Dustins Sleeper Gown - Free Crochet Pattern

Hello everyone!

Back today with a pattern designed for the boys. It would work for girls too, but I really wanted something else for the little men. I know patterns for boys are so few and far between so I really want to add quite a few this year. This is what Ive always known as a "sleeper" The gathered bottom, open up the middle style, and so I thought Id stick with that as a name. Suitable for burial and for prems or as a memento, and of course as dolls clothing, which I know a lot of you use my patterns for as well :) This one is pretty easy to adjust sizing, up or down with a hook change, just remember to add a fair bit more length if you go up in size.
If you make it as directed, it will come out sized for a preemie between 26 and 30 weeks gestation.

You will need:
3.5mm hook
5ply/Sports weight yarn in a main colour (I used Moda Vera Alpine Spritz in a grey/white)
5ply/Sports weight yarn in a contrasting colour for the sleeves
2-3 buttons
Sewing needle
length of ribbon or yarn to gather bottom.

1: ch38, dc in the 3rd chain from hook and the next 5 chains, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next stitch, dc in the next 5 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next stitch, dc in the next 10 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next stitch, dc in the next 5 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next stitch, dc in the last 6 stitches.

2: ch3, turn, dc in the first 7 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the ch2 space, dc in the next 7 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next ch2 space, dc in the next 12 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next ch2 space, dc in the next 7 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next ch2 space, dc in the last 7 stitches (last stitch into the ch3 from the 1st row).

3: ch3, turn, dc in the first 8 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the ch2 space, dc in the next 9 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next ch2 space, dc in the next 14 stitches, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next ch2 space, dc in the next 9 stitches, (dc ch2, dc) in the next ch2 space, dc in the last 8 stitches

4: ch3, turn, dc in the first 9 stitches, dc in the ch2 space, ch2, skip all dc's until the next ch2 space and then dc in that, dc in the next 16 stitches, dc in the ch2 space, ch2, skip the next lot of dc's and dc into the next ch2 space, dc in the remaining 9 dc's.

5: ch3, turn, dc in each stitch (including ch's) across

6: ch3, turn, *dc in the first stitch, 2dc in the next stitch* repeat across

7: ch3, turn, dc in each stitch across.

Repeat row 7 until your gown measures 10 to 11 inches long from the neck to the bottom. End odd and weave in ends.

Adding the Sleeves
1: Join contracting yarn to any stitch on the arm hole and ch2, evenly hdc around the entire armhole opening, join. (for me, this was 20 stitches)
2-9: ch2, hdc in each stitch around, join.
Finish off and weave in ends.

Repeat 1-9 for the second sleeve.

FINISHING
Using a piece of ribbon ir yarn, weave in and out of the stitches on the last row of the gown, and pull tight to gather. Tie in a bow.

Attach 2-3 buttons to the front to close, there will be some overlap, this is fine.

Fold the corners of the neck down to make a collar. Tack into place with a piece of yarn and a sewing needle. Weave in ends.