Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 13 balls.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 3.
30 inches of belting.
10 buttons.
A 7-inch slide fastener.
Measurements. Blouse: Bust—34 inches. Length from top of shoulder—19 inches. Length of sleeve, underarm seam—4½ inches.
Skirt: Waist—28 inches. Hips—36 inches. Length of skirt—29 inches. Width at hem—45 inches.
Gauge: 10 d c make 1 inch; 4 rows make 1 inch.
BLOUSE
Back. Starting at waistband, ch 31 (to measure about 3¼ inches). 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook, s c in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. Hereafter pick up only the back loop of each sc. 2nd row: S c in each s c across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row until piece measures 13 inches. Do not break off, but ch 3; then work along long side as follows: 1st row: D c in each of 1 st 5 rows, * ch 3, skip 2 rows, d c in each of next 12 rows. Repeat from * across, ending row with ch 3, skip 2 rows, d c in each of last 6 rows. Ch 3, turn. 2nd row: Skip 1st d c, d c in each of next 2 d c, * ch 2, skip 2 d c, d c in next d c, ch 2, s c in ch-3 sp, ch 2, d c in 1st d c of next d c-group, ch 2, skip 2 d c, d c in each of next 6 d c. Repeat from * across, ending row with skip 2 d c, d c in each of next 2 d c, d c in turning ch. Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: Skip 1st d c, d c in each of next 2 d c, 2 d c in sp, d c in next d c, * ch 3, d c in next d c, 2 d c in sp, d c in each of next 6 d c, 2 d c in sp, d c in d c. Repeat from * across, ending row with 6 d c. Ch 3, turn. These last 2 rows constitute the pattern. Repeat these 2 rows alternately, increasing 1 d c at end of each row until 6 d c are increased at both sides (to increase, make 2 d c in 1 dc). Then inc. 1 sp at end of each of next 2 rows (to increase a sp, ch 3, d c in same place as last d c). Hereafter continue as before, increasing 1 d c at end of each row until 7 more d c are increased at both sides. Work straight until piece measures 10 inches in all.
To Shape Armholes: Work to within 7 d c from end, turn (7 d c decreased). Repeat last row once more. Then dec. 1 sp at end of each of next 2 rows (to dec. 1 sp, work d c in last d c, working off 2 loops only; skip ch-3; d c in next d c and work off as for a d c until 1 loop remains). Now dec. 1 d c at both ends of each row 4 times (to decrease 1 d c, work off 2 d c as 1 d c). Work straight until piece measures 3 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. Ch 5, turn.
Yoke. 1st row: Skip 2 d c, s c in next d c, * ch 2, skip 2 sts, d c in next st, ch 2, skip 2 sts, s c in next st. Repeat from * across (25 lacets). Ch 5, turn. 2nd row: * Skip ch-2; s c, ch 2 (lacet), s c in next d c; ch 4. Repeat from * across, ending row with s c in 3rd ch of turning ch-5. Ch 5, turn. 3rd row: * S c in ch-4, ch 2, d c in next s c, ch 2. Repeat from * across, ending row with d c in 1st ch of turning ch-5. Ch 5, turn. These last 2 rows constitute yoke pattern. Work in pattern until piece measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulders, work to within the last lacet of each row, turn (thus decreasing 1 lacet), until 2 lacets are decreased at both ends. On next row, work across 1st 7 lacets, turn. Hereafter work in pattern over these 7 lacets only, decreasing 1 lacet at end of each row until 1 lacet remains. Break off. Skip 7 lacets at neck edge and work over remaining 7 lacets to correspond with opposite side.
Neck Band. Attach thread at shoulder edge and work a row of s c closely together all around neck edge. Then make s c in s c, decreasing where necessary to keep work flat. Continue in this manner until band measures ¾ inch. Break off.
Front. Starting at waistband, ch 31 and work as for waistband of Back until piece measures 14 inches. Work in pattern along long side, increasing 2 d c at both ends of every other row 3 times, and then increasing 1 sp at both ends of following row. Then inc. 2 d c at both ends of every other row 6 times. Work straight until piece measures 10 inches in all.
To Shape Armholes: Work in pattern across 1st 6 d c-groups, make 2 lacets (thus starting yoke pattern). Continue in pattern as before to within last 12 d c, turn (thus decreasing 12 d c). On next row work in pattern across to within last 12 d c, turn. Hereafter, make a lacet on both sides of lacet of previous row on every other row, decreasing as follows: Dec. 1 sp at end of each of next 2 rows. Now dec. 1 d c at both ends of each row 4 times. Work straight, continuing to increase 2 lacets on every other row, until lacet patterns measure 6½ inches across. Then work straight until piece measures 4¼ inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. On next row work in pattern across to within 1 lacet from center of yoke, turn (thus starting neck shaping). Work in pattern, back and forth, decreasing 1 lacet every other row at neck edge, twice. Hereafter change entire row to lacet pattern, continuing with decreases at neck edge until 5 lacets in all are decreased. Work straight until piece measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulder, dec. 2 lacets at armhole edge each row until 2 lacets remain. Break off. Skip 2 lacets at center of neck edge, attach thread to next d c and work opposite side to correspond.
Neck Band. Work as for neck band of Back.
Sleeves. Starting at bottom, ch 9 and work as for waistband until piece measures 10 inches. Do not break off, but ch 5 and work along long side as follows: 1st row: * Skip 2 rows, s c in next row, ch 2, skip 2 rows, d c in next row, ch 2. Repeat from * across (20 lacets). Ch 5, turn. 2nd row: * Skip 1 lacet, s c in next d c, ch 4. Repeat from * across, ending row with s c in 3rd st of turning ch-5. Ch 5, turn. 3rd row: * S c in ch-4, ch 2, d c in next s c, ch 2. Repeat from * across, ending row with d c in 1st ch of turning ch-5. Ch 5, turn. Repeat the last 2 rows alternately, increasing 1 lacet at both ends of one row every inch, twice (24 lacets). Work straight until piece measures 4½ inches in all. To shape top of sleeve, dec. 1 lacet at both ends of next row and every 3rd row thereafter until 4 lacets remain. Break off. Sew up underarm seams, leaving waistbands free at both sides. Sew up shoulder seams, leaving 2 inches free on both sides at neck edge. Sew up sleeve seams and sew sleeves in. Work a row of s c along both openings at neck edge, making 2 ch-8 loops on both sides of Front. Finish waistband in same way but making 3, instead of 2, ch-8 loops. Sew on buttons to correspond with buttonloops.
SKIRT
Back. Starting at bottom, ch 226 (to measure about 23 inches). 1st row: D c in 4th ch from hook, d c in each of next 4 ch, * ch 3, skip 2 ch, d c in each of next 12 ch. Repeat from * across, ending row with ch 3, skip 2 ch, d c in each of 6 ch. Ch 3, turn. 2nd row: Skip 1st d c, d c in each of next 2 d c, * ch 2, skip 2 d c, d c in next d c, ch 2, s c in ch-3 sp, ch 2, d c in 1st d c of next d c-group, ch 2, skip 2 d c, d c in each of next 6 d c. Repeat from * across, ending row with skip 2 d c, d c in each of next 2 d c, d c in turning ch. Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: Skip 1st d c, d c in each of next 2 d c, 2 d c in sp, d c in next d c, * ch 3, d c in next d c, 2 d c in sp, d c in each of next 6 d c, 2 d c in sp, d c in d c. Repeat from * across, ending row with 6 d c. Ch 3, turn. These last 2 rows constitute the pattern. Work in pattern until piece measures 4 inches. Then dec. 1 d c at both ends of next row and every 3rd row thereafter 6 times in all. Now dec. 1 sp at both ends of next row. Hereafter continue decreasing 1 d c at both ends of every 3rd row until thirteen 12-d c groups remain. Then dec. 1 sp or 1 d c at both ends of every other row until 9 d c-groups remain. Work straight until piece measures 29 inches. Break off.
Front. Starting at bottom, ch 239 (to measure about 25 inches). Work in pattern as for Back until fourteen 12-d c groups remain. Then continue as for Back until ten 12-d c groups remain. Work straight until piece measures 29 inches. Break off.
Sew up side seams, leaving an opening of 7 inches on left side at top. Sew belting to waistline. Sew slide fastener to opening.
