Enter Madame Dress Pattern #1175

MATERIALS Choose one of the following threads in size 30: Clark's O.N.T. Mercerized Crochet, 32 balls of White or Ecru, or 38 balls of any color. J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, 24 balls of White or Ecru, or 32 balls of any color. J. & P. Coats Big Ball Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, 12 balls of White or Ecru, or 16 balls of any color. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 7. 3 snap fasteners. A leather belt and a flower.

BLOUSE (Back)... Starting at bottom, ch 225 to measure about 18 inches.

1st row: Tr in 15 ch from hook, * ch 1, tr in same ch. Repeat from * 3 more times (a fan made); ** ch 1, skip 5 ch, dc in next ch, ch 1, skip 5 ch, fan in next ch. Repeat from ** across, ending with dc in last ch (18 fans). Ch 5, turn.

2nd row: Tr in 1st dc, ch 1, tr in same place (half fan), * ch 1, skip 2 tr of next fan, dc in next tr, ch 1, fan in next dc. Repeat from * across, ending with dc, ch 1, 3 tr with ch-1 between in 9th ch of turning ch-11 (half fan). Ch 4, turn.

3rd row: * Fan in next dc, ch 1, skip 2 tr of next fan, dc in next tr, ch 1. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in 4th st of turning ch-5. Ch 5, turn. The last 2 rows constitute the pattern.

Work in pattern, increasing as follows: 1st row: Make half fan in 1st dc, ch 1 and continue in pattern across, ending with half fan. Ch 5, turn.

2nd row: Half fan in last tr made on previous row, fan in next dc, and continue across, ending with half fan. Ch 5, turn.

3rd row: Fan in ch-1 between half fan and next fan, ch 1 and continue across, ending with fan in ch-1 between fan and half fan, ch 1, dc in 4th st of turning ch. Ch 5, turn.

Repeat the last 3 rows until there are 22 fans, and 1 dc at both ends, in the row. Work without increasing until piece measures 7½ inches. Do not ch 5 to turn.

To Shape Armholes: Sl st in each st to last tr of 2nd fan, ch 4, make half fan in next dc and continue in pattern to within 2 fans from opposite end, ending with half fan in preceding dc, dc in 1st dc of fan. Ch 5, turn. Work in pattern (18 fans, with dc at both ends) without decreasing until piece measures 7¼ inches from 1st row of armhole shaping.

To shape shoulders, sl st in each st across to 3rd tr of 3rd fan, ch 4, fan in next dc and continue in pattern across, turn. Repeat the last row 3 more times (6 shells remain). Fasten off.

FRONT... Starting at bottom, ch 321 to measure about 24 inches.

Work in pattern (26 fans, and 1 dc at both ends of row), decreasing half fan at both ends of 3rd row and every other row thereafter until 24 fans remain in the row - to dec. half fan, on one row ch 4 to turn, dc in center of next fan and continue across, ending with tr in turning ch of last half fan, turn; on next row, sl st in last dc made, ch 5, half fan in same place as sl st, and continue in pattern across, ending row with half fan. Work without decreasing until piece measures 8½ inches in all.

To Shape Armholes: Sl st in each st across to last tr of 2nd fan, ch 4; make half fan in next dc and continue to within 2 fans from opposite end, ending with half fan in preceding dc, dc in 1st dc of next fan. Ch 5, turn. Now dec. half fan at both ends of each row until 18 fans remain.

On next row, work in pattern across until 9 fans are made, ch 11, dc in center tr of next fan, ch 4, turn (thus starting neck shaping). Hereafter work over these 9 fans only, decreasing at neck edge as follows:

1st row: Dc in 3rd tr of next fan, and continue in pattern across. Ch 5, turn.

2nd row: Work in pattern across, ending with half fan in last dc. Ch 4, turn.

3rd row: Fan in next dc; continue in pattern across. Ch 5, turn.

4th row: Work in pattern across, ending with dc in 3rd tr of last fan, dc in last tr of same fan. Ch 4, turn.

Continue in this manner until 5 fans remain. Work without decreasing until piece measures 7¼ inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulder, starting at armhole edge, sl st in each st across to center of 3rd fan, ch 3 and continue across. Fasten off.

SLEEVES ... Starting at bottom, ch 321 to measure about 21 inches.

Work in pattern (26 fans, with 1 dc at both ends) for 4 inches.

To shape top of sleeve, sl st in each st across 1st 3 fans, ch 3, half fan in next dc and continue in pattern to within dc preceding 3rd fan at opposite end, half fan in dc, turn. Hereafter dec. half fan at both ends of each row until 8 fans remain. Fasten off.

Sew up underarm seams, leaving a 3-inch opening at left side. Sew up shoulder seams. Sew up sleeve seams and sew sleeves in, folding extra fullness of sleeve into an inverted pleat at shoulder.

SKIRT (Back) ... Starting at bottom, ch 465 to measure about 31 inches.

Work in pattern (38 fans, with 1 dc at both ends) for 4 inches. Then dec. half fan at both ends of next row and every 4th row thereafter until 26 fans, with 1 dc at both ends, remain.

Work without decreasing until piece measures 22 inches. Then dec. half fan at both ends of next row and every 3rd row thereafter until 20 fans remain. Work without decreasing until piece measures 29 inches, or desired length. Fasten off.

FRONT ... Starting at bottom, ch 512 to measure about 33 inches.

Work in pattern (42 fans, with 1 dc at both ends) for 4 inches. Then dec. half fan at both ends of next row and every 5th row thereafter until 32 fans, with 1 dc at both ends, remain. Work without decreasing until piece measures 22 inches. Then dec. half fan at both ends of next row and every other row thereafter until 22 fans, with 1 dc at both ends, remain. Work without decreasing until piece measures 29 inches, or desired length. Fasten off.

Sew up side seams, leaving a 4-inch opening at top of left side. Sew skirt to blouse at waistline, easing in extra fullness of blouse across center 5½ inches of Front, having side openings of blouse and skirt in line. Work 3 rows of sc closely together along underside of opening. Fasten opening with snap fasteners. Sew on flower as in illustration.

This free pattern originally published in Spool Cotton #128, Cotton Flash!