Dress with vertical stripes—crocheted horizontally.

Hello, dear forum members,

I’d like to crochet a pretty summer dress from a magazine, but I don’t understand the pattern. The dress is crocheted horizontally and, according to the pattern, starts with the back piece on the left edge of the work. You start with the left side seam (when worn). I can read and follow the crochet chart up to that point, but after that I don’t understand anything anymore. According to the basic pattern, you cast on 31 ch + 3 turning ch. At the same time, you’re supposed to cast on 28 stitches twice and 44 stitches once on the left working edge in each right side row. This results in 131 stitches. How do I carry out this step? I don’t know what “casting on additional stitches” means or where I’m supposed to do this in the basic pattern. I’d really appreciate a simple explanation. Best regards

Hi Anke, welcome to our forum.
Without access to the pattern, it’s difficult to help you.
Is there perhaps a customer service number or email address listed in this magazine?

…yes, I found an email address. Can I ask there as well and get help with the patterns? 

Unfortunately, I don’t know which magazine you have, but if there’s a customer service email address listed there, you’ll surely get an answer there as well. 

I’ll just take a shot in the dark.

1st wrong side row: crochet across the 31 stitches plus turning chain stitches, turn

1. Right side row: crochet across the 31 cast-on stitches, then add 28 chain stitches + turning chain stitches at the end of the row, turn

2. Wrong side row: crochet across the 59 stitches + turning chain stitches, turn

2. Right side row: add 28 chain stitches + turning chain stitches again at the end of the row. As in the first right side row, turn

3. Wrong side row: Crochet across all stitches plus turning chain stitches, turn

3. Right side row: Crochet across all 87 stitches, at the end of the row add 44 ch + turning chain stitches, turn (=131 stitches)

That’s how I would understand it. Hope that helps