Signal Code Blouse Pattern #149

Size 34-36

Materials: J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, 13 balls, or Clark's O.N.T. 19 balls of Ecru, size 10, and 1 ball each of color 126 Spanish Red and color 55 Navy Blue. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 4.

Gauge: 2½ designs equal 1 inch; 4 rows equal 1 inch.

Back: Starting at waistline, ch 120, turn. 1st row: D c in 4th ch from hook, d c in each st of foundation ch. Ch 3, turn. 2nd to 7th rows incl: D c in each d c across, ch 3, turn. At end of 7th row ch 5, turn. 8th row: D c in d c where ch-5 started, * d c in next d c, skip next d c, d c in next d c, ch 2, d c in same d c. Repeat from * across, ending row with 2 d c in same st with ch-2 between. Ch 5, turn. 9th row: * D c under next ch-2 loop, d c in d c between the two ch-2 loops, ch 2, d c in same d c. Repeat from * across, ending row with d c under ch-2 loop. Ch 5, turn.

10th row: D c in d c where ch-5 started, * d c under next ch-2 loop, d c in d c between the two ch-2 loops, ch 2, d c in same d c. Repeat from * across, ending row with 2 d c in same st with ch-2 between. Ch 5, turn. 11th to 44th rows incl: Alternate 9th and 10th rows. 45th row: To shape armhole, work design across to within 2 designs from end of row, turn. 46th row: Work design across to within 2 designs from end of row, turn. 47th and 48th row: Same as 46th row.

49th to 59th rows incl: Work evenly, turn. 60th row: To shape shoulder, s c over 4 designs then continue with design over next 5 designs. Break off. Do not turn. To make other shoulder to correspond, attach thread in 9th design from other end and work design over next 5 designs, s c over next 4 designs and break off.

Front: Ch 127, turn. 1st to 44th rows incl: Same as for back. After completing the 44th row, divide front into 3 parts, mark divisions with pins. Ch 5, turn. 45th row: To make opening of front, work to 2nd pin, turn. 46th row: Begin to shape arm- hole. Work to within 3 designs from end of row, turn. 47th row: Work design evenly to opening, turn. 48th row: Work across to within 2 designs from end of row, turn. 49th to 54th rows incl: Continue working evenly. 55th row: Work over 8 designs, turn. (This should bring work directly over 1st pin). 56th to 60th rows incl: Work evenly, turn. 61st row: To shape shoulder, s c over 2 designs then continue as before, turn. 62nd row: Work design across, turn. 63rd row: S c over 3 designs, then continue as before. Break off.

   To make other side of front, attach thread at opening. 45th row: Work design across to within 3 designs from end of row, turn. 46th row: Work as before to opening, turn. 47th row: Work across to within 2 designs from end of row, turn. 48th to 60th rows incl: Work evenly. 61st row: Work to within 2 designs from end of row, turn. 62nd row: Work across as before. 63rd row: Work to within 3 designs from end of row and break off.

Peplums: The front and back are worked the same way. Attach thread to end of foundation ch of waistband and work as follows: Ch 5, d c in next st, d c in next st, * d c in next st, ch 2, d c in same st, d c in next st, skip next st, d c in next st, ch 2, d c in same st, d c in next st. Repeat from * to end of row. Ch 5, turn. 2nd to 16th rows incl: Work design evenly.

Sleeves: Ch 82, turn. 1st row: D c in 4th ch from hook, d c in each st of foundation ch, ch 3, turn. 2nd to 5th rows incl: D c in each d c across. Ch 3, turn. At end of 5th row, ch 5, turn. 6th row: D c in next d c, * d c in next d c, skip next d c, d c in next d c, ch 2, d c in same d c. Repeat from * across. 7th to 22nd rows incl: Work design evenly, turn. 23rd row: Begin to shape sleeve. Work design across to within 1 design from end of row, turn. 24th row: Work across to within 1 design from end of row, turn. 25th to 36th rows incl: Same as 24th row. Break off, make another sleeve.

   Sew underarm and shoulder seams of blouse and the sleeve seams. Sew sleeves into armholes. Work a row of s c along neckline and opening.

Trimming: With Red, make a ch about 4 inches longer than is necessary to go around neck and down front of blouse to waistband. D c in 4th ch from hook and d c in each st of ch. Break off. Sew around neckline and down the front to waistline. Make another band in blue and sew from shoulder to waistline as shown in illustration.

Flags: With Red, ch 2, turn. 1st row: 2 s c in 1st ch, ch 1 turn. 2nd row: 2 s c in each s c, ch 1, turn. 3rd row: 2 s c in 1st s c, s c in each of next 2 s c, 2 s c in last s c, ch 1, turn. 4th row: 2 s c in 1st s c, s c in each s c across, 2 s c in last s c. 5th to 10th rows incl: Increase in this manner in the 1st and last sts of each row. Make 13 Red flags and 5 Blue flags. Whip Red flags to Red band, spacing evenly, 3 flags in front of neckline, 3 in back, 1 on each side, and 5 down the front. Whip the Blue flags to Blue band about ¾ inches apart, as shown in illustration.