Printer-friendly version

Materials: Choose one of the following threads in size 30:
Clark's O.N.T. Mercerized Crochet, 24 balls of any color, or 16 balls of White or Ecru.
J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, 16 balls of any color, or 12 balls of White or Ecru.
J. & P. Coats Big Ball Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, 6 balls of White or Ecru.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 10 or 11.
6 buttons.

Measurements: Bust—34 inches. Length from top of shoulder—20 inches. Length of sleeve, underarm seam—4 inches.

Gauge: 9 loops make 2 inches; 9 rows of loops make 1 inch.

Back. Starting at bottom, ch 218 (to measure about 18 inches). 1st row: S c in 8th ch from hook, * ch 4, skip 2 ch, s c in next ch. Repeat from * across (71 loops), Ch 5, turn. 2nd row: S c in 1st loop, * ch 4, s c in next loop. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: Into s c just made, make: 1 d c, 2 tr, and 1 d c (a shell). S c in 1st loop, * ch 4, s c in next loop, ch 4, s c in next loop; in next s c (of previous row—between the 2 loops) make a shell as before; s c in next loop. Repeat from * across, ending row with 1 loop after the last shell (24 shells). Ch 5, turn. 4th row: S c in 1st loop, * ch 4, s c between 2 tr of shell, ch 4, s c in next loop, ch 4, s c in next loop. Repeat from * across (71 loops). Ch 5, turn. The last 3 rows (2nd to 4th rows incl.) constitute the pattern. Repeat these 3 rows until piece measures 6½ inches. Then inc. 1 loop at both ends of next row and every 8th row thereafter until there are 81 loops in the row. Work straight until piece measures 11½ inches. Break off.

To Shape Armholes: 1st row: Attach thread to 4th loop and work in pattern across to within 4 loops from end of row. Ch 5, turn. 2nd row: Work in pattern to within last loop (or last shell, as the case may be), thus decreasing 1 loop at end of row. Ch 5, turn. Repeat the 2nd row, decreasing 1 loop at end of each row until 60 loops remain. Work straight until piece measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulders, dec. 2 loops (or 1 shell, and 1 loop, as the case may be), at armhole edge every other row until 28 loops remain. Break off.

Front. Work in pattern as for Back until piece measures 6½ inches (71 loops). Then inc. 1 loop at both ends of next row and of one row every 1¼ inches thereafter until there are 79 loops in the row. Work straight until piece measures 13 inches in all. Break off.

To Shape Armholes: Attach thread to 5th loop and work in pattern across to within 5 loops from end of row. Ch 5, turn. Hereafter dec. 1 loop (or 1 shell) at end of each row until 56 loops remain. Work straight until piece measures 2½ inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. On next row work in pattern across 1st 28 loops, turn (thus starting center front opening). Work over these 28 loops only until piece measures 6 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. Then, on next row, dec. 4 loops at center front edge, and 1 loop every other row thereafter until 12 loops in all are decreased at front edge but, when piece measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping, shape shoulder by decreasing 2 loops at shoulder edge each row until all loops are worked off. Break off. Attach thread at base of opening and work opposite side to correspond.

Sleeves. Starting at bottom, ch 170 (to measure about 13 inches), and work in pattern until piece measures 4 inches (55 loops). To shape top of sleeve, dec. 1 loop at both ends of next row and every 3rd row thereafter 5 times in all. Then dec. 1 loop at both ends of every 4th row until 23 loops remain. Break off.

Collar. Starting at neck edge, ch 206 (to measure about 15½ inches), and work in pattern, increasing 7 loops on the 4th, 8th, 13th, 16th and 19th rows at equal distances apart, but do not have increases fall directly over those of previous increase row. Work straight until piece measures 2¾ inches. Break off. Sew up underarm seams, easing in the extra fullness of Front 1½ inches down from armhole shaping. Sew up shoulder seams. Make an inverted pleat, about 2 inches long and deep enough to fit the arm of individual, at bottom of each sleeve. Sew up sleeve seams and sew sleeves in, easing in the extra fullness of sleeves across the center 3 inches at top. Sew collar all around neck edge. Sew 3 buttons along each side of front opening, and fasten with chain-loops, as in illustration.