These directions are for size 14. Changes for sizes 16 and 18 are in parentheses.
MATERIALS
BERNAT Sparkle-laine—20(21-22) balls for dress, 12(14-16) balls for cardigan
1 pair each straight knitting needles Nos. 0 and 2 (standard)
1 24 inch circular needle No. 2 (standard)
1 steel crochet hook No. 5
1 slide fastener
1 pair shoulder pads
8 buttons
1 yd 1 inch elastic
GAUGE: 8 sts = 1 inch; 12 rows = 1 inch
SKIRT
NOTE: Any changes in length of skirt are made before first dec round.
Using circular needle, cast on 450(460-470) sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts. K round and round until piece measures 2 inches. FIRST DEC ROUND: * K 43(44-45) sts, K 2 tog, repeat from * to end of round—10 sts dec. Work even for 2 inches. SECOND DEC ROUND: * K 42(43-44) sts, K 2 tog, repeat from * to end of round—10 sts dec. Continue to dec 10 sts in this manner every 2 inches, having 1 st less between dec on each dec round, until piece measures 19(23-25) inches—360(350-350) sts on needle. On the next round dec 10 sts in same manner as before and repeat this dec round every 1 inch until piece measures 29½(28½-28½) inches—250(290-310) sts. On the next round dec 10 sts in same manner as before and repeat this dec round every ½ inch until piece measures 31(31½-32) inches. Bind off remaining 220(230-240) sts.
BLOUSE
BACK: Using No. 2 needles, cast on 106(112-120) sts. Work in stockinette st for ½ inch, ending with a K row. P the next row, inc at even intervals to 112(120-132) sts. BACK OPENING: K 56(60-66) sts; join another ball of yarn and K remaining 56(60-66) sts. Work even on both sides for ¾ inch. On the next row inc 1 st at each arm edge and repeat this inc every ¾ inch 7 times more. Work even on 64(68-74) sts of each side until piece measures 8(8-½) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLES: At each arm edge bind off 7(8-9) sts. Dec 1 st at each arm edge every other row 5 times. Work even on 52(55-60) sts of each side until armholes measure 7¼(7½-7¾) inches. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At each arm edge bind off 11(12-13) sts 3 times. Bind off remaining 19(19-21) sts at each side.
FRONT: Using No. 2 needles, cast on 112(120-128) sts. Work in stockinette st for ½ inch, ending with a K row. P the next row, inc at even intervals to 120(128-136) sts. Work even for ¾ inch. On the next row inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc every ¾ inch 7 times more. Work even on 136(144-152) sts until piece measures 8(8-8½) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLES: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 10(10-11) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 6(7-7) times. Work even on 104(110-116) sts until armholes measure 6(6¼-6½) inches. SHAPE NECK: Work 37(40-43) sts; join another ball of yarn and bind off center 30 sts; work remaining 37(40-43) sts. Working on both sides at once, dec 1 st at each neck edge every other row 4 times. Work even on 33(36-39) sts of each side until armholes measure 7¼(7½-7¾) inches. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At each arm edge bind off 11(12- 13) sts 3 times.
SLEEVES: Using No. 2 needles, cast on 84(88-92) sts. Work in stockinette st for ¾ inch. P the next 2 rows to form hemline. Work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every ½ inch until there are 100(106-112) sts. Work even until piece measures 4½(5-5½) inches above hemline. SHAPE CAP: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 10(10-11) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row for 4¼(4½-4¾) inches. At the beg of each of the next 6 rows bind off 3 sts. Bind off remaining sts.
NECK FACING: Using No. 2 needles, cast on 96(98-100) sts. Work in stockinette st for 4 rows. On the next row inc at even intervals to 112(114-116) sts. Work even until piece measures 1½ inches. Bind off.
FINISHING: Work 2 rows s c around bottom and top edges of skirt. Make a beading at inside top of skirt. Sew underarm, shoulder and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves. Turn up hem on sleeves and sew in place. Work 1 row s c on each edge of back opening. With right sides facing, sew one edge of neckband around neck, turn and sew other edge to wrong side. Block skirt and blouse. Run elastic, cut to waist measurement through beading, and sew ends tog. Close back opening with slide fastener. Sew skirt and blouse tog. Sew in shoulder pads.
CARDIGAN
BACK: Using No. 0 needles, cast on 132(140-148) sts. K 1, P 1 in ribbing for 3(3-3½) inches. Change to No. 2 needles and work in stockinette st until piece measures 14(15-16) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLES: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 7(8-9) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 5 times. Work even on 108(114-120) sts until armholes measure 7¾(8-8¼) 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. Put remaining 36(38-40) sts on a holder.
LEFT FRONT: Using No. 0 needles, cast on 74(78-82) sts. K 1, P 1 in ribbing for 3(3-3½) inches. Change to No. 2 needles and work in stockinette st, keeping 9 sts at front edge in K 1, P 1 ribbing, until piece measures 14(15-16) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLE: At arm edge bind off 10(11-11) sts. Dec 1 st at same edge every other row 6(6-7) times. Work even on 58(61-64) sts until armhole measures 6(6¼-6½) inches, ending with a P row. SHAPE NECK: K 44(46-48) sts and put remaining 14(15-16) sts on a holder. At neck edge bind off 2 sts 4 times. Work even on 36(38-40) sts until armhole measures 7¾(8-8¼) 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, reversing shaping and forming first buttonhole when piece measures 1 inch. BUTTONHOLE: Starting at front edge, work 3 sts; bind off next 3 sts; work to end of row. On the next row cast on 3 sts over 3 sts bound off previous row. Make 7 more buttonholes, evenly spaced—the last one to be made ½ inch below start of neck shaping.
SLEEVES: Using No. 0 needles, cast on 60(64-68) sts. K 1, P 1 in ribbing for 3 inches. Change to No. 2 needles and P the next row, inc at even intervals to 66(70-74) sts. Work in stockinette st for ¾ inch. On the next row inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc every ¾ inch until there are 104(110-116) 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 6 rows bind off 3 sts. Bind off remaining sts.
FINISHING: Sew underarm, shoulder and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves. NECKBAND: Using No. 0 needles and with right side of work facing you, pick up 109(113-117) sts around neck. K 1, P 1 in ribbing for 1 inch. Bind off loosely in ribbing. Buttonhole st around each buttonhole. Block to size. Sew buttons in place.
Other great patterns from New Handknits, Book No. 22.
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