Melody Pullover Pattern #1149

Materials: Choose one of the following threads in size 30:
Clark's O.N.T. Mercerized Crochet, 20 balls of Dark Blue and 5 balls of Light Blue.
J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, 14 balls of Dark Blue and 4 balls of Light Blue.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 7 and No. 10.

Measurements: Bust—34 inches. Length from top of shoulder—19 inches. Length of sleeve, underarm seam—4 inches.

Gauge: 5 group sts make 1 inch; 6 rows make 1 inch.

Back. Starting at waistband, with Dark Blue and No. 10 hook ch 46 (to measure about 3½ 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 s c. 2nd row: S c in each s c across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row until piece measures 12 inches. Do not break off, but change to No. 7 hook and work along long side of band as follows:

1st row: Insert hook in 3rd row of waistband, thread over hook and draw loop through, thread over hook and draw through 1 loop on hook, thread over hook and draw through 2 loops on hook; ch 2, insert hook in same st, thread over hook and draw loop through, thread over hook and draw through 1 loop on hook, thread over hook and draw through 2 loops on hook (1 group st made). * Skip 2 rows of waistband, group st in next row. Repeat from * across (64 group sts). Ch 2, turn. 2nd row: * Group st in next ch-2 sp (group st made over a group st). Repeat from * across. Hereafter repeat 2nd row, increasing 1 group st at both ends of every 4th row until there are 84 group sts in the row (to increase, make 2 group sts in 1 group st). Work straight until piece measures 11 inches in all.

To Shape Armholes: Sl st across 1st 5 group sts, and continue in pattern across to within last 5 group sts (thus 5 group sts are decreased at both ends of row). Hereafter continue in pattern, decreasing 1 group st at both ends of every other row until 66 group sts remain (to decrease 1 group st, at beginning of row ch 2 for turning and skip 1 group st; at end of row, make an s c in last group st). Work straight until piece measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulders, dec. 4 group sts at end of each row until 26 group sts remain. Break off.

Front. Starting at waistband, with Dark Blue and No. 10 hook, ch 46 and work as for Back waistband until piece measures 13 inches. Do not break off, but change to No. 7 hook and work in pattern along long side of band (70 group sts). Hereafter continue in pattern as for Back, increasing 1 group st at both ends of every 4th row until there are 94 group sts in the row. Work straight until piece measures 12 inches in all.

To Shape Armholes: Dec. 5 group sts at both ends of next row. Then dec. 1 group st at both ends of each row until 64 sts remain. Work straight until piece measures 2½ inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. On next row, work in pattern across 1st 32 group sts, turn (thus starting center front opening). Hereafter work over these 32 group sts only until piece measures 5½ inches from 1st row of arm- hole shaping. Then, on next row, dec. 5 group sts at center front opening (thus starting neck shaping). Hereafter dec. 1 group st each row at neck edge 7 times but, when piece measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping, shape shoulder by decreasing 4 group sts at armhole edge every other row until all group sts are worked off. Break off. Attach thread at base of opening and work opposite side to correspond.

Sleeves. Starting at bottom, with Dark Blue and No. 10 hook, ch 20 (to measure about 1¼ inches), and work as for waistband until piece measures 8 inches. Then change to No. 7 hook and work in pattern along long side of band, but skipping only 1 row instead of 2 rows (50 group sts). Continue in pattern, increasing 1 group st at both ends of next row and every other row thereafter until there are 68 group sts in the row (piece should now measure 4 inches in all). To shape top of sleeve, dec. 1 group st at both ends of next row and every other row thereafter until 34 group sts remain. Then dec. 1 group st at both ends of each row until 14 group sts remain. Break off.

Sew up underarm seams, easing in the extra fullness of Front 1½ inches down from armhole shaping. Sew up shoulder seams. Sew up sleeve seams and sew sleeves in, easing in extra fullness of sleeve into the center 3 inches at top of sleeve.

Bands. With Light Blue and No. 10 hook, ch 20 and work as for waistband and until piece measures 2½ yds. Break off. Sew band around neck edge. Cut away remaining band; finish off securely. Then place band across front as in illustration, cut, and sew in place. Fasten ends securely in seams. Then sew 2 horizontal stripes across back, fastening ends as before.

Tassel Bows (Make 3). Wind 4 strands of Light Blue around four fingers of left hand 56 times, having fingers spread open to measure 4 inches across. Break off. Remove the thread from left hand, and tie securely at center. Then, with Dark Blue and No. 10 hook, make a band as before, 1 inch wide and 1¼ inches long. Break off. Place this band across center of tassel (thus forming a bow). Cut loops at both ends and trim evenly. Sew a bow at center of each front band. Fasten at neck with a hook and eye.