Striped Yoke Blouse Pattern #7

Blouse instructions are given for size 16. It is always well to remember to take your own individual measurements—bust, underarm to waistline, across back, length of back to waist, arm, etc.—and check these against your work as you go. Variations frequently occur because of the fact that some persons crochet more loosely or tightly than others. Consequently, you may find it necessary to make a few minor individual adjustments in the directions. Remember also that should you choose to use Mercerized Crochet thread instead of Knitting & Crochet Cotton, a few additional stitches may be required to attain the size desired as diameters of these threads are not the same.

Materials: Clark's O.N.T. Knitting & Crochet Cotton, 3 balls of main color (referred to as color "A" in instructions) and 1 ball contrasting color (referred to as color "B"). Milward's steel crochet hook No. 3 or 4.

Suggested color combinations are: Color 25 Crystal Blue and Color 88 Peach; Color 26 Nile Green and Ecru; Color 9 Yellow and White; Color 84 Beige and Color 26 Nile Green; Color 116 Blossom Pink and White.

BACK. Begin with color A. Ch 122, turn. 1st row: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, * ch 1, skip 1 st of foundation ch, 1 sc in next, and repeat from * to end of row. Ch 2, turn.

2nd to 24th rows incl: 1 sc under ch-1 of previous row, * ch 1, skip sc, 1 sc under next ch-1, and repeat from * to end of row. Do not break off. This completes the waist band.

BLOUSE BODY. The entire blouse is made with knot sts. 1st row: * 1 knot st, skip ch-1 of previous row, 1 sc in next sc, and repeat from * to end of row (59 knot sts in all). Make 1 knot st and turn.

2nd to 36th rows incl: 1 sc in the loop of 1st knot st of previous row, * 1 knot st, 1 sc in the loop of next knot st, and repeat from * to end of row, always making 1 knot st to turn. (Back should now measure about 8½ inches from top of waistband.

37th and 38th rows: Begin here to shape armholes. Decrease 2 knot sts at beginning and 2 knot sts at end of each row. (To decrease 2 knot sts, sl st to 3rd knot st and continue working to within 2 knot sts from end of row.) Turn.

** 39th row: Attach color B, decrease 1 knot st at beginning and 1 knot st at end of row.

40th row: Make row of knot sts with color B. No decreases.

41st and 42nd rows: Pick up color A, and make row of knot sts. No decreases.

43rd to 62nd rows incl: Repeat from ** 5 times more, and then break off. (Last stripe made should be of color A.)

FRONT. Begin with color A. Ch 132, and work the waist band same as back.

Then make 64 knot sts across band and continue back and forth for 38 rows. Underarm measurement should correspond with that of back.

39th row: Attach color B. Decrease 1 knot st at beginning and 1 knot st at end of row.

40th row: Make row of knot sts. No decreases.

41st and 42nd rows: Pick up color A, and work knot sts. No decreases.

43rd and 44th rows: Pick up color B and make knot sts.

45th to 56th rows incl: Pick up color A. Divide front of blouse in half, to find center front for opening, and work back and forth to center front only, alternating colors every two rows as done for back. Depth of opening will be about 2½ inches, with 3 stripes of color A and 3 stripes of color B.

57th to 64th rows incl: Take up color A, and work knot sts to within 3 inches of opening, alternating colors for stripes as before. Last stripe made should be of color B. Break off thread.

Attach color A to other side front of blouse at armhole side and work like other side of front. (Follow directions for rows 45 to 64 incl.)

SLEEVE BAND. With color A, ch 97 and turn.

1st to 10th rows incl: Same as for waistband of blouse.

PUFFED SLEEVE. 1st row: * 1 knot st, skip ch-1 of previous row, 1 sc in next sc, and repeat from * to end of row (48 knot sts in row). 1 knot st to turn.

2nd row: Increase 1 knot st every 7th st by putting 2 knot sts in 1 loop.

3rd row: Increase 1 knot st every 8th st.

4th to 8th rows incl: Work knot sts with no increase in row.

9th and 10th rows: Decrease 2 knot sts at beginning and 2 knot sts at end of each row.

11th row: Attach color B. Decrease 1 knot st at beginning and 1 knot st at end of row.

12th row: Make row of knot sts. No decreases.

13th to 20th rows incl: Pick up color A. Decrease 1 knot st at beginning and 1 knot st at end of every first row of new stripe. Alternate stripes. There should be 3 color B stripes and 2 color A stripes.

21st to 24th rows incl: Pick up color A, and decrease 1 knot st at beginning and 1 knot st at end of row. Make second sleeve to correspond.

Sew up shoulder seams and side seams from waistband to armholes. Fit in sleeves, having the contrasting stripes in sleeves match up with those in back and front of blouse. Whip in place.

Finish neck edge with row of knot sts, and down front opening, make 3 loops of ch-5 each on right side, and sc up left side.

Make 4 loops of ch-5 each on front waistband. Sew 4 buttons on back waistband to correspond. These may be crocheted to match blouse.

This free pattern originally published in Spool Cotton #29, Fashions Crochet and Knitting