Summer Mesh Blouse Pattern #15

Size 34-36 Materials: Clark's O.N.T. Knitting and Crochet Cotton, 4 balls; or J. & P. Coats Crochet Cord, 12 balls. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 4.

Back. Begin at band. Ch 101, turn.

1st row: 1 half dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 half dc in each st of ch, ch 1, turn.

2nd to 15th rows incl: 1 half dc in each st of previous row, ch 1, turn. Do not break thread but continue with bodice.

Bodice. Ch 5, 1 sc in 1st st, * ch 2, skip 1 st, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts, and repeat from * across ending row with 3 dc (3 sts left). Then ch 2, skip 1 st, 1 sc in next, ch 2, 1 dc in last st. Ch 5, turn. (24 groups of 3-dc).

2nd row: 1 sc in 1st dc of 3-dc group, * ch 3, 1 sc in last dc of same group, ch 4, 1 sc in 1st dc of next group, and repeat from * ending row with sc in last dc of group, ch 4, 1 sc in 3rd st of ch-5, ch 5, turn.

3rd row: 1 sc in 1st ch-4 loop, * ch 2, 3 dc under next ch-3 loop, ch 2, 1 sc under next ch-4 loop, and repeat from * ending with ch 2, 1 dc in last st, ch 5, turn.

4th to 41st rows incl: Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately till 21 rows of shells are made (or 7¼ inches above waist band).

42nd row: Shape armhole as follows: Sl st to beginning of 2nd 3-dc group. Work pattern across as usual to within 2 3-dc groups from end. Ch 3, turn.

43rd row: Skip 1 group of 3-dc and work pattern across. (20 groups of 3-dc in row).

44th to 56th rows incl: Work pattern evenly.

57th row: To shape neck, work over 8 groups of dc from armhole side.

58th to 65th rows incl: Decrease 1 group of 3-dc from neck side every odd row (3 groups of 3-dc left).

66th to 70th rows incl: Work pattern evenly, 3 groups of 3-dc to the row. Break off. Make other side to correspond.

Front. Ch 111 for band and work same as back band.

Bodice. Ch 3, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, * ch 2, 1 sc in next st, ch 2, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts, and repeat from * ending with 3 dc (28 groups of dc). Ch 4, turn.

2nd row: 1 sc in last dc of 1st group of 3-dc, * ch 4, 1 sc in 1st dc of next group, ch 3, 1 sc in last dc of same group, and repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn.

3rd row: 2 dc under 1st loop, * ch 2, 1 sc under next ch-4 loop, ch 2, 3 dc under next ch-3 loop, and repeat from * across.

4th to 41st rows incl: Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately. This should measure same as back underarm.

42nd row: Shape armhole as follows: Sl st to beginning of 3rd 3-dc group, work pattern across as usual to within 5 3-dc groups from end, ch 3, turn.

43rd row: Skip 1 group of 3-dc and work pattern across (22 groups of 3-dc in row).

44th to 48th rows incl: Work pattern evenly.

49th row: To shape neck, work over 9 groups of dc from armhole side.

50th to 59th rows incl: Decrease 1 group of 3-dc from neck side every odd row (4 groups of 3-dc left).

60th to 73rd rows incl: Work pattern evenly over these 4 groups. Break off. Make other side to correspond.

Sew up shoulder and side seams, leaving waist bands open.

Neck Edge. 1st row: Attach thread to center back at neck and make 2 or 3 half dc in each space, thus having made about 218 half dc in the row.

2nd to 9th rows incl: 1 half dc in each st of previous row with 7 decreases to each row placed at regular intervals but not one over another.

10th row: Work 1 sl st in each st of previous row to keep neck from stretching.

Sleeve Band. Ch 89 and work as for back band for 6 rows.

Sleeve. 1st row: Ch 5, 1 sc in 1st st, * ch 2, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, 1 sc in next st, and repeat from * across (29 groups of 3-dc in row).

2nd to 9th rows incl: Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows of back.

10th and subsequent rows: Decrease 1 group of 3-dc at beginning and 1 group at end of each odd row till there are 6 groups left in the row. Work next row and break off.

Make other sleeve same way. Pin in armhole and sew.

This free pattern originally published in Spool Cotton #35, Handmade Sports Wear