These directions are for size 14. Changes for sizes 16 and 18 are in parentheses.
MATERIALS
BERNAT Merlaine—27(28-29) skeins Brown (M C); 7(8-8) skeins Beige (C C)
1 pair each straight knitting needles Nos. 2 and 3 (standard)
1 24 inch circular needle No. 2 (standard)
1 steel crochet hook No. 4
8 buttons
1 yd ½ inch elastic
1 pair shoulder pads
GAUGE: 7 sts = 1 inch; 10 rounds = 1 inch on No. 2 needles
8 sts = 1 inch; 9 rows = 1 inch on No. 3 needles
SKIRT
NOTE: Any changes in length of skirt are made before first dec round.
Using circular needle and M C, cast on 480(528-576) sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts. Round 1: *K 8(9 10) sts, P 2, repeat from * round and round until piece measures 4(3-2) inches. FIRST DEC ROUND: K 2 tog in center of next K panel and in every second K panel thereafter to end of round—24 sts dec. Work even in pattern for 2½ inches. SECOND DEC ROUND: K 2 tog in center of second K panel and in every second K panel thereafter to end of round—24 sts dec. Continue in this manner, dec 1 st in alternate K panels every 2½ inches until piece measures 26(27-19) inches—264(288-408) sts. On the next round dec in same manner as before and repeat this dec every 2 inches until piece measures 32 inches and there are 192(216-240) sts. ON SIZES 14 and 16 ONLY, bind off all sts. ON SIZE 18 ONLY, on the next round dec 24 sts in same manner as before. Work in ribbing pattern for 1 inch. Bind off.
JACKET
BACK: Using No. 3 needles and M C, cast on 127(136-142) sts. Following chart, work in pattern st for 1 inch. On the next row dec 1 st each end of needle and repeat this dec every ¾ inch 4 times more. Work even on 117(126-132) sts until piece measures 6(6-6½) inches. On the next row inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc every ¾ inch 7 times more. Work even on 133(142-148) sts until piece measures 14½(14½-15½) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLES: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 7(8-8) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 5 times. Work even on 109(116-122) sts until armholes measure 7½(7¾-8) inches. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At the beg of each of the next 6 rows bind off 10 sts; at the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 6(8-10) sts. Bind off remaining 37(40-42) sts.
LEFT FRONT: Using No. 3 needles and M C, cast on 70(76-79) sts. Following chart, work in pattern st for 1 inch. On the next row dec 1 st at arm edge and repeat this dec every ¾ inch 4 times more. Work even on 65(71-74) sts until piece measures 6(6-6½) inches. On the next row inc 1 st at arm edge and repeat this inc every ¾ inch 7 times more. Work even on 73(79-82) sts until piece measures 14½(14½-15½) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLE: At arm edge bind off 10(11-11) sts. Dec 1 st at same edge every other row 5(6-6) times. Work even on 58(62-65) sts until armhole measures 5½(5¾-6) inches. SHAPE NECK: At front edge bind off 14(16-17) sts once and 2 sts 4 times. Work even on 36(38-40) sts until armhole measures 7½(7¾-8) inches. SHAPE SHOULDER: At arm edge bind off 10 sts 3 times and 6(8-10) sts once.
RIGHT FRONT: Work to correspond with left front, being sure to reverse shaping and forming first buttonhole when piece measures 6½ inches. BUTTONHOLE: Starting st front edge work 4 sts; bind off next 4 sts; work to end of row. On the next row cast on 4 sts over 4 sts bound off previous row. Make 6 more buttonholes, evenly spaced—the last one to be made ¼ inch before start of neck shaping.
SLEEVES: Using No. 3 needles and M C, cast on 73(73-76) sts. Following chart, work in pattern st for 2 inches. On the next row inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc every ¾ inch until there are 107(109-112) sts. Work even until piece measures 17½(18-18) inches. SHAPE CAP: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 10(11 11) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row for 4½(4¾-5) inches. At the beg of each of the next 8 rows bind off 3 sts. Bind off remaining sts.
LEFT FRONT FACING: Using No. 2 needles and M C, cast on 28(30-32) sts. Work in stockinette st until piece measures 14½(14½-15½) inches, ending with a K row. At the beg of the next row inc 1 st and repeat this inc at same edge every 1 inch and AT THE SAME TIME, when piece measures 20(20¼-21½) inches, SHAPE NECK: At straight edge bind off 14(16-17) sts once and 2 sts 4 times. Work even until piece measures same length as front edge to shoulder. Bind off.
RIGHT FRONT FACING: Work to correspond with left front facing, reversing shaping and forming 7 buttonholes to match buttonholes on right front.
CUFFS: Make 4. Using No. 2 needles and M C, cast on 73(73-76) sts. Work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every 4th row until piece measures 2½ inches. Bind off.
COLLAR: Make 2. Using No. 2 needles and M C, cast on 98(100-102) sts. Work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every 4th row until piece measures 2½ inches. Bind off.
POCKET FLAPS: Make 2. Using No. 2 needles and M C, cast on 30 sts. Work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every 4th row until piece measures 2 inches. Bind off.
FINISHING: Using M C, work 2 rows s c around bottom of skirt and 4 rows s c around top of skirt. Work a beading on inside top of skirt. Seam underarm, shoulder and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves. With right sides facing, seam side and bound off edges of cuffs. Turn to right side of work and s c cuff to bottom of sleeve, having center of cuff at seam of sleeve. Sew facings to fronts, matching buttonholes. Using M C, work 2 rows s c on bottom edge of jacket. Seam collar in same manner as cuffs and sew cast on edges around neck to within ¾ inch of each front edge. Sew cast on edges of pocket flaps on fronts as shown in photograph. Using M C, work 2 rows s c around edges of pocket flaps. Block jacket and skirt. Run elastic, cut to waist measurement, through beading and sew ends. Sew buttons on left front. Sew in shoulder pads.
Other great patterns from New Handknits, Book No. 22.
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