These directions are for size 14. Changes for sizes 16 and 18 are in parentheses.
MATERIALS
BERNAT Merlaine—30(31-32) skeins Chartreuse (M C); 9(10-10) skeins Navy (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. 2
12 small gold buttons
6 bone buttons
1 slide fastener
2 pair shoulder pads
1 yd ½ inch elastic
1 gold belt
1½ yd 1½ inch grosgrain ribbon
GAUGE: 7 sts = 1 inch; 10 rows = 1 inch on dress
15 sts = 2 inches; 14 rows = 1 inch on jacket
SKIRT
NOTE: Any changes in length of skirt are made before first dec round.
Using circular needle and M C, cast on 480(490-500) sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts. K round and round until piece measures 2½(3-3½) inches. FIRST DEC ROUND: * K 46(47-48) sts, K 2 tog, repeat from * to end of round—10 sts dec. Work even for 1½ inches. SECOND DEC ROUND: * K 45(46-47) sts, K 2 tog, repeat from * to end of round—10 sts dec. Continue in this manner, dec 10 sts every 1½ inches, having 1 st less between dec on each dec round, until piece measures 31(31½-32) inches—280(290-300) sts. Work even for 1 inch. On the next round K 3 sts tog 24(25-26) times; K 28(30-32) sts (center front of skirt).; K 2 sts tog 24(25-26) times; K 108(110-112) sts. Bind off remaining 184(190-196) sts.
BLOUSE
BACK: Using No. 2 needles and M C, cast on 92(100-106) sts. Work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every ¾ inch 10 times. Work even on 112(120-126) sts until piece measures 8(8-8½) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLES: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 6(7-7) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 4(5-5) times. Work even on 92(96-102) sts until armholes measure 3½(3¾-4) inches. BACK OPENING: Work 46(48-51) sts; join another ball of yarn and work remaining 46(48-51) sts. Work even on both sides at once until armholes measure 7¼(7½-7¾) inches. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At each arm edge bind off 10(8-11) sts 3(4-3) times. Bind off remaining 16(16-18) sts of each side.
PATTERN STITCH FOR FRONT YOKE
Row 1: P 1, * K 2, P 1, repeat from * 7 times more, K 4, P 1, ** K 2, P 1, repeat from ** 7 times more.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat these 2 rows for pattern stitch on yoke.
FRONT: Using No. 2 needles and M C, cast on 100(106-114) sts. Work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every ¾ inch 6(6-7) times, ending with a K row. YOKE: With wrong side facing you, P 29(32-37) sts; put a marker on needle; P center 54 sts; put a marker on needle; P last 29 (32-37) sts. Continue to inc 1 st each end of needle 4(4-3) times more, keeping 54 sts between markers in pattern st and all other sts in stockinette st until piece measures 8(8-8½) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLES: Still keeping sts between markers in pattern st, at the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 9(10-10) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 5(5-6) times. Work even on 92(96-102) sts until armholes measure 5¼(5½-5¾) inches. SHAPE NECK: Work 33(35-36) sts; join another ball of yarn and bind off center 26(26-30) sts; work remaining 33(35-36) sts. Working on both sides at once, dec 1 st at each neck edge every other row 3 times. Work even on 30(32-33) sts of each side until armholes measure 7¼(7½_7¾) inches. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At each arm edge bind off 10(8-11) sts 3(4-3) times.
SLEEVES: Using No. 2 needles and M C, cast on 76(79-85) sts. Row 1: P 1, * K 2, P 1, repeat from * to end of row. Row 2: Purl. Repeat these 2 rows for 1½ inches. Now work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every 4th row until there are 86(91-95) sts. Work even until piece measures 4½(4½-5) inches. SHAPE CAP: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 10 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.
FINISHING: Sew underarm, shoulder and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves. Using M C, work 2 rows s c around neck and back opening. Using M C, work 2 rows s c around bottom and top edges of skirt. Work a beading inside top edge of skirt. Block skirt and blouse. Run elastic, cut to waist measurement, through beading, and sew ends. Sew blouse and skirt tog. Sew small buttons down center front as shown in photograph. Close back opening with slide fastener. Sew in shoulder pads.
JACKET
PATTERN STITCH
Row 1: Using M C, K 3, * sl 1, K 3, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: Using M C, K 3, * bring yarn to front of work and sl 1, throw yarn to back of work and K 3, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 3: Using C C, K 1, * sl 1, K 3, repeat from * ending sl 1, K 1.
Row 4: Using C C, K 1, * bring yarn to front of work and sl 1, throw yarn to back of work and K 3, repeat from * ending bring yarn to front of work and sl 1, throw yarn to back of work and K 1.
Repeat these 4 rows for pattern stitch.
BACK: Using No. 3 needles and C C, cast on 123(131-139) sts. Work in pattern st, dec 1 st each end of needle every ¾ inch 5 times. Work even on 113(121-129) sts until piece measures 5(5½-5½) inches. On the next row inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc every 1 inch 7 times more. Work even on 129(137-145) sts until piece measures 13¼(13¾-14¼) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLES: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 8(9-9) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 5 times. Work even on 103(109-117) sts until armholes measure 7½(7¾-8) inches. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At the beg of each of the next 6 rows bind off 11(12-13) sts. Bind off remaining 37(37-39) sts.
LEFT FRONT: Using No. 3 needles and C C, cast on 63 (67-71) sts. Work in pattern st, dec 1 st at arm edge every ¾ inch 5 times. Work even on 58(62-66) sts until piece measures 5(5½-5½) inches. On the next row inc 1 st at arm edge and repeat this inc every 1 inch 7 times more. Work even on 66(70-74) sts until piece measures 13¼(13¾-14¼) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLE: At arm edge bind off 9(11-11) sts. Dec 1 st at same edge every other row 5(5-6) times. SHAPE NECK: Working even at arm edge, at front edge dec 1 st every 3rd row until 33(36-39) sts remain. Work even until armhole measures 7½(7¾-8) inches. SHAPE SHOULDER: At arm edge bind off 11(12-13) sts 3 times.
RIGHT FRONT: Work to correspond with left front, reversing shaping.
SLEEVES: Using C C, cast on 67(71-75) sts. Work in pattern st, inc 1 st each end of needle every ¾ inch until there are 101(105-109) sts. Work even until piece measures 16½(17-17) inches. SHAPE CAP: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 9(10-10) sts. Dec 1 st each end of needle every other row for 4½(4¾-5) inches. At the beg of each of the next 4 rows bind off 2 sts. Bind off remaining sts.
COLLAR: Using No. 3 needles and Navy, cast on 51(55-59) sts. Work in pattern st for 2 rows. At the beg of each of the next 22 rows cast on 4 sts. Work even on 139(143-147) sts until piece measures 2¼ inches. Bind off.
FINISHING: Sew underarm, shoulder and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves. Using C C, work 1 inch s c around bottom, sleeve and front edges to neck shaping. Using C C, work 1 inch s c on shaped edge of collar. Sew collar in place. Block to size. Measure ribbon from bottom edge of right front to neck shaping. Make 6 buttonholes in ribbon at even intervals. Sew ribbon on inside of right front to form fly front. Sew buttons on left front. Sew in shoulder pads.
Other great patterns from New Handknits, Book No. 22.
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