Debonaire Dress Pattern #161

For different size or shaping, turn to directions on patternbook page.

Back: Starting at waistband, with No. 7 hook ch 27, turn.

1st row: 1 sc in 3rd st from hook and sc in each st of ch, ch 1, turn. (25 sc.)

2nd row: Make 25 sc, picking up the back loops of sts only thus making a row of rib sts. Ch 1 turn.

Repeat 2nd row until work measures about 14 inches when stretched across for the back waistband, or adjust to own waist measurement.

Body: Change to No. 3 hook, and make 140 sc across edge of band, ch 1, turn.

2nd row: Sl st in each of 3 sc, ch 3, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, ch 2 * skip 2 sts, 1 dc in each of next 6 sts, ch 2, and repeat from * across, working to within 3 sts from end of row and ending with 2 dc. There should be 16 groups of 6-dc and 1 group of 2-dc at each end. Ch 3, turn.

3rd to 21st rows incl: Dc over dc and ch 2 over ch-2, ch 3 to turn.

22nd row: Work over first 2-dc group and over next 7 groups of 6-dc, turn.

23rd row: Ch 2, skip next dc, make 1 dc in each of next 5 dc in 1st group, and continue with dc over dc and ch 2 over ch-2. Ch 3, turn.

24th row: Work back over last row to within 1 st from end. Ch 2, turn.

25th row: Skip 1st dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, then continue with ch 2 over ch-2 and dc over dc, ch 3, turn.

26th to 30th rows incl: Continue decreasing 1 st each row at inner edge till at 30th row there will be the 3-dc group and 6 groups of 6-dc. Break thread. Make other side to correspond, starting at inner edge and skipping the 2 center groups (18 sts) leaving these free for yoke to fit in.

Finishing Row: Work 1 sc in each st, then 23 sc down slanting side, 1 sc in each of 18 sts across 2 center groups, 23 sc up other slanting side, and finish with 1 sc in each st across.

Yoke: Attach thread to 3rd st from last of 23 sc made down slanting side. Make 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, ch 3, skip first 3 sts of center groups, 1 dc in next st, ch 3, skip 3 sts, 1 sc into each of next 3 sts, ch 3, skip 3 sts, 1 dc in next, ch 3, skip 3 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, skip 1st, 1 sc into next st, ch 3, turn.

2nd row: * 1 dc into middle st of 3 sc, ch 3, 1 sc in st directly before next dc, 1 sc in dc, 1 sc in st directly after dc, ch 3, and repeat from * once more, then 1 dc in middle st of 3 sc, ch 3, skip 3 sc of finishing row, 1 sc in next st, ch 3, turn.

3rd row: * 1 dc in dc, ch 3, 1 sc into each of next 3 sc, ch 3, repeat from * once more, then 1 dc in last dc, ch 3, skip 1 st of finishing row, 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, ch 3, turn.

4th row: Repeat between *'s of 2nd row 3 times, then skip 1 sc of finishing row, and make 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, ch 3, turn. (These 4 rows form 1 pattern of daisy lace, and portions between *'s form 1 pattern across.)

5th to 11th rows incl: Continue in pattern, taking up 4 sts of finishing row at end of each row, until there are 5 completed daisy patterns at end of 11th row. All sts on slanting sides will have been worked over, and edge across back straightened.

12th row: Attach thread to 1st sc of finishing row, * ch 3, skip 2 sc, dc in next, ch 3, skip 1 sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, repeat from * 6 more times which will bring work to 11th daisy pattern row. Continue across 11th row being careful to have patterns match. Work across remainder of finishing edge in same pattern.

13th and 14th rows: Continue in pattern.

15th row: Sl st over 1 entire pattern and work across row to within last pattern. Turn.

16th row: Sl st in first st, work across to within 1 st from end.

17th row: Sl st over 1 pattern and work across to within 4½ pattern from end. Continue decreasing in this way at each end till there are 16 patterns in the row. Then work even till there are 39 rows of daisy lace.

To Shape Shoulders, 40th row: Sl st over 1 pattern, work across to within last 2 pattern, turn.

41st row: Sl st over 1 pattern, and work across to within 1 pattern from end, turn.

42nd to 45th rows incl: Like 41st row. Break thread and fasten.

Front: Start band same as for back, making buttonholes after the 3rd row.

4th to 7th rows incl: Make 3 sc, ch 1, turn. Work 4 rows over these 3 sc, fasten thread. Skip 1 st of 3rd row, attach thread to next, and work over 8 sts 4 rows of sc. Skip 1 st of 3rd row, and work 4 rows of sc over next 8 sts. Then skip 1 st of 3rd row, and work 4 rows of sc over last 3 sts. Ch 1, turn.

8th row: Make 3 sc, ch 1, 8 sc, ch 1, 8 sc, ch 1, 3 sc, ch 1, turn. Continue making 25 sc to the row as for back band, making buttonholes on other end to correspond.

Body: Change to No. 3 hook, and make 144 sc across edge of band, ch 1, turn. Work same as for back, having 4 dc at each end instead of 2-dc, and in shaping for yoke, make 45 sc across for finishing row instead of 43 sc.

Yoke: 1st to 24th rows incl: Same as for back, excepting on 16th row, sl st in first 3 sts and work across to within 3 sts from end.

25th row: To shape neck, find exact center, and work till that center, turn.

26th to 39th rows incl: Decrease 2 pattern at neck edge every other row, working other side straight.

40th to 45th rows incl: Shape shoulder line as for back. Work other side of front to correspond.

Sleeve: Ch 80 and make 6 rows of sc for band.

7th row: Make 13 patterns across row.

8th to 25th rows incl: Work straight in pattern.

26th and 27th rows: To decrease for armhole, sl st over 1 complete pattern and work across to within 1 pattern from end, turn.

28th row: Decrease 2 pattern at each end. Continue decreasing ½ pattern at each end until only 5 patterns remain. Make other sleeve to correspond.

Press all pieces, then sew shoulder seams. Sew sleeves into armholes, and join sleeve and underarm seams.

Neckband: With No. 7 hook, holding right side of blouse towards you, fasten thread to upper right shoulder seam. Make sc around neck, spacing sts so that work will not pull. Continue with sc for 4 rows, making 5 decreases to the row (to make a decrease, skip 1 st, sc in next). Cover buttons and sew onto correspond with buttonholes.

Skirt. Front: With No. 3 hook, ch 196, 1 sc in 3rd st from hook and in each st of ch (194 sc). Work 20 rows of sc, then ch 3, turn.

21st row: 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, * ch 2, skip 2 sts, 1 dc in each of next 11, repeat from * 13 more times, ch 2, skip 2 sts, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, ch 3, turn.

Work next 25 rows evenly, making dc over dc and ch 2 over ch-2.

47th to 120th rows incl: Decrease 1 dc at beginning and 1 st at end of each row. Waist should measure about 31 inches. If longer skirt is desired, add more rows without decreasing.

Back: Same as front. Sew together side seams. With No. 3 hook make 1 round of sc around top of waist. At end of rnd, * ch 5, skip 4 sc, 1 tr into next, repeat from * around. These spaces are for elastic. Press skirt and block to desired length.

This free pattern originally published in Spool Cotton #61, Crocheted Dresses