Crocheted Barette Stitch Blouse Pattern #122

Size 34

Materials: Clark's O.N.T. (18 balls) or J. & P. Coats (12 balls) Mercerized Crochet, Size 10, White or Ecru. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 2. As many buttons as desired.

Back. Ch 101 (to measure about 14 inches), turn. 1st row: Insert hook in 3rd ch from hook, draw loop out on hook, thread over and draw thread through 1 loop on hook, then thread over and draw thread through the 2 remaining loops on hook (this stitch is called a barette, "b"), * ch 2, and make a 2nd b in the same ch in which 1st b was made, skip 1 st of foundation ch, and make a b in next st. Repeat from * to end of ch. Ch 3, turn. 2nd row: 1 b under 1st ch-2 loop of previous row, * ch 2, 1 b under same loop, 1 b under next ch-2 loop, and repeat from * to end of row. Ch 3, turn. 3rd to 26th rows incl: Repeat 2nd row. 27th row: Increase 1 pattern (2 b's with ch-2 between make a pattern) at beginning and end of row. Ch 3, turn. 28th to 31st rows incl: Work evenly as for 2nd row. 32nd row: Same as 27th row. 33rd to 42nd rows incl: Work evenly. Work should now measure about 9 inches. If not, add or decrease as necessary. 43rd to 53rd rows incl: To shape armhole, decrease 1 pattern at beginning of each row (to make a decrease, s c under 1st ch-2 loop of previous row, 1 b under next ch-2 loop) and continue with pattern. 54th to 70th rows incl: Work evenly. 71st to 78th rows incl: To shape shoulder, decrease 1 pattern at beginning of each row. 79th to 82nd rows incl: To shape neckline, work about 3½ inches from armhole edge. Work back and forth, decreasing 1 pattern at beginning and end of each row. Attach thread and work other shoulder the same.

Front. Ch 53 (to measure about 8 inches), turn. 1st to 42nd rows incl: Work as for back. 43rd to 53rd rows incl: To shape armhole, decrease 1 pattern at beginning of each row on one side of work, keeping straight on the other side. 54th to 70th rows incl: Work evenly. 71st and subsequent rows: To shape neck and shoulder, decrease 1 pattern at beginning and end of each row until 1 pattern is left. Break off. Make other side of front to correspond.

Bands. The trimming bands at neck, front and waistline are made separately and whipped on. In working bands, always insert hook in back loop only, and start at beginning of each row without turning work by breaking off thread.

Waist Band. Make a ch to measure about 30 inches, turn. 1st row: 1 d c in 4th ch from hook, 1 d c in each of following sts. Break off thread. 2nd row: Make 1 d c in each d c of previous row. Break off thread. 3rd row: Make 1 d c in 1st st, * ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 d c in next, and repeat from * to end of row. Break off thread. 4th and 5th rows: Make 1 d c in each st of previous row as for 2nd row.

Front Bands (2): Make ch to measure about 16½ inches, turn and work as for waistband. Make a second band same as first to 2nd row, and continue as follows: 3rd row: In this row the buttonholes are made. Make 1 d c in 1st st, * ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 d c in next, and repeat from * till about 13 or 14 spaces are made (or about 2½ inches); then ch 6, skip 6 sts, 1 d c in next (thus forming a buttonhole) and continue making spaces and buttonholes. 4th and 5th rows: Same as in first band of front.

Neck Band. Make ch to measure 16½ inches and work as for waistband. Sew bands to blouse by overcasting.

Sleeves. The band is made first and then the sleeve continued on from this. Band. Ch 99 (to measure about 12 inches), turn. 1st row: 1 d c in 3rd ch from hook, 1 d c in each of following sts of ch. Break off thread. 2nd row: Make 1 d c in 1st st, * ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 d c in next and repeat from * to end of row. Break off thread. 3rd row: Make 1 d c in each st of previous row. Break off. 4th row: 1 d c in each d c of previous row. Break off. 5th row: Same as 2nd row. 6th row: Same as 3rd row. Do not break off, but continue with b for sleeve.

Sleeve. 7th to 13th rows incl: Same as for back. 14th and subsequent rows: Decrease 1 pattern at beginning of each row until 12 patterns are left to the row. Make a second sleeve to correspond. Sew up sleeves and set in blouse.