Crocheted Shell Pattern

Sizes: Small, Medium and Large Materials Required: AMERICAN THREAD "AUNT LYDIA'S" HEAVY RUG YARN 5 (6, 7)—70 yd. skeins Chartreuse 3 (4, 5)—70 yd. skeins each Folly Pink, Watermelon and Orange Aluminum Crochet Hook Size K OR ANY SIZE HOOK WHICH WILL RESULT IN STITCH GAUGE BELOW

GAUGE: 2 shells with 1 sc between = 3½ inches Directions are given for Small size. Changes for Medium and Large sizes are given in parentheses.

BACK: With Chartreuse ch 74 (82, 90), sc in 2nd st from hook, * insert hook in next ch, pull loop through, repeat from * 6 times, yo and pull through all loops on hook, ch 1, sl st in same ch where last st was pulled through, sc in next ch, repeat from 1st * across ch, ch 1, turn.

2nd ROW: Sc in 1st sc, * 7 sc in ch at center of next st, sc in next sc, repeat from * across row, ch 1, turn, cut Chartreuse.

3rd ROW: With Watermelon, and working in back loop of sts only, sc in 1st sc, pull up a loop in each of the next 3 sc, yo and pull through all loops on hook, ch 1, sl st in same space with last st pulled through, sc in next sc, * pull up a loop in each of the next 3 sc, skip next sc, pull up a loop in each of the next 3 sc, yo and pull through all loops on hook, ch 1, sl st in same space with last st, sc in next sc, repeat from * across row ending with pull up a loop in each of the next 3 sc, yo and pull through all loops on hook, ch 1, sl st in same space with last st, sc in last sc, ch 1, turn.

4th ROW: Working through both loops, sc in 1st sc, 3 sc in ch at center of next st, * sc in next sc, 7 sc in center of next st, repeat from * across row ending with 3 sc in center of next st, sc in last st, ch 1, turn, cut Watermelon.

5th ROW: With Folly Pink, and working through back loop of sts only, sc in 1st sc, * pick up a loop in each of the next 3 sc, skip next sc, pick up a loop in each of the next 3 sc, yo and pull through all loops on hook, ch 1, sl st in same space with last st, sc in next sc, repeat from * across row, ch 1, turn.

6th ROW: Working through both loops, sc in 1st sc, * 7 sc in center of next st, sc in next sc, repeat from * across row, ch 1, turn, cut Folly Pink.

Repeat from 3rd to 6th row for pattern working next 2 rows in Orange. Then work in following color scheme: next 2 rows Chartreuse, next 2 rows Watermelon, next 2 rows Folly Pink, next 2 rows Orange. Continue in color scheme until 6 Orange stripes have been completed, cut yarn.

FRONT: With Chartreuse ch 82 (82, 90) and work same as Back.

FINISHING: Block each section slightly. With right side of back facing, attach Chartreuse at lower corner of right edge and work a row of sc up side of back working 1 sc in each row, ch 1, turn.

NEXT ROW: Working through both loops, 1 sc in each sc, ch 3, turn.

NEXT ROW: Skip 1st 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 6 sc, * ch 2, skip 2 sc for beading, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sc, repeat from * twice, ch 2, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in each remaining sc for armhole, cut yarn.

Attach Chartreuse in upper left corner and work other side in same manner working border and beading to correspond to opposite side. Then work both sides of front in same manner.

Crochet seams of shoulder tog as follows: with right side of Front facing, attach Chartreuse in 1st sc of shell pattern, working alternately through sts of Front and Back for shoulder seam, * ch 1, sl st in next sc, repeat from * 11 times, then work across Front neck edge only in same manner to within last 13 sc, then work alternately through back and front sts for other shoulder seam, cut yarn.

Attach Chartreuse in 1st free sc at Back neck edge and work same as Front neck edge. Weave Chartreuse border sts tog on wrong side.

CORD: (Make 2). With Chartreuse work a ch 54 inches long, then work a sl st in each st of ch, cut yarn. Lace through beading at each side.

This free pattern originally published in Current Attractions