50 dc = 130, 138, 146, 154, 162, 178, 194 sts)

**Row 2 (WS):** Ch 3, dc in next dc, *ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in next dc; rep from * across to last dc, dc in top of turning ch, turn. (130, 138, 146, 154, 162, 178, 194 sts including ch-1 sps)

**Row 3:** Ch 3, dc in next dc, *shell in next dc, dc in next dc; rep from * across to last dc, dc in top of turning ch, turn. (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 shells + 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 50 dc = 130, 138, 146, 154, 162, 178, 194 sts)

**Rows 4-5:** Rep Rows 2-3.

**Begin Bust Shaping:**

**Row 6 (dec row):** Ch 3, dc2tog (counts as first dec), *ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in next dc; rep from * across to last 3 sts, ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc2tog over last dc and turning ch, turn. (126, 134, 142, 150, 158, 174, 190 sts)

**Row 7:** Ch 3, dc in next dc, *shell in next dc, dc in next dc; rep from * across to last dc, dc in top of turning ch, turn. (31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 43, 47 shells + 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 45, 49 dc = 126, 134, 142, 150, 158, 174, 190 sts)

**Row 8:** Rep Row 2. (126, 134, 142, 150, 158, 174, 190 sts)

**Row 9:** Rep Row 3. (126, 134, 142, 150, 158, 174, 190 sts)

**Row 10:** Rep Row 6. (122, 130, 138, 146, 154, 170, 186 sts)

**Row 11:** Ch 3, dc in next dc, *shell in next dc, dc in next dc; rep from * across to last dc, dc in top of turning ch, turn. (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 42, 46 shells + 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 dc = 122, 130, 138, 146, 154, 170, 186 sts)

**Row 12:** Rep Row 2. (122, 130, 138, 146, 154, 170, 186 sts)

**Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL only:**
**Row 13:** Rep Row 3. (122, 130, 138, 146, 154, —, — sts)

**Row 14:** Rep Row 6. (118, 126, 134, 142, 150, —, — sts)

**Row 15:** Ch 3, dc in next dc, *shell in next dc, dc in next dc; rep from * across to last dc, dc in top of turning ch, turn. (29, 31, 33, 35, 37, —, — shells + 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, —, — dc = 118, 126, 134, 142, 150, —, — sts)

**Row 16:** Rep Row 2. (118, 126, 134, 142, 150, —, — sts)

**All Sizes:**
**Next Row:** Rep Row 3. (118, 126, 134, 142, 150, 170, 186 sts)

**Next Row:** Rep Row 2. (118, 126, 134, 142, 150, 170, 186 sts)

Rep last 2 rows 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5) more times.

**Bodice Top Edge:**
**Last Row:** Ch 1, sc in each st across. Fasten off. (118, 126, 134, 142, 150, 170, 186 sc)

## SKIRT

**Setup:** With RS facing and H/8 hook, join yarn to bottom edge of bodice (foundation row) at side seam position (center back of bodice).

**Round 1:** Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 128 (136, 144, 152, 160, 176, 192) dc evenly around bottom edge of bodice, sl st to top of ch-3 to join, turn. Mark this join as center back. (130, 138, 146, 154, 162, 178, 194 dc)

**Round 2:** Ch 1, sc in each dc around, sl st to first sc, turn. (130, 138, 146, 154, 162, 178, 194 sc)

**Round 3:** Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st to first sc, turn. (130, 138, 146, 154, 162, 178, 194 sc)

**Round 4:** Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 3, sk 3 sc, *sc in next sc, ch 3, sk 3 sc; rep from * around, sl st to first sc, turn. (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 ch-3 sps)

**Round 5 (inc round):** Beg shell in first sc, *sk ch-3 sp, shell in next sc; rep from * around, sl st to top of ch-3, turn. (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 shells = 128, 136, 144, 152, 160, 176, 192 dc + ch-sps)

**Round 6:** Ch 1, sc in first dc, *ch 2, sk 2 dc, sc in ch-1 sp, ch 2, sk 2 dc, sc in sp between shells; rep from * around, omitting last sc, sl st to first sc, turn. (64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 88, 96 sc + ch-2 sps)

**Round 7:** Sl st to first ch-2 sp, ch 3, 2dc in same sp, *dc in next sc, shell in next ch-2 sp, dc in next sc, 3dc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, omitting last 3dc, sl st to top of ch-3, turn. (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 shells + 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 220, 240 dc = 224, 238, 252, 266, 280, 308, 336 sts)

**Round 8:** Ch 3, dc in next dc, *ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 2 dc**, dc in each of next 3 dc; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, dc in last dc, sl st to top of ch-3, turn. (224, 238, 252, 266, 280, 308, 336 sts)

**Round 9:** Ch 3, dc in next dc, *shell in next dc, dc in each of next 3 dc; rep from * around, ending shell in next dc, dc in last dc, sl st to top of ch-3, turn. (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 shells + 128, 136, 144, 152, 160, 176, 192 dc = 224, 238, 252, 266, 280, 308, 336 sts)

**Round 10:** Rep Round 8.

**Rounds 11-18:** Rep Rounds 9-10 four times.

**Round 19 (inc round):** Ch 3, 2dc in next dc (inc made), *shell in next dc, 2dc in each of next 3 dc (3 inc made); rep from * around, ending shell in next dc, 2dc in last dc, sl st to top of ch-3, turn. (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 shells + 256, 272, 288, 304, 320, 352, 384 dc = 352, 374, 396, 418, 440, 484, 528 sts)

**Round 20:** Ch 3, dc in each of next 3 dc, *ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 2 dc**, dc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, dc in last dc, sl st to top of ch-3, turn. (352, 374, 396, 418, 440, 484, 528 sts)

**Round 21:** Ch 3, dc in each of next 3 dc, *shell in next dc, dc in each of next 5 dc; rep from * around, ending shell in next dc, dc in last dc, sl st to top of ch-3, turn. (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48 shells + 256, 272, 288, 304, 320, 352, 384 dc = 352, 374, 396, 418, 440, 484, 528 sts)

**Rounds 22-40:** Rep Rounds 20-21 nine times, then Round 20 once more.

**Round 41 (final