Size 16
MATERIALS
J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 17 balls of White or Ecru, or 21 balls of any color.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 4.
1½ yds. velvet ribbon, 1 inch wide, in a contrasting color.
1¾ yds. velvet ribbon, 1½ inches wide, for sash, if desired.
5 snap fasteners. 1 hook and eye.
Measurements After Blocking: Bust – 36 inches. Length of skirt from natural waistline – 43 inches. Width at hem – 4½ yds.
Gauge: 3 ch-5 loops make 1½ inches; 4 rows make 1½ inches.
BODICE (Front) … Starting at waistline, ch 125 to measure about 16 inches. 1st row: S c in 9th ch from hook, * ch 5, skip 3 ch, s c in next ch. Repeat from * across (30 ch-5 loops). Ch 7 (to count as tr and ch-3), turn. 2nd row: Tr in 1st loop, * tr in next loop, ch 3, tr in same loop. Repeat from * across (30 ch-3 sps). Ch 6 (to count as ch-5 loop), turn. 3rd row: S c in 1st ch-3 sp, * ch 5, s c in next ch-3 sp. Repeat from * across, ending with ch 5, s c in 4th st of turning ch (30 loops). Ch 7, turn. The 2nd and 3rd rows constitute the pattern. Work in pattern, increasing – by working 2 ch-5 loops in 1st and last ch-3 sp – on the 5th, 9th, 13th and 17th rows (38 ch-5 loops on 17th row). 18th and 19th rows: Work in pattern, ending 19th row with ch 5, s c in 4th st of turning ch. Turn. 20th row: Sl st to center of 2nd ch-5 loop (to start armhole shaping), ch 5, tr in next loop, * tr, ch 3 and tr in next loop. Repeat from * 14 more times, tr in next loop. Ch 5, turn (thus starting front shaping). 21st row: S c in next ch-3 sp, * ch 5, s c in next ch-3 sp. Repeat from * 13 more times (15 loops). Ch 5, turn. 22nd row: Tr in 1st loop, * tr, ch 3 and tr in next loop. Repeat from * 11 more times, tr in next loop, ch 5, s c in next loop. Turn. 23rd row: Sl st to center of 1st ch-5, * ch 5, s c in next ch-3 sp. Repeat from * 10 more times, ch 5, s c in turning ch (12 ch-5 loops). Ch 5, turn. 24th row: Same as 22nd row, but repeat from 9 times and end as for 22nd row. 25th row: Same as 23rd row (10 ch-5 loops). 26th row: Same as 22nd row, but repeat from * 8 times; then ch 5, s c in next loop. Turn. 27th row: Same as 23rd row (9 loops). 28th row: Same as 22nd row, but repeat from * only 6 times. 29th row: Sl st to center of 2nd ch-5 loop, * ch 5, s c in next ch-3 sp. Repeat from * 5 more times (6 ch-5 loops). Ch 5, turn. 30th row: Same as 22nd row, but repeat from * only 3 times. Fasten off. This completes upper half of Front; work other half to correspond.
BODICE (Back) … Starting at bottom, ch 45. 1st row: S c in 9th ch from hook, * ch 5, skip 3 ch, s c in next ch. Repeat from * across (10 loops). Ch 7, turn. 2nd row: Tr in 1st loop; tr, ch 3 and tr in same loop, * tr, ch 3, tr in next loop. Repeat from * to within last loop; make tr, ch 3, 2 tr, ch 3 and tr in last loop (12 ch-3 sps). Ch 21, turn. 3rd row: S c in 9th ch from hook, (ch 5, skip 3 ch, s c in next ch) 3 times, * ch 5, s c in next ch-3 sp. Repeat from * across. Ch 16, break off. Attach thread to last s c, (ch 5, skip 3 ch, s c in next ch) 4 times (20 loops). Ch 8, turn. 4th row: Same as 2nd row (22 sps). Ch 6, turn. 5th row: S c in 1st sp, ch 5, s c in same sp, * ch 5, s c in next sp. Repeat from * across, ending with 2 ch-5 loops in last ch-3 sp (24 loops). Ch 8, turn. 6th row: Same as 2nd row (26 sps). Ch 6, turn. 7th row: Repeat 5th row (28 loops). Ch 7, turn. Continue in pattern, increasing as for Front on the 11th, 15th, 19th and 23rd rows (36 ch-5 loops on 23rd row). 24th and 25th rows: Work in pattern, ending 25th row with ch 5, s c in 4th st of turning ch. Turn. 26th row: Sl st to center of 2nd ch-5 loop (thus starting armhole shaping), ch 5, tr in next loop, * tr, ch 3 and tr in next loop. Repeat from * 29 more times, tr in next sp, ch 5, sl st in next sp. Turn. 27th row: Sl st to center of 1st ch-3 sp, * ch 5, s c in next sp. Repeat from * 28 more times (29 loops). Turn. 28th row: Sl st to center of 1st loop, ch 5, tr in next loop, * tr, ch 3, tr in next loop. Repeat from * 25 more times, tr in next loop, ch 5, s c in same loop. Turn. 29th row: Sl st to center of 1st ch-3, * ch 5, s c in next sp. Repeat from * 25 more times (26 loops). Ch 7, turn. 30th, 31st and 32nd rows: Work in pattern without decreasing. 33rd row: Work 9 ch-5 loops, turn (thus starting back shaping). 34th row: Sl st across 1st loop, ch 5, tr in next loop, * tr, ch 3, tr in next loop. Repeat from * 5 more times, tr in next loop. Ch 6, turn. 35th row: S c in 2nd sp, (ch 5, s c in next sp) 3 times. Turn. 36th row: Sl st across 1st loop, ch 5, tr in each of next 2 loops, ch 5, s c in next loop. Fasten off. This completes upper half of Back; skip 7 ch-3 sps at center and work other half to correspond.
RUFFLE … Make a chain 50 inches long. 1st row: D c in 4th ch from hook, d c in each ch until row measures 46 inches. Cut off remaining chain. Ch 5, turn. 2nd row: S c in next d c, * ch 5, skip 1 d c, s c in next d c. Repeat from * across. Ch 7, turn. 3rd to 7th rows incl: Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows of Bodice-Front alternately. Fasten off. Attach thread at beginning of 7th row, ch 5. 8th row: S c in 1st sp, * ch 3, 3 d c in next sp, holding back the last loop of each d c on hook; thread over and draw through all loops on hook (a 3-d c cluster made); ch 3, 3-d c cluster in same sp, ch 3, s c in next sp, (ch 5, s c in next sp) 4 times. Repeat from * across. Fasten off. Attach thread to wrong side of d c-row and work as for 2nd and 3rd rows of ruffle. Fasten off. Attach thread at beginning of last row, ch 5, and work as for 8th row of ruffle. Fasten off.
SKIRT (Front) … Starting at waistline, ch 125 to measure about 16 inches. Work in pattern as for Bodice-Front, increasing 6 ch-5 loops at equal distances apart on the 2nd ch-5 loop row – to inc. 1 loop, make 2 loops in 1 sp. * Work 3 rows in pattern. Inc. 4 ch-5 loops on next row. Work 3 rows in pattern. Inc. 6 ch-5 loops on next row. Repeat from * once more (56 loops). ** Inc. 7 ch-5 loops on next row. Work 3 rows straight. Inc. 2 ch-5 loops on next row. Work 3 rows straight. Repeat from ** 2 more times. Inc. 7 ch-5 loops on next row. Work 3 rows straight (90 loops). *** On next loop-row, inc. 2 ch-5 loops. On following loop-row inc. 3 ch-5 loops. Repeat from *** until there are 162 loops. Fasten off. Attach thread at beginning of last row, ch 5, and work as for 8th row of ruffle. Fasten off.
SKIRT (Back) … Work exactly as for Skirt- Front.
Starch and block pieces to measurements given. Sew up side seams of skirt, leaving a 4-inch opening at upper left side. Sew up bodice seams, leaving a 3-inch opening at lower left side. Join skirt and bodice at waistline. Work a row of s c all around opening. Sew a hook and eye at waistline, and 2 snap fasteners above and 3 snap fasteners below (thus closing side opening). Work a row of s c all along upper edge of bodice, easing in fullness across bust. Starch ruffle and press. Start with one end of ruffle at center front of bodice, and sew along s c-row just made to highest point on front. Bring ruffle around back of bodice and sew other end to correspond. Find center back of bodice and center of remaining ruffle, and mark with pins. Using pin-marks as starting point, sew ruffle across upper edge of Bodice-Back to highest points. Remaining ruffle on either side is arm piece. Cut narrow ribbon into 4 equal pieces, and sew to inner edge of bodice at 4 highest points. Tie in bows at shoulders. If sash is desired, tie around waist as in illustration.