Hialeah Dress Pattern #1092

Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 18 balls and 1 ball of a contrasting color. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 8. 4 buttons, ½ inch in diameter. 30 inches of belting, 1 inch wide. 2 hooks and eyes. 6 snap fasteners and a leather belt.

This Blouse in this pattern is included in Spool Cotton #112, Junior Crochet and Knitting Manual.

BLOUSE Back. Starting at bottom, ch 167 (to measure about 18 inches), turn.

1st row: Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each of next 3 ch, * ch 2, skip 1 ch, sc in next ch, ch 2, skip 1 ch, dc in each of next 5 ch. Repeat from * across, ending row with dc in each of 5 ch. Ch 3, (the turning ch-3 counts as 1 dc at beginning of next row), turn. Hereafter, in working dc's of previous row, pick up only the back loop of each dc.

2nd row: Dc in each of next 4 dc, * ch 2, dc in same dc as last dc, dc in 1st dc of next 5-dc group, ch 2, dc in same dc as last dc, dc in each of next 4 dc of same group. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn.

3rd row: Dc in each of next 4 dc, * ch 2, skip ch-2, sc between next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in each of next 5 dc. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn. These last 2 rows constitute the pattern.

Repeat these 2 rows alternately, decreasing 2 sts at both ends of every other row until 17 dc-stripes and 16 lace-stripes remain. Work straight until work measures 5½ inches.

Then increase 2 sts at both ends of next row and every 3rd row thereafter until there are 21 dc-stripes and 20 lace-stripes in the row. Work straight until work measures 13 inches in all.

To Shape Armholes: Sl st across 1st pattern (1 pattern decreased), work in pattern across to within 1 pattern from opposite end (another pattern decreased). Hereafter decreased sts at both ends of every row until 2 patterns are decreased at both ends (17 dc-stripes and 16 lace-stripes remain). Work straight until work measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping.

To shape shoulders, decrease 1 pattern at both ends of each row until 10 patterns are decreased in all. Break off.

Right Front. Starting at bottom, ch 95 (to measure about 10½ inches), turn. Work in pattern as for back (12 dc-stripes and 11 lace-stripes), decreasing 2 sts at one end every other row (underarm side), keeping opposite edge straight (front edge), until 2 patterns are decreased.

Work straight until work measures 5½ inches. Hereafter continue to work in pattern increasing 2 sts at underarm side every other row until 2 patterns are increased.

At the same time when work measures 7¾ inches in all, make a buttonhole 1 pattern in from front edge on next row and every 3½ inches thereafter until 4 buttonholes are made (to make a buttonhole ch 8, skip 1 pattern and continue in pattern across). Work straight until underarm measures same as underarm of back.

To Shape Armhole: Starting at underarm side, decrease 1 pattern every other row twice. Then decrease 2 sts at armhole edge every row until 3 patterns in all are decreased. Work straight until work measures 5½ inches from 1st row of armhole shaping (making the last buttonhole on the last row). Then work 1 inch straight.

On next row starting at front edge sl st across first 4 patterns (thus shaping neck). Ch 3, and work in pattern straight until armhole measures same as armhole of back. To shape shoulder, decrease 1 pattern at armhole edge every row until all patterns are worked off.

Left Front. Work to correspond with right front, omitting buttonholes and reversing shapings.

Sleeves. Starting at bottom, ch 111 (to measure about 12 inches), turn. Work in pattern as for back (14 dc-stripes and 13 lace-stripes) increasing 2 sts at both ends of every 3rd row until 16 dc-stripes and 15 lace-stripes are in the row. Work straight until work measures 3½ inches.

To shape top of sleeve, decrease 1 pattern at both ends of next row. Work 1 row straight. * Decrease 3 dc at both ends of next row. Work 1 row straight. Decrease 2 dc at both ends of next row. Work 1 row straight. Then decrease lace-stripe at both ends of next row. Work 1 row straight (4 patterns decreased). Repeat from * once more.

Hereafter continue to decrease 2 sts at both ends of every row until 4 dc-stripes and 3 lace-stripes remain. Break off. Sew up underarm and shoulder seams. Sew up sleeve seams and sew sleeves in.

Bands. With contrasting color, ch 11, turn.

1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across. Ch 1, turn.

2nd row: Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row until band is long enough to go across right front edge and all around neck edge. Break off, and sew band on along edges.

Then, turn band over and sew to blouse with a ½ inch hem, making a pleat at corners of neck edge to make band lie flat. Make 2 bands for bottom of sleeves and sew on in same way. Sew buttons on to correspond with buttonholes.

SKIRT Back. Starting at bottom, ch 231 (to measure about 24 inches), turn. Work in pattern as for back until work measures 5 inches.

Then decrease 2 sts at both ends of next row and every 3rd row thereafter until work measures 21 inches (23 dc stripes and 22 lace-stripes in last row). Work straight until work measures 24 inches.

Then decrease 2 sts at both ends of every other row until 17 dc-stripes and 16 lace-stripes remain. Work straight until work measures 31 inches or desired length.

Front. Starting at bottom, ch 247 (to measure about 26 inches), turn. Work in pattern as for back until 19 dc-stripes and 18 lace-stripes (instead of 17 dc-stripes and 16 lace-stripes) remain. Work straight until work measures same as back. Break off. Sew up side seams leaving a 5 inch opening at left side. Sew belting to waistline. Sew snap fasteners on both sides of opening.

This free pattern originally published in Spool Cotton #91, Cotton Fashions. Spool Cotton #112, Junior Crochet and Knitting Manual