Peggy Suspenders Pattern #5141

Sizes 2 to 10

AFGHAN STITCH

MATERIALS:
CLARK'S O.N.T. PEARL COTTON, 2 balls.
CLARK'S O.N.T. or J. & P. COATS SIX STRAND EMBROIDERY FLOSS, 1 skein each of 5 different colors for em­broidery.
Milward's Steel Crochet Hook No. 6.

GAUGE: 10 sts make 1"; 9 rows make 1".

CROSSPIECE … 1st row: Ch 13, insert hook in 2nd ch from hook and draw through a loop, draw up a loop in each ch across, retaining all loops on hook (13 loops on hook). Thread over and draw through 1 loop, * thread over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * across. The loop which remains on hook always counts as the 1st st of next row. 2nd row: Insert hook under 2nd verti­cal bar and draw loop through, * insert hook under next vertical bar and draw a loop through. Repeat from * across, retaining all loops on hook and working to within last bar; insert hook through the last vertical bar and the stitch di­rectly behind it and draw a loop through (thus giving a firm edge to this side—13 loops on hook). Thread over and draw through 1 loop, ** thread over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from ** across. Repeat the 2nd row until piece is 4" long for size 2, 4½" long for size 4, 5" long for size 6, 5½" long for size 8, or 6" long for size 10. Fasten off.

SUSPENDERS (Make 2) … Starting at one end, ch 7. 1st row: Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook and draw up a loop, draw up a loop in each ch across, retaining all loops on hook (7 loops on hook). Thread over and draw through 1 loop, * thread over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * across. The loop which remains on hook counts as the 1st st of next row. 2nd row: Make an inc—to make an inc, in­sert hook in back of next st and draw a loop through; * insert hook under next vertical bar and draw loop through. Repeat from * until there are 7 loops on hook, then insert hook in back of next st and draw a loop through (another inc made), insert hook through the last vertical bar and the stitch directly be­hind it, and draw a loop through (thus giving a firm edge to this side—8 loops on hook). Thread over and draw through 1 loop, ** thread over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from ** across. 3rd and 4th rows: Work as for 2nd row (13 sts on 4th row). 5th row: Work straight (no increases). 6th row: Make a buttonhole—to make a button­hole, work 1st half of row until there are 6 loops on hook, then thread over and draw through 1 loop, * thread over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * 4 more times. Work 3 more rows, working only on 6 sts. Fasten off. Attach thread to 7th st on 6th row and work 2nd half of buttonhole in same way. Fasten off. Attach thread to 1st st and work across all 13 sts. Continue to work straight on 13 sts until piece measures 18" for size 2, 20" for size 4, 22" for size 6, 24" for size 8, or 26" for size 10. Make a 2nd buttonhole, same as 1st, then dec to correspond with increases at beginning. To dec at both ends of row, work as follows: * Thread over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * until 3 loops remain on hook, thread over and draw through last 3 loops. When 7 sts remain on last row, fasten off. Make sure that both suspenders have the same number of rows between but­tonholes.
Sew crosspiece in place.

EMBROIDERY … Using 4 single strands of Six Strand Floss, follow chart for em­broidery, placing motifs as in illustration. Embroidery is done in cross stitch and each square on chart corresponds to 1 vertical bar of afghan stitch.