Empire Blouse Pattern #6

Blouse instructions are given for size 16. It is always well to remember to take your own individual mea­surements—bust, underarm to waistline, across back, length of back to waist, arm, etc.—and check these against your work as you go. Variations frequently occur because of the fact that some persons crochet more loosely or tightly than others. Consequently, you may find it necessary to make a few minor indi­vidual adjustments in the directions. Remember also that should you choose to use Mercerized Crochet thread instead of Knitting & Crochet Cotton, a few additional stitches may be required to attain the size desired as diameters of these threads are not the same.

Materials: Clark's O.N.T. Knitting & Crochet Cotton, 3 balls of White, Ecru or 4 balls of any Boilfast color. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 3.

FRONT BODICE. Ch 104, turn. 1st row: 1 half d c in 3rd ch from hook. 1 half d c in each st of foundation ch (101 half d c in all). Ch 3, turn. 2nd to 25th rows incl: Make 1 half d c in each half d c. 26th to 42nd rows incl: Decrease 3 sts at beginning and end of each row (to make these decreases, work to within 3 sts of end of row, turn, sl st into first 3 sts, ch 3, and continue with half d c) until there are only 5 sts left to the row. Break off.

BLOUSE TOP. 1st row: Attach thread to beginning of 25th row, ch 3, * make 1 knot st, then 1 d c, and repeat from * to point of bodice, thus making 28 d c and 28 knot sts alternately, the 29th d c being in the 3rd st of the row of 5-half d c. Continue alternating knot st and d c until 28 of each are made down the other side of bodice. Ch 3, turn. 2nd to 15th rows incl: D c in 1st loop of knot st (this is a decrease) * 1 knot st, 1 d c in next loop, and repeat from * to point of bodice, making 2 d c with 1 knot st between in loop over middle knot of 5-half d c row. Continue alternat­ing knot sts and d c down other side of bodice to corre­spond. 16th row: Start shaping neck. 1 d c in loop of 1st knot st, and continue until there are 27 knot sts, ch 3, turn. 17th to 20th rows incl: Same as 16th row. There is 1 decrease in each row. Break off thread to start shaping armholes. 21st row: Attach thread to 3rd loop, alternating 20 knot sts and 20 d c toward center of blouse. Ch 3, turn. 22nd to 31st rows incl: 1 d c in 1st loop, and continue alternating knot sts and d c in each row until there are 10 knot sts and 10 d c left to the row. 32nd to 40th rows incl: Make 10 knot sts and 10 d c alternately to the row. Work opposite side of front to correspond with this. BACK BODICE. Ch 103, turn. 1st row: 1 half d c in 3rd ch from hook, 1 half d c in each st of foundation ch (100 half d c in all). Ch 3, turn. 2nd to 25th rows incl: Make 1 half d c in each half d c, always with ch 3 at end to turn.

BLOUSE TOP. 1st to 20th rows incl: Work alternately 50 knot sts and 50 d c across back bodice, always with ch 3 at end of row to turn. Break off thread to start shaping armholes. 21st row: Attach thread to 3rd loop. Work alternately 46 knot sts and 46 d c. Break off. 22nd row: Attach thread to 3rd loop. Alternate 42 knot sts and 42 d c. Ch 3, turn. 23rd row: 1 d c in 1st loop. Work 40 knot sts and 40 d c alternately. Ch 3, turn. 24th to 40th rows incl: Work alternately 40 knot sts and 40 d c to the row. 41st and 42nd rows: Decrease 3 alternate knot sts and 3 d c at the begin­ning and end of each row to slant shoulder line. 43rd row: Decrease 4 alternate knot sts and 4 d c at beginning and end of row.
   Sew up side and shoulder seams.

SLEEVE BAND. Ch 64, turn (measure around arm for size check up). 1st row: 1 half d c in 3rd ch from hook, 1 half d c in each st of foundation ch (61 half d c in all). Ch 3, turn. 2nd and 3rd rows: Make 1 half d c in each half d c. Ch 3, turn. 4th to 13th rows incl: Work half d c in half d c, decreasing 3 sts at beginning and end of each row. There will be 4 sts left in the 12th row. Break off. SLEEVE. 1st row: Attach thread at be­ginning of 3rd row of sleeve band, and work alter­nately 16 knot sts and 16 d c, until you reach the 2nd st of the 4-half d c row. In this st work 2 d c with 1 knot st between (this is an increase). Work down other side to correspond. 9nd to 15th rows incl: Work knot sts and d c alternately making increase over increase of previous row. Make other sleeve the same as this.
   Sew up underarms and sew sleeves in blouse.

COLLAR. Ch 193, turn. 1st row: 1 half d c in 3rd ch from hook, 1 half d c in each st of foundation ch. Work 10 increases at equal intervals. 2nd to 7th rows incl: Half d c over half d c with 6 increases to a row.
   Sew inside curve of center of collar to back of blouse from shoulder seam to shoulder seam.