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Size 34

Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 16 balls, Milward's steel crochet hook No. 6. 30 inches narrow elastic and a buckle.

Gauge: 5 loops make 2 inches (ch 3 and 2 s c make 1 loop); 7 rows make 1 inch. The blouse and skirt are worked separately and then sewed together at waistline.

BLOUSE

Back. Starting at waistline, ch 164 (to measure about 18 inches), turn. 1st row: S c in 7th ch from hook, s c in next ch, * ch 3, skip 2 ch, s c in each of next 2 ch. Repeat from * across (40 loops). Ch 4, turn. 2nd row: 2 s c in 1st loop, * ch 3, 2 s c in next loop. Repeat from * across. Ch 4, turn. Hereafter repeat 2nd row until work measures 3 inches. Then increase 1 loop at both ends of next row (to increase, make 2 s c, ch 3, 2 s c in one loop). * Work straight for 1 inch. On next row increase 1 loop at both ends. Repeat from * once more (46 loops). Work straight until work measures 7 inches.

To Shape Armholes: Sl st across to center of 3rd loop (2 loops decreased), 2 s c in same loop, ch 3, and continue in pattern across, making last 2 s c in 3rd loop from end (2 more loops decreased). Ch 4, turn. Hereafter continue to work in pattern, decreasing 1 loop at both ends of every other row until 36 loops remain. Work straight until work measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulders, decrease 1 loop at both ends of each row until 14 loops remain. Break off.

Front. Starting at waistline, ch 186 (to measure about 20 inches), turn. Work in pattern as for back (46 loops instead of 40 loops), increasing 1 loop at both ends of 1 row after 4 inches (48 loops). Work straight until work measures 8 inches.

To Shape Armholes: Decrease 2 loops at both ends of every other row twice. Then decrease 1 loop at both ends of every other row 3 times (34 loops remain). Work straight until work measures 2 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. Next row: Work in pattern across 1st 17 loops (to start neck shaping). Ch 4, turn. Hereafter work in pattern over these 17 loops, decreasing 1 loop at neck edge every inch (keeping armhole edge straight) until 12 loops remain. To shape shoulder, decrease 1 loop each row at armhole edge, keeping neck edge straight, until all loops are worked off. Attach thread to opposite side of neck edge and work to correspond.

Sleeves. Starting at bottom, ch 96 (to measure about 11 inches), turn and work as for blouse but only skip 1 ch instead of 2 ch in 1st row (31 loops), increasing 1 loop at both ends of every 4th row 3 times (37 loops). Work straight until work measures 2½ inches. To shape top of sleeve, decrease 2 loops at both ends of next row. Then decrease 1 loop at both ends of the following row and every 3rd row thereafter until 25 loops remain. * Work 10 rows straight. On next row decrease 1 loop at both ends. Repeat from * once more (21 loops remain). Then decrease 1 loop at both ends of every other row until 5 loops remain. Break off.

Flowers. Starting at center, ch 9, join with sl st to form ring. 1st rnd: Ch 3, make 24 d c in ring. Join with sl st to 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 2nd and 3rd rnds: Ch 3, 3 d c in each d c around. Join. 4th rnd: Ch 4, d c in each d c with ch-1 between each d c. Join. 5th and 6th rnds: Ch 4, d c in each sp with ch-1 between each d c. Join and break off. Make another flower same as this.

   Sew up shoulder seams. Sew up underarm seams, easing in extra length of front into back, about 1½ inches below armhole. Sew up sleeve seams. Find center top of sleeve and mark with a pin. Measure off 1½ inches on each side of pin and mark. Then measure off 2 inches on each side of these last 2 pins and mark. Remove center pin (4 pin marks in all). Make a ½ inch dart at each pin, taking off ½ inch on each side of pin and graduating it into nothing 2 inches from top edge. Sew darts on wrong side (thus making 4 darts). Sew sleeves in.

SKIRT

Back. Starting at bottom, ch 284 (to measure about 30 inches), turn. Work in pattern as for back (70 loops in the row) until work measures 12 inches. Then decrease 1 loop at both ends of next row and every 8th row thereafter until 38 loops remain. Work straight until work measures desired length. Break off.

Front. Starting at bottom, ch 308 (to measure about 32 inches), turn. Work as for back (76 loops in the row) until work measures 12 inches. Then continue as for back until 40 loops remain and work measures same as back.

Belt. Starting at one end, ch 20, turn. 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook, s c in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: S c in each s c across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row for desired length. Break off. If desired, buckle may be covered with crochet, using same stitch as for belt.

   Sew up side seams. Sew blouse to skirt at waistline. On wrong side of dress, attach thread to one loop of 2nd row of blouse above waistline. Then * ch 7, sl st to 2nd row of skirt and 3 loops to left, ch 7, sl st in 2nd row of blouse and 3 loops to left of previous sl st in blouse. Repeat from * around, thus forming V's for elastic casing. Run elastic through casing. Around neck edge, lower edge of sleeves and around bottom of skirt, work 2 rows of s c making a ch-3 p after every 6th s c on 2nd row. Break off. Sew buckle to belt. Fold opposite end of belt into a point and sew in place. Sew flowers on, as in illustration.