Busy Days Skirt Pattern #5023

Size 8-10

MATERIALS:
J. & P. Coats or Clark's O.N.T. Pearl Cotton, size 5, 24 balls.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 8.
5 small buttons.

Gauge for waistband: 4 X-sts make 1 inch; 5 rows make 1 inch.

Skirt … Start at waistline. Make a 27" chain. 1st row: D c in 4th ch from hook, d c in next ch, skip 1 ch, d c in next ch, d c in ch just skipped (thus an X-st is made). Make another X-st, * d c in each of next 3 ch, make 2 X-sts. Repeat from * across until there are 30 d c-groups and 30 X-st groups in the row. Cut off remaining chain. Ch 3, turn. 2nd row: Skip 1 d c of 1st X-st group, d c in next d c, * ch 1, skip 1 d c, d c in next d c, d c in d c just skipped, ch 1, d c in each of next 3 d c, ch 1, skip 1 d c, d c in next d c, d c in d c just skipped. Repeat from * across, ending with d c in each of 2 d c, d c in turning ch. Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: Skip 1 d c, d c in each of next 2 d c, * ch 1, skip 1 d c, d c in next d c, d c in d c just skipped, ch 1, skip 1 d c, d c in next d c, d c in d c just skipped, ch 1, d c in each of 3 d c. Repeat from * across, ending with ch 1, skip 1 d c, d c in 3rd st of turning ch, d c in d c just skipped. Ch 3, turn. 4th to 9th rows incl: Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately. At end of 9th row, ch-1 but do not turn. Sl st in 3rd st of turning ch-3 at beginning of row. Hereafter work is done in rnds instead of rows.

1st rnd: Ch 3, d c in each of 3 d c, * ch 1 and make X-st over each X-st, ch 1, d c in next d c, 2 d c in next d c (an increase), d c in next d c. Repeat from * around. Join last ch-1 with sl st to 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, d c in each of 3 d c, * ch 1, X-st over each X-st, ch 1, d c in each of 4 d c. Repeat from * around. Join. Continue in this manner, increasing 1 d c in center of each d c-group every 10th rnd, until there are 7 d c in each group. Work 4 rnds without increasing. Now inc. 1 d c in center of each d c-group on next rnd and every 5th rnd thereafter until there are 11 d c in each d c-group. Work without increasing until skirt measures 17 inches. Fasten off.

Waistband … 1st row: Attach thread to first st of X-st on 1st row at waistline. Ch 3, d c in next d c, ch 1, skip 1 d c, d c in next d c, d c in d c just skipped, ch 1, skip 2 d c, d c in next d c, d c in 1st of 2 d c just skipped. Continue in this manner, making X-st over X-st, and X-st over each 3-d c group. Ch 2, turn. 2nd row: * Skip 1 d c, s c in next d c, s c in d c just skipped. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: * Skip 1 s c, d c in next s c, d c in s c just skipped. Repeat from * across. Ch 2, turn. Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows alternately until waistband measures 3½ inches or desired depth. Do not break off but work s c closely together along short side of waistband to waistline; turn and work s c in each s c for 2 more rows. Fasten off. Attach thread to opposite short side and work 2 rows of s c, making five ch-4 loops at equal distances apart in 2nd row. Fasten off.

Straps (Make 2) … Starting at one end, ch 21. 1st row: D c in 4th ch from hook, * skip 1 ch, d c in next ch, d c in ch just skipped. Repeat from * across, ending with d c in last ch. Ch 2, turn. 2nd row: Skip 2 d c, s c in next d c, s c in the 2nd d c skipped, * skip 1 d c, s c in next s c, s c in d c just skipped. Repeat from * across, ending with s c in turning ch. Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: Skip 2 s c, d c in next s c, d c in the 2nd d c skipped, * skip 1 s c, d c in next s c, d c in s c just skipped. Repeat from * across, ending with d c in turning ch. Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows alternately until piece measures 21 inches.

Sew straps to waistband, crossing straps at back before sewing the back ends of straps in place. Sew on buttons.