Tower Express Blouse Pattern #154

Size 34-36

Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 3 balls of color 61-A Dark Ecru and 1 ball of color 55 Navy Blue. Bone hook No. 6 and Milward's steel crochet hook No. 3. 14 buttons.

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

   With Ecru, ch 172. Join with sl st to form entire neckline. 1st rnd: Ch 4, d c in same st from which ch-4 started, d c in next st of foundation ch, ch 1, d c in same st, d c in next st, ch 1, d c in same st (this makes the increasing point on one shoulder). * Skip 1 st of ch, d c in next st, ch 1, d c in same st. Repeat from * 17 more times. Then d c, ch 1, d c, in each of next 2 sts (increasing point at center back). Repeat from 1st * 2 more times. Then continue to end of rnd. Join with sl st to 3rd st of ch-4. 2nd rnd: Sl st in ch-1, ch 4, d c in same st, d c over next d c, d c over next ch-1, ch 1, d c over same ch, d c over next d c. * D c over next ch-1, ch 1, d c over same ch. Repeat from * to increasing point at center back and d c over d c of center group, 2 d c with ch-1 between over ch-1, d c over next d c. Continue as before, making same increase as for back at shoulder and center front. Join with sl st. 3rd rnd: Sl st in ch-1, ch 4, d c in same ch. Continue around, making design over extra d c's. (This increases 1 group in 2 rows). 4th to 17th rnds incl: Alternate 2nd and 3rd rnds. Fasten off.

Front: Measure back 7½ inches from center front and attach thread in ch-1. 1st row: Working toward center, ch 4, d c in same ch. Continue in design, making increases as before at center front. Work row 7½ inches from center front, then ch 9, turn. 2nd row: D c in 5th ch from hook and work across. Ch 9, turn. 3rd row: Same as 2nd, but end with ch 4. 4th to 10th rows incl: Continue as before and make decreases of 1 design every other row at each end to shape underarm. Then work one side only, making a decrease of 1 design at each end until only 1 is left. Work other side of front to correspond.

Back: Repeat directions for front.

Band: With Ecru, using No. 3 hook, ch 23. 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook and s c in each st of ch. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: S c in back loop of each st across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row until band is half your waist measurement. Make similar band for back and sew bands to blouse.

   Using No. 3 hook, attach Navy Blue to neckline and work a row of s c in each st of foundation ch. Join with sl st. 2nd rnd: Ch 1, s c in each st, decreasing 2 sts at center front and back. Join with sl st. Repeat this rnd 5 more times.

Underarm Bands: Back: Using No. 3 hook, attach Navy Blue and work a row of s c along one side. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: S c in each st across, ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row 4 more times. Make other side to correspond.

Front: Make 3 rows same as for back. 4th row: S c in each of 1st 2 sts, ch 5, skip 5 sts of row below (for buttonhole), s c in each of next 10 sts and repeat from * to make 6 more buttonholes. Finish band with 2 more rows of s c. Work other side in same manner. Sew buttons on bands to correspond with buttonholes.