Triangle Shell Blouse Pattern #10

Size 34-36

Materials: Clark's O.N.T. Knitting and Crochet Cotton, 4 balls; or J. & P. Coats Crochet Cord, 12 balls. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 3.

Back Waistband. To begin, ch 96. 1st row: 1 s c in 2nd ch from hook, 1 s c in each st of ch, ch 1, turn. 2nd to 20th rows incl: 1 s c in each s c of previous row, ch 1, turn. Do not break off thread.

Back Blouse. 1st row: Ch 2 more, 2 d c in 1st s c, * skip 2 s c, 1 s c in next s c, ch 3, 2 d c in same s c in which s c was just made, skip 2 s c, s c in next s c, ch 3, 2 d c in same s c in which s c was just made, skip 1 s c, 1 s c in next s c, ch 3, 2 d c in same s c in which s c was just made, and repeat from * to end of row. Ch 6, turn. 36 shells in row. 2nd row: 1 s c under ch-3 of 1st shell, * ch 3, 1 s c under ch-3 of next shell, repeat from * to end of row, ch 3, turn. 3rd row: 2 d c in 1st s c, * skip ch-3 of previous row, 1 s c in next s c, ch 3, 2 d c in same s c in which s c was just made, and repeat from * to end of row. Ch 6, turn. 4th to 43rd rows incl: Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately, until 22 rows of shells (or 9 inches from top of waistband) are made. 44th row: To decrease for armhole, sl st to ch-3 of 1st shell, * ch 3, s c under ch-3 of next shell, repeat from * to within 1 shell from end of row (34 shells in row), ch 3, turn. 45th to 58th rows incl: Work evenly over 34 shells. 59th to 68th rows incl: Work evenly over 17 shells (thus forming back opening). 69th to 71st rows incl: Work evenly over 9 shells from armholes. Break off. Work other side to correspond.

Front Waistband. Begin with ch 104 and work same as for back waistband.

Front Blouse. Continue from front waistband as for back, and work through 43rd row (39 shells to the row). 44th row: Sl st to ch-3 of 2nd shell (this is a decrease), and work from * of 44th row of back to within 2 shells from end of row (35 shells to the row). Ch 3, turn. 45th row: Work evenly as for 3rd row of back. Ch 1, turn. 46th row: Sl st to ch-3 of 1st shell, and repeat from * of 44th row of back to within 1 shell from end of row (33 shells in row), ch 3, turn. 47th to 58th rows incl: Work pattern evenly over 33 shells. 59th to 73rd rows incl: Work pattern over first 9 shells, thus forming neckline. Break off. Work other side of front to correspond. Sew up shoulder and underarm seams, leaving waistband open for buttons.

Neck Edge. Finish neck edge as follows: Attach thread to neck at center band opening. 1st row: Ch 1, * 3 s c over next ch-3, 1 s c in next s c, 2 s c over next ch-3, 1 s c in next s c, and repeat from * to corner. Skip s c in corner, and continue working s c around, skipping each s c in corner. Ch 1, turn. 2nd to 6th rows incl: 1 s c in each s c of previous row, skipping 2 s c in each corner, On right side of opening, make 4 ch-6 loops, and on other side make covered buttons. Make buttons and loops also on each side of the waistbands.

Sleeve. To begin band, ch 69, turn. 1st row: 1 s c in 2nd ch from hook, 1 s c in each st of ch, ch 1, turn. 2nd to 10th rows incl: 1 s c in each s c of previous row, ch 1, turn. Do not break thread. Continue for upper part. 1st row: Ch 3, 2 d c in 1st s c, * skip 1 s c, 1 s c in next s c, ch 3, 2 d c in same s c in which s c was just made, 1 s c in next s c, ch 3, 2 d c in same s c in which s c was just made, and repeat from * to end of row (46 shells). Ch 6, turn. 2nd to 9th rows incl: Work pattern evenly. 10th row: Decrease 3 shells at beginning and 3 shells at end. 11th row: Work row of shells (40 shells in row). 12th row: Decrease 2 shells at beginning and 2 shells at end. 13th row: Work row of shells. 14th row: Decrease 2 shells at beginning and 2 shells at end. 15th row: Row of shells (32 shells). 16th row: Decrease 2 shells at beginning and 2 shells at end. 17th row: Work row of shells (28 shells). 18th to 33rd rows incl: Decrease 1 shell at beginning and 1 shell at end of all even rows (12 shells in last row). Make second sleeve to match. Sew up underarm seams. Pin sleeves into armholes, easing in fullness evenly, and whip in place.