Wimbledon Dress Pattern #154

Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 11 balls of color 40 French Rose (3 balls for blouse only) and 1 ball of color 70 Blue Jewel; or Clark's O.N.T. Cronita, 15 balls of Rose and 1 ball of Blue. Milward's steel crochet hooks No. 1 and No. 3. Fourteen buttons. Gauge: 3 designs equal 1 inch; 3 rows equal 1 inch. For different size or shaping, turn to directions on patternbook page.

Blouse: Using No. 1 hook, with Rose, ch 160. Join with sl st to form entire neckline.

1st rnd: Ch 4, dc in same st from which ch-4 started, dc in next st of foundation ch, ch 1, dc in same st, dc in next st, ch 1, dc in same st (this makes the increasing point on one shoulder). * Skip 1 st of ch, dc in next st, ch 1, dc in same st. Repeat from * 17 more times. Skip next ch in each of next 3 ch sts make: 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc (increasing point at center back). Repeat from 1st * 2 more times. Then continue to end of rnd. Join with sl st to 3rd st of ch-4.

2nd rnd: Sl st in ch-1, ch 4, dc in same st, dc over next dc, dc over next ch-1, ch 1, dc over same ch, dc over next dc. * Dc over next ch-1, ch 1, dc over same ch. Repeat from * to increasing point at center back and dc over dc of center group, 2 dc with ch-1 between over ch-1, dc over next dc. Continue as before, making same increase as for back at shoulder and center front. Join with sl st.

3rd rnd: Sl st in ch-1, ch 4, dc in same ch. Continue around, making design over extra dc's. (This increases 1 group in 2 rows).

4th to 17th rnds incl: Alternate 2nd and 3rd rnds. Fasten off.

Front: Measure back 7½ inches from center front and attach thread in ch-1. 1st row: Working toward center, ch 4, dc in same ch. Continue in design, making increases as before at center front. Work row 7½ inches from center front, then ch 9, turn.

2nd row: Dc in 5th ch from hook and work across. Ch 9, turn.

3rd row: Same as 2nd, but end with ch 4.

4th to 10th rows incl: Continue as before and make decreases of 1 design every other row at beginning and end to shape underarm. Then work one side only, making a decrease of 1 design at each end until only 1 is left. Work other side of front to correspond.

Back: Repeat directions for front.

Band: With Rose, using No. 3 hook, ch 23. 1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and sc in each st of ch. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: Sc in back loop of each st across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row until band is half your waist measurement. Make similar band for back and sew bands to blouse.

Using No. 3 hook, attach Blue to neckline and work a row of sc in each st of foundation ch. Join with sl st. 2nd rnd: Ch 1, sc in each st, decreasing 2 sts at center front and back. Join with sl st. Repeat this rnd 5 more times.

Underarm Bands: Back: Using No. 3 hook, attach Blue and work a row of sc along one side. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: Sc in each st across, ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row 3 more times. Make other side to correspond. With main color work 1 row of sc around sleeves.

Front: Make 3 rows same as for back. 4th row: Sc in each of 1st 2 sts, ch 5, skip 5 sts of row below (for buttonhole), sc in each of next 10 sts and repeat from * to make 6 more buttonholes. Finish band with 2 more rows of sc. Work other side in same manner. Sew buttons on bands to correspond with buttonholes.

Skirt Start at waist, No. 1 hook, ch 205, turn.

1st row: Dc in 4th ch from hook, * ch 2, dc in same ch, skip next 2 ch, dc in next. Repeat from * making 10 triangles, then ch 1, skip next 2 ch, dc in next, dc in next ch, ch 1 (this starts gore pattern). Repeat from * along ch making 6 panels of 10 triangles each, ending row with 2 dc together, ch 3 (to count as dc), turn.

2nd row: Dc over next dc, ch 1, * dc in next triangle, ch 2, dc in same triangle. Repeat from * for 10 triangles, then ch 1, dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 1. Repeat from * to end of row, ch 3, turn.

3rd, 4th and 5th rows: Continue with pattern.

6th row: Instead of turning, continue going all around skirt (the 1st 5 rows forming an opening at side).

7th row: Increase on this row. To increase make 1 extra triangle on each side of gore—that is, make 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc in ch-1 of previous row.

Continue for 7 rows, increase on next. * Continue for 8 rows, increase on next. Repeat from * once. Continue for 10 rows, increase on next. Continue for 15 rows, increase on next. Continue without increasing until 4 rows less than the desired length.

Next row, 1 dc in each triangle and dc in each dc. The next 3 rows are dc in each dc. Break off.

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