I love sparkles and I love fairytale dresses. So when I recently came across yumeijie.crochet’s Mila 4-in-1 crochet dress pattern – a design you can make as a dress, cardigan or top – I instantly knew I had to make the dress version. While the crocheting journey was challenging at times (there was a lot of frogging!), it was absolutely worth it. The result is a light, airy, beautiful fairytale dress, perfect for summer.
In this review, I share my experience with this crochet dress pattern, including tips for making a flowy crochet dress, what worked well, and what I wish I had known before starting.
Is this crochet dress pattern suitable for beginners?
I would say the pattern is suitable for experienced beginners. The pattern instructions are quite clear, and the pattern is repetitive, which means it’s easy to follow once you get the hang of it. However, as the calculator didn’t work for me, I did have to make a few recalculations that might be difficult for beginners.
If you want an beginner-friendly accompanying hair accessory, I created a free flower hair vine crochet pattern.
What materials should you use if you want to create a flowy crochet dress?
The pattern is supposed to work with any yarn, though lightweight yarn will help ensure that the dress is flowy. I used 7 skeins of Hobbii’s Soft Bamboo Fine in vintage rose, along with a thread of Hobbii’s Glitter Deluxe. I would definitely recommend fine bamboo yarn, as it is incredibly soft and airy.
Unfortunately, the glitter thread does reduce the softness slightly, but it looks amazing together. The glitter was very difficult to crochet with at times, as it got tangled easily, and I then had to cut large sections off. If you’re a beginner, it might be easier to either find glittery yarn or omit the glitter thread.
For reference, I used a 3.5 mm hook and some elastic thread for the waist.
My experience making the crochet dress
Overall, the pattern instructions were easy to follow. There are lots of accompanying pictures with colour-coded yarn, making it easy to copy if you find it difficult to follow written instructions.
Although the pattern suggests trusting the measurements, with my initial experience, I didn’t. Therefore, I was a little confused about how long I was supposed to make the front panel before connecting the waist, resulting in me making it a bit too long. Apparently, you’re supposed to connect it right under the bust and then do a few more rows before it flares out.
Regarding the size, it is measured through an online calculator. Based on my gauge swap, I was initially instructed to make my back panel 181 chains long. This was way too many chains. After doing a few rows, I measured it, frogged it and started over with the new measurements, 115 chains, which was more fitting, but slightly too small. Perhaps the gauge swatch is not large enough to accurately represent my tension, or maybe I miscalculated something.
I have only crocheted the dress so far, but the instructions regarding the different options seem very easy to follow, if you’re interested in crocheting the top or the cardigan.
The only thing I found to be missing was perhaps two pictures showing the difference between an “A-line silhouette” and “extra ruffle,” as I wasn’t sure how much of a difference it would make and how much “extra ruffle” to add. When I followed the “a-line” instructions, there was no flare at all; when I added several rows of “extra ruffle,” it became way too puffy (I also quickly ran out of yarn!). I found that doing two rows of “extra ruffle” was plenty.
After a fair amount of frogging and some adjustments, I would say the dress fits well.
Pros and cons of the Mila 4-in-1 crochet dress pattern
Pros
- Clear, repetitive instructions that become very easy to follow once you get the stitch pattern down.
- Beautiful, flowy finished result, especially when using lightweight yarn like bamboo.
- Versatile design — you can make a dress, top, or cardigan from the same crochet dress pattern.
- Helpful photos with colour-coded yarn make the construction easier to understand.
- Customizable silhouette, including options for an A-line shape or extra ruffle.
- Great for experienced beginners who want to try a wearable crochet dress without overly complex stitches.
Cons
- The online calculator may give incorrect chain counts, which can lead to frogging or recalculating (frustrating for beginners).
- Shaping instructions for “A-line” vs. “extra ruffle” could use more detail, especially visual examples.
- Glitter thread is difficult to work with, tangles easily, and can affect the softness of the garment.
- Sizing relies heavily on gauge accuracy, which can be tricky if your swatch doesn’t reflect your real tension.
Final thoughts and tips
If you’re deciding whether to make yumeijie.crochet’s Mila 4-in-1 pattern, my honest recommendation is: yes, do it! Personally, with my newfound knowledge, I would love to make the cardigan, as I think that would be a lovely addition to my wardrobe – hopefully with less frogging this time. Overall, the Mila 4-in-1 crochet pattern is beautiful, especially if you’re dreaming of a fairytale-style dress.
Although the project challenged me at times, I’m so proud of the final result, and I learned a lot along the way. If you’re willing to take your time, read carefully, and maybe frog a little (or a lot!), the Mila dress can be an incredibly fun and sparkly project. I hope my experience helps you decide whether this pattern is right for your next magical make.
Final tip: I originally bought 6 skeins, which meant the dress was a tad too short for my liking, so make sure you have enough yarn!
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