Size 16
MATERIALS
Choose one of the following threads:
Clark's O.N.T. Mercerized Crochet, 12 balls of White or Ecru, size 20, for main color; 1 ball each of Yellow, Blue and Green, size 30, for flowers.
J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, 9 balls of White or Ecru, size 20, for main color; 1 ball each of Yellow, Blue and Green, size 30, for flowers.
Milward's steel crochet hooks No. 8 and No. 10.
4 small buttons.
12 inches of wire, for flowers.
Measurements After Blocking: Bust – 36 inches. Length from top of shoulder – 19 inches. Length of sleeve, underarm seam – 2 inches.
Gauge: 5 knots (5 sps) make 1 inch; 6 rows make 1 inch.
BACK … Starting at bottom, with main color and No. 8 hook ch 240 (to measure about 19 inches). 1st row: * Draw loop on hook out ¼ inch, then make a ch st. Insert hook between loop and single thread of this ch, and make an s c (1 knot st made); skip 2 ch, s c in next ch. Repeat from * across (80 loops). Make another knot st ⅜ inch long, turn. 2nd row: S c in double loop of knot st, * knot st as before, s c in double loop of next knot st. Repeat from * across, ⅜ inch knot st, turn. Hereafter repeat 2nd row, decreasing 1 knot st at both ends of every 4th row until 70 knot sts remain – to dec., skip 1 knot st. Work straight until piece measures 6 inches. Then inc. 1 knot st at both ends of next row and every 3rd row thereafter until there are 86 knot sts in the row – to inc., make 2 knot sts in 1 knot st. Work straight until piece measures 10 inches in all. Then, at end of each of next 2 rows, ch 27, turn (thus starting sleeves), make 9 knot sts as before across chain, and continue in pattern across. Continue in pattern, increasing 1 knot st at both ends of every 3rd row until there are 124 knot sts in the row. Work straight until sleeve measures 6 inches. On next row, work in pattern across 1st 62 knot sts, turn (thus starting center back opening). Hereafter work over these 62 knot sts only, decreasing 4 knot sts at sleeve edge every other row until 14 knot sts remain. Break off. Attach thread at base of center back opening and work opposite side to correspond.
FRONT … Starting at bottom, with main color and No. 8 hook, work exactly as for Back until piece measures 6 inches. Then inc. 1 knot st at both ends of next row and every other row thereafter 6 times. Now inc. 1 knot st at both ends of every 3rd row until there are 96 knot sts in the row. Work straight until piece measures 11 inches. At end of each of next 2 rows, ch 27, turn (thus starting sleeves), and continue as before, increasing 1 knot st at both ends of every 8th row 4 times in all. Work straight until sleeve measures 6 inches wide. Then dec. 8 knot sts at beginning of each of next 2 rows, and 4 knot sts at beginning of each of the following 4 rows. Then, on next row, dec. 4 knot sts and continue in pattern across next 34 knot sts, turn (thus starting neck shaping). Work over these 34 knot sts only, decreasing 1 knot st at neck edge every other row 5 times in all, and continuing to dec. 4 knot sts at opposite edge every other row until all knot sts are worked off. Break off. Skip 14 knot sts at center, attach thread to next loop, and work other side to correspond.
Sew up underarm and sleeve seams, easing in the extra fullness of Front 1½ inches down from sleeve shaping. Sew up shoulder seams. Work a row of s c all around neck edge and along center back opening, making four ch-4 buttonloops at equal distances apart on right side. Work 2 rows of s c closely together all around bottom of blouse, and around bottoms of sleeves.
FLOWERS (Make 4) … Starting at center, with Blue and No. 10 hook ch 10. Join with sl st to form ring. 1st rnd: 14 s c in ring. Join with sl st. 2nd rnd: * Ch 2, skip 1 s c, s c in next s c. Repeat from * around (7 ch-2 loops). 3rd rnd: * Ch 2; in next ch-2 loop make: 6 d c, 1 s c. Repeat from * around (7 shells made). Join with sl st. 4th rnd: * Ch 3, d c in each of next 2 d c, 2 d c in next d c (1 d c increased), d c in each of next 3 d c, s c in s c. Repeat from * around. Join. 5th rnd: Same as 4th rnd, but inc. 1 d c in each of 4 d c at center of shell (11 d c in each shell). 6th rnd: Same as 4th rnd, but inc. 1 d c in each of 3 d c at center of each shell (14 d c in each shell). 7th rnd: * Ch 3, d c in each of 14 d c, s c in s c. Repeat from * around. Join and break off.
STAMENS … With Yellow and No. 10 hook ch 15, sl st in 1st ch made. * Ch 15, sl st in same place as last sl st. Repeat from * until 15 loops in all are made. Break off, leaving a 4-inch length of thread. Draw 4-inch length of thread through center of flower, and fasten securely.
STEM … Cut a piece of wire about 10½ inches long. Wind a strand of Green closely together around wire until it is completely covered. Fasten securely, and break off.
Place flowers in position along stem, and sew in place. Then sew to front neck edge as in illustration.