Size 16
MATERIALS
J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 6 balls of White or Ecru, or 7 balls of any color.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 8.
12 buttons.
Shoulder paddings, if desired.
Measurements After Blocking: Bust – 35½ inches. Length from top of shoulder – 19½ inches. Length of sleeve, underarm seam – 3½ inches.
Gauge: 2 complete shells (including s c's at either side) make 1¼ inches; 4 rows of shells make 1½ inches.
WAISTBAND (Back) … Starting at bottom, ch 128 (about 9 ch sts to 1 inch). 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook, * s c in next ch, ch 1, skip 1 ch. Repeat from * across, ending with s c in each of last 2 ch (127 sts). Row should measure 14 inches without stretching. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: S c in 1st s c, * ch 1, s c in next ch-1 of previous row. Repeat from * across, ending with ch 1, s c in last s c. Ch 1, turn. 3rd row: S c in 1st s c, * s c in next ch-1, ch 1. Repeat from * across, ending with s c in last ch-1, s c in last s c. Ch 1, turn. Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows alternately for 3 inches. Next row: S c in each s c and in each ch across, making 2 s c in each of 6 sts at equal distances apart in center 8 inches (133 sts). Ch 1, turn.
BACK … 1st row: S c in 1st st, * ch 1, skip 2 sts; in next st make: 2 d c, ch 2, 2 d c, ch 1, skip 2 sts, s c in next st (shell). Repeat from * until 5 shells are made. Then work 18 shells as before, but skip only 1 st (instead of 2). Work last 5 shells to correspond with beginning of row (28 shells). 2nd row: Ch 5 (to count as d c and ch-2), * s c in ch-2 at middle of shell, ch 2, d c in s c between shells, ch 2. Repeat from * across, ending with d c in s c. Ch 1, turn. 3rd row: * S c in d c, ch 1, in s c make: 2 d c, ch 2, 2 d c, ch 1. Repeat from * across, ending with s c in d c, turn. Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately for 8½ inches, ending with openwork row, turn.
To Shape Armholes: Sl st across to 3rd d c (2 shells decreased), s c in d c, continue in pattern across to 3rd d c from end of row. Turn, and work a row in pattern. On next shell row, dec. another shell at both ends in same manner. Work in pattern over remaining 22 shells until piece measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulders, dec. 1½ shells – by working sl st in same manner as before – at both ends of each of next 2 shell rows. On next shell row, sl st across 1½ shells, work across 2 shells, turn and work back over these 2 shells. Fasten off. Attach thread at opposite side of neck edge and shape other shoulder to correspond.
WAISTBAND (Front) … Ch 138 and work as for Back waistband for 3 inches (137 sts in each row). Next row: S c in each s c and in each ch across, making 2 s c in each of 4 sts at equal distances apart (141 sts). Ch 1, turn.
FRONT … 1st row: S c in 1st st, * ch 1, skip 2 sts, in next st make: 2 d c, ch 2, 2 d c, ch 1, skip 2 sts, s c in next st (shell). Repeat from * until 4 shells are made. Then work 23 shells, but skip only 1 st. Work last 4 shells to correspond with beginning of row (31 shells). Hereafter work in pattern as for Back for 9¼ inches.
To Shape Armholes: Sl st across to 4th d c (3 shells decreased), s c in d c; continue in pattern across to 4th d c from end of row, turn. Work a shell row in pattern. Continue in pattern, decreasing 1 shell at both ends of each of next 2 shell rows. Work over remaining 21 shells until piece measures 2½ inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. On next shell row, work across 10 shells; in ch-2 of next shell make 3 d c, turn (thus starting center front opening). Work back and forth over these 10½ shells for 2¾ inches, ending at armhole edge, turn. To shape neck edge, work over 1st 4 shells, make a half shell in next. Work over these 4½ shells until piece measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulders, dec. 1½ shells on each of next 3 shell rows at armhole edge. Fasten off. Attach thread at base of center front opening and work other side to correspond.
SLEEVES … Starting at bottom, ch 102 and work in waistband pattern for 1 inch (101 sts). Next row: S c in each s c and in each ch across. 1st row: S c in 1st st, * ch 1, skip 2 sts; in next st make 2 d c, ch 2, 2 d c; ch 1, skip 2 sts, s c in next st (shell). Repeat from * until 3 shells are made. Then make 16 shells, but skip 1 st instead of 2. Work last 3 shells to correspond with beginning of row. Continue in pattern stitch for 2 inches. To shape top of sleeve, on each of next 2 shell rows, dec. ½ shell, as before, at both ends of row. Then work without decreasing until piece measures 8 inches in all. At both ends of each of next 3 shell rows dec. ½ shell, and dec. 1 shell on following 2 shell rows. Fasten off.
Sew up underarm seams to within 4½ inches from bottom, easing in 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 in center 5 inches at top. With right side of work toward you, attach thread at neck edge, at right side of center front opening and work a row of s c all around neck edge to corresponding position at left side, keeping work flat and skipping corner sts. Work back and forth in waistband pattern over these s c's for ¾ inch, keeping work flat and neck shaping square by decreasing at corners. Do not break off, but work s c along center front opening, making 4 ch-7 buttonloops on right side. Work s c along each side of waistband opening, making 4 ch-7 buttonloops at equal distances apart on both sides of Front waistband. Sew on buttons to correspond with buttonloops. If desired, sew in shoulder paddings.