Cluster Stitch Shell Pattern

SIZES: Small, Medium, Large

Materials Required:
 AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY
"AUNT LYDIA'S" HEAVY RUG YARN
7 (8, 9)—70 yd. skeins Wheat
1—70 yd. skein each Bongo, Antique Gold, Bronze Gold and Orange
Plastic Crochet Hook Size J OR ANY SIZE HOOK WHICH WILL RESULT IN STITCH GAUGE BELOW.

GAUGE: 1 Cluster st and 2 s c = 3 inches
Directions are given for small size. Changes for medium and large sizes are given in parentheses.

BACK: With Wheat ch 66 (77, 88), 1 long d c in 4th st from hook (long d c: pull loop up 1 inch and work same as d c), keeping last loop of each st on hook, 1 long d c in each of the next 2 sts, Y O hook and pull through all loops at one time, * ch 4, sl st in same space with last d c, s c in next st, ch 3, keeping last loop of each st on hook, 1 long d c in each of the next 10 sts, Y O and pull through all loops (10 d c cluster st), repeat from * across row ending last repeat with 1 long d c in each of the last 4 sts, Y O and pull through all loops, ch 1, turn. 2nd ROW: S c in 2nd st from hook, * 10 long d c in next s c, s c in center of next cluster st, repeat from * across row working last s c in top of cluster st, cut Wheat, turn. 3rd ROW: Attach Bongo, when changing colors always complete last half of last st with new color, ch 3, keeping last loop of each st on hook, 1 long d c in same space, 1 long d c in each of the next 4 sts, Y O and pull through all loops at one time, * ch 4, sl st in same space with last d c, s c in next st, ch 3, 10 d c cluster st, repeat from * across row ending last repeat with 1 long d c in each of the last 6 sts, Y O and pull through all loops, turn. 4th ROW: Ch 3, 4 long d c in same space, * s c in next s c, 10 long d c in center of next cluster st, repeat from * across row ending last repeat with 6 long d c in end cluster st, ch 1, turn, cut Bongo. 5th ROW: With Orange s c in 1st d c, * ch 3, 10 d c cluster st, ch 4, sl st in same space with last d c, s c in next d c, repeat from * across row working last s c in 3rd st of ch, ch 1, turn. 6th ROW: S c in 1st s c, * 10 long d c in center of next cluster st, s c in next s c, repeat from * across row, cut Orange. Repeat from 3rd to 6th rows for pattern working next 2 rows in Antique Gold, next 2 rows in Bronze Gold, then with Wheat work even in pattern until work measures 16½ inches from beg for all sizes ending with 3rd row of pattern, cut yarn, turn. NEXT ROW: Skip end cluster st, attach Wheat in next s c, s c in same space, * 10 long d c in center of next cluster st, s c in next s c, repeat from * across row to the s c before end cluster st, then work even in pattern for 7 more rows or desired length, cut yarn.

FRONT: Work same as back.

FINISHING: Block each section. Sew side and shoulder seams leaving 9 border rows free at lower edge and sewing 3 (3, 4) inches at each side for shoulders.

EDGE:Attach Wheat in left shoulder seam and working across neckedge work as fol­lows: * ch 1, sl st in next st, repeat from * all around, cut yarn. Attach Wheat in seam at underarm and work in same man­ner all around armhole.