Shirtmaker Dress Pattern #1040

Size 34

Materials: Chadwick's Red Heart Shetland Floss, 16 balls (1½ ounce balls). Milward's Casein knitting pins, 1 pair No. 3 (3 mm. size). Milward's circular knitting pin No. 3 (3 mm. size). Milward's steel crochet hook No. 3. 30 inches of elastic. 6 buttons, and a leather belt.

Gauge: 8 sts make 1 inch; 11 rows make 1 inch.

BLOUSE

Yoke and frill are made separately and then sewed into blouse.

Back. Starting at bottom, on straight needles cast on 130 sts. 1st row: * P 2, k 2, repeat from * across, ending row with p 2. 2nd row: * K 2, p 2, repeat from * across, ending row with k 2. 3rd row: Repeat the 1st row. 4th row: * K 2, keeping yarn at back of work sl next 2 sts as if to p. Repeat from * across, ending row with k 2. These 4 rows constitute the pattern. Repeat these 4 rows, decreasing 1 st at both ends of every 7th row for 8 times (114 sts remain). Work in pattern straight until work measures 6 inches in all. Then increase 1 st at both ends of every 6th row for 12 times (138 sts on needle). Work in pattern straight until work measures 13 inches.

To Shape Armholes: Bind off 6 sts at beginning of each of next 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at both ends of every other row until 110 sts remain. Work in pattern straight until work measures 6 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulders, bind off 4 sts at beginning of each of next 16 rows. Bind off remaining 46 sts for back of neck.

Front. Starting at bottom, on straight needles cast on 146 sts and work as for back until work measures 8 inches (140 sts on needle). Next row: Work across first 47 sts in pattern, bind off next 46 sts (for yoke opening), work in pattern across remaining 47 sts. Continue to work over these last 47 sts in pattern, keeping front edge straight, and continuing with the usual increases as for back, at underarm side, until there are 54 sts on needle. Work straight in pattern until underarm measures same as underarm of back.

To Shape Armhole: Bind off 12 sts at underarm edge. Then decrease 1 st at same edge every other row, until 30 sts remain. Work in pattern straight until armhole measures same as armhole of back. Shape shoulder as for back, until all sts are worked off. Attach yarn to opposite side of yoke opening, and work to correspond.

Yoke and Frill. (Left Side). Cast on 86 sts and work in pattern for ½ inch. Next row: With right side of work toward you, bind off 4 sts at beginning of row (this is neck edge), continue in pattern to end of row (this is lower edge). Following row: Work in pattern straight. Repeat these 2 rows once more. Then decrease 1 st every other row at neck edge (keeping lower edge straight), until 66 sts remain. Work in pattern straight until work measures 3¼ inches. To start frill, on next row increase 80 sts (146 sts on needle). Work in pattern straight for 2 inches. Bind off. This completes left side. Work another piece in same way, but reversing neck shaping.

Collar. Cast on 82 sts and work in pattern straight for 2½ inches. Then bind off 6 sts at beginning of each row until 10 sts remain. Bind off.

Sleeves. Starting at bottom, cast on 86 sts and work in pattern, increasing 1 st at both ends of every 6th row until there are 98 sts on needle. Work straight until work measures 4½ inches. Then to shape top of sleeve, bind off 3 sts at beginning of each of next 2 rows, and 2 sts at beginning of each of the following 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at both ends of every other row until 78 sts remain. Next row: Work in pattern across first 28 sts (thus starting dart to shape sleeve), turn. Work in pattern over these 28 sts, decreasing 1 st at both ends of every other row, until all sts are worked off. Break off. Attach yarn to center 22 sts and work in pattern straight for 2 inches. Bind off. Work the remaining 28 sts same as first 28 sts.

After pieces have been blocked, sew up underarm and shoulder seams. Sew up darts and sleeve seams and sew sleeves in place. With crochet hook work a row of s c around front opening. Place front yoke in position on wrong side of blouse, having frills extend on right side, and sew in place. Sew on collar around neck edge. Work a row of s c around edges of collar. Make a 1 inch hem around sleeves and bottom of blouse. Sew snap fasteners along both sides of frills to about 7 inches from neck. Sew on buttons as in illustration.

SKIRT

Skirt is made on wrong side, then turned inside out. Starting at bottom, with circular needle cast on 480 sts. Join, being careful sts are not twisted. 1st rnd: * K 6, p 2, repeat from * around. 2nd and 3rd rnds: Same as 1st rnd. 4th rnd: * K 6, keeping yarn at back of work, sl next 2 sts as if to p. Repeat from * around (60 knit-ribs). These 4 rnds constitute the pattern for entire skirt. Shape skirt as follows: Work in pattern straight for 4 inches. On next rnd, decrease 1 st in every other knit-rib (to decrease, work off the first 2 sts of knit-rib together as 1 st). * Work in pattern straight for 4 inches (there will be 1 st less in each rib where decrease was made). On next rnd, decrease 1 st in each knit-rib where decreases were not made in previous decrease rnd. Repeat from * 4 more times. ** Then work in pattern straight for 3 inches. Next rnd: Decrease 1 st in every other knit-rib. Repeat from ** once more. Work in pattern straight for 2 inches, or until skirt is desired length. Bind off.

After blocking, with crochet hook work a row of s c around top of skirt. Then, * ch 5, sl st in 8th rnd down from top on wrong side and 4 sts to left, ch 5, sl st in 8th st from last st at top edge, repeat from * around. Run elastic through casing. Make a 1 inch hem at bottom of skirt.