Crocheted Overblouse Pattern #129

Size 34-36 Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 7 balls of color 9 Yellow and 2 balls of color 82 Autumn Glow. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 6. Two buttons for collar. Gauge: 2 patterns equal 1 inch; 9 rows equal 2 inches.

Suggested Color Combinations 70 Blue Jewel with 55 Navy Blue 26 Nile Green with 61A Dark Ecru 116 Blossom Pink with 58 Dark Red 126 Spanish Red with White 106 Sport Green with 84 Beige

Back: With Yellow, ch 151. 1st row: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, and in each st of foundation ch. Ch 1, turn.

2nd row: 1 sc in each sc, ch 1, turn.

3rd, 4th and 5th rows: Repeat 2nd row. At end of 5th row, ch 5, turn.

1st row of lace pattern: * Skip 3 sts, 1 dc in next st, 1 sc in same st, ch 3, repeat from * across, ending with 1 dc in last st (omitting last sc), ch 5, turn. There will be 35 patterns in row.

2nd row: * Skip the ch 3 and sc of previous row, 1 dc and sc into dc, ch 3, repeat from * across, ending with 1 dc in 3rd st of turning ch, ch 5, turn. (This 2nd row is the pattern row.)

3rd to 7th rows incl: Repeat 2nd row, making ch 3 instead of ch 5 at the end of the 7th row.

8th row: Work 34 patterns, dc and sc in last dc, 1 dc in 3rd st of turning ch, ch 3, turn.

9th row: Skip 1st dc and sc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, (33 patterns), 1 dc in last dc, 1 dc in next st of turning ch, ch 5, turn.

10th row: Skip the 1st 2 dc, pattern across, ending with dc in last dc, dc in next st of turning ch, ch 5, turn. (1 pattern has been decreased on each side.)

11th to 15th rows incl: Work in pattern without decreasing.

16th and 17th rows: Decrease 1 pattern on each side as in 9th and 10th rows.

18th to 31st rows incl: Work evenly in pattern, then increase 1 pattern on each side as follows:

32nd row: 1 dc in 1st dc, ch 3, pattern across, 2 dc in 3rd st of turning ch, ch 5, turn.

33rd row: 1 dc and sc in 2nd dc, ch 3, pattern across, ending with 1 dc and 1 sc in last dc, 1 dc in 3rd st of turning ch, ch 5, turn.

34th to 41st rows incl: Work evenly in pattern.

42nd and 43rd rows: Increase 1 pattern each side as in 32nd and 33rd rows.

44th to 68th rows incl: Work pattern evenly, omitting the turning ch at the end of the 68th row. Piece should now measure about 15 inches.

69th row: (armhole) Sl st 1 pattern, sl st to next dc, ch 3, 30 patterns across, dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 5, turn.

70th row: Work 30 patterns across, dc and sc in last dc, 1 dc in next st of turning ch, ch 5, turn.

71st to 84th rows incl: Work evenly in pattern.

85th row: Work 15 patterns, 1 dc in next dc, ch 5, turn. Work on these 15 patterns for 10 more rows, ending at neck edge.

Shape shoulder by working 11 patterns, 1 dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, turn. Sl st 2 patterns, and sl st to next dc, ch 3, 3 patterns, 1 dc and sc in next dc, ch 3, turn. Dc into 1st dc, ch 3, dc and sc into next dc, dc in next dc, break thread. Attach thread in same center dc already worked, ch 5, and work left side to correspond.

Front: Chain 167. 1st row: Beginning in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each st of foundation ch. Work same as back, having 41 patterns instead of 35, making same decreases and increases, up to 69th row (armhole).

69th row: Sl st 2 patterns, work 35 patterns, 1 dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, turn.

70th row: Work 33 patterns, 1 dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 5, turn.

71st row: Work 32 patterns, dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 5, turn.

72nd to 87th rows incl: Work evenly in pattern.

88th row: Work 12 patterns, 1 dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, turn.

89th row: Pattern across, ch 5, turn.

Repeat these last 2 rows for 3 times (10 patterns across). In next row work 10 patterns, 1 dc in turning ch, ch 5, turn. Work 2 rows even, ending at neck edge.

Shape shoulder by working 6 patterns, 1 dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, turn. Sl st 2 patterns, sl st to next dc, 1 dc in next dc, break thread. Work other side to correspond, leaving 6 patterns free in center.

Sleeve: Ch 91. 1st row: Skip 5 sts, * 1 dc in next st, 1 sc in next st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, repeat from * across, ending with dc in last st, ch 5, turn. (29 patterns across).

2nd to 55th rows incl: Work evenly in pattern.

56th row: To shape top of sleeve, sl st 1 pattern, work 25 patterns, 1 dc and sc in next dc, dc in next dc, ch 5, turn.

57th row: Work 24 patterns, 1 dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 5, turn.

58th and 59th rows: Work 25 patterns, 1 dc in turning ch, ch 3, turn.

60th row: Work pattern to within 1 pattern from end, dc and sc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 3, turn.

Repeat this row until there are 5 patterns left, then work 1 row with 1 dc in each dc and ch-1 between. Break off.

Cuff: With Autumn Glow, ch 30. 1st row: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and 1 sc in each st of foundation ch. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: 1 sc into back loop of each sc. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row until there are 71 ridges (2 rows form a ridge). Then turn and work 1 sc in each ridge along one long side. Then work another row of sc over sc's on the long side.

Collar: With Autumn Glow, ch 36. 1st row: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and 1 sc in each st of foundation ch. Ch 1, turn. Work same as cuff until there are 103 ridges. Finish along one long side same as cuff.

Belt: With Yellow, ch 21. 1st row: Beginning in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each st of foundation ch. Ch 1, turn. Sc over sc for length desired (28 inches). Fasten with 2 snappers.

Sew all together, and place one button at neck edge, and one button at collar corner, with corresponding loops. The edges of the collar and cuffs on which the double rows of Sc were made are sewed to the blouse.

This free pattern originally published in Spool Cotton #38, Cotton Fashions for Crochet and Knitting