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These directions are for size 14. Changes for sizes 16 and 18 are in parentheses.

MATERIALS
BERNAT Merlaine—28(29-30) skeins
1 pair straight knitting needles No. 2 (standard)
1 steel crochet hook No. 4
3 buttons
1 snap fastener
1 9 inch slide fastener

GAUGE: 7 sts = 1 inch; 10 rows = 1 inch

PATTERN FOR TUCKS
Row 1: K 2, K 2 tog, P to last 4 sts, K 2 tog, K 2.
Row 2: Sl 2, P to end of row.
Row 3: Sl 2, K to end of row.
Rows 4 and 6: Repeat Row 2.
Rows 5 and 7: Repeat Row 3.
Row 8: P 2, inc in next st, * using right hand needle, pick up st on Row 2 directly below next st of left hand needle, P the next st on left hand needle, sl the picked up st over the purled st, repeat from * to last 3 sts, inc in next st, P 2. These 8 rows will form a tuck.

SKIRT

NOTE: Any changes in length of skirt are made before first dec row.

Make 2 pieces. Cast on 220(230-240) sts. Work in stocki­nette st for ¾ inch. P the next 2 rows to form hemline. Con­tinue in stockinette st until piece measures 6 inches above hemline, ending with a K row. On the next row P 22(23- 24) sts, put a marker on needle; * P 44(46-48) sts, put a marker on needle; repeat from * ending P 22(23-24) sts—5 markers on needle. K the next row, dec 1 st each side of each marker—10 sts dec. Repeat this dec row every 2 inches until piece measures 11 inches. Now work a group of 4 tucks on 190(200-210) sts with 1 inch of stockinette st between each tuck. Work in stockinette st until piece meas­ures 15½ inches. On the next row dec 1 st each side of each marker and repeat this dec row every 1½ inches until piece measures 19 inches. Work a group of 4 tucks on 160(170- 180) sts with 1 inch of stockinette st between each tuck. Now continue in stockinette st until piece measures 23½ inches. On the next row dec 1 st each side of each marker and repeat this dec row every 1½ inches until piece meas­ures 29(31-29½) inches, ending with a P row—120(120-140) sts. ON SIZE 14 ONLY, on the next row dec 1 st each side of each marker. Work 1 inch even, ending with a P row. On the next row, K 5, * K 2 tog, K 5, repeat from * to end of row. Work even on 95 sts for 1 inch. Bind off all sts. ON SIZE 16 ONLY, on the next row K 2, * K 2 tog, K 4, repeat from * ending K 2 tog, K 2. Work even on 100 sts for ½ inch. Bind off all sts. ON SIZE 18 ONLY, on the next row dec 1 st each side of each marker. Work 1½ inches even, ending with a P row. On the next row K 4, * K 2 tog, K 4, repeat from * to end of row. Work even on 109 sts for 1 inch. Bind off all sts.

BLOUSE

BACK: Cast on 94(100-106) sts. Work in stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle every ¾ inch 9(10-10) 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. Now work a group of 4 tucks with 1 inch of stockinette st between each tuck, dec 1 st each end of needle every other row 4(5-5) times. Work even in stockinette st on 92(96-102) sts until armholes measure 7½(7¾-8) inches. SHAPE SHOULDERS: At the beg of each of the next 6(8-6) rows bind off 10(8-11) sts. Bind off remaining 32(32-36) sts.

LEFT FRONT: Cast on 66(68-72) sts. Work in stockinette st, inc 1 st at arm edge every ¾ inch 9(10-10) times. Work even on 75(78-82) sts until piece measures 8(8-8½) inches. SHAPE ARMHOLE: At arm edge bind off 9(10-10) sts. Now work a group of 4 tucks with 1 inch of stockinette st between each tuck, dec 1 st at arm edge every other row 5(5-6) times, and AT THE SAME TIME, when armhole measures 2(2¼-2½) inches, SHAPE NECK: Bind off 10 sts at front edge. Dec 1 st at front edge every other row until 30(32-33) sts remain. Work even until armhole measures 7½(7¾-8) inches. SHAPE SHOULDER: At arm edge bind off 10(8-11) sts 3(4-3) times.

RIGHT FRONT: Work to correspond with left front, forming double buttonhole when piece measures 2 inches. DOUBLE BUTTONHOLES: Starting at front edge, work 3 sts; bind off next 4 sts; work 6 sts; bind off next 4 sts; work to end of row. On the next row cast on 4 sts over each 4 sts bound off previous row. Work 2 more double buttonholes, evenly spaced—the last one to be made 1 inch below start of neck shaping.

SLEEVES: Cast on 60(62-64) sts. Work in stockinette st for ½ inch. P the next 2 rows to form hemline. Work even in stockinette st until piece measures 2 inches above hemline. On the next row inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc every ¾ inch until there are 86(92-96) sts. Work even until piece measures 17½(18-18) inches above hemline. SHAPE CAP: At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 9(10-10) sts. Now work a group of 4 tucks with 1 inch of stockinette st between each tuck, dec 1 st each end of needle every other row until cap measures 4½(4¾-5) inches. At the beg of each of the next 6 rows bind off 3 sts. Bind off remaining sts.

LEFT LAPEL: Cast on 30 sts. Work in stockinette st, dec 1 st at end of every K row until 2 sts remain. Bind off.

RIGHT LAPEL: Work to correspond with left lapel, being sure to reverse shaping.

COLLAR: Cast on 18 sts. Work in stockinette st for ½ inch, ending with a K row. At the beg of the next row inc 1 st and repeat this inc at same edge every ½ inch 6 times more. Work even on 25 sts until piece measures 8½(8¾-9) inches, ending with a K row. At the beg of the next row dec 1 st and repeat this dec at same edge every ½ inch 6 times more. Work ½ inch even. Bind off all sts.

FINISHING: Block each piece. Seam sides of skirt, leaving left seam open for 4 inches below top. Hem skirt. Work 1 row s c at top of skirt. Sew underarm seams, leaving left seam open for 5 inches at bottom. Sew shoulder and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves. Hem sleeves. Sew front underlaps in place. Buttonhole st around each double buttonhole. Turn under and hem ¼ inch on each straight edge of lapel. Sew shaped edge of lapels to neck. Make a ¼ inch hem on straight edge of collar. Mark center of shaped edge of collar and pin to center back. Sew collar in place to within 1 inch of front edges. Sew buttons on left front. Sew blouse and skirt tog, being sure to have front underlap buttoned. Close side opening with slide fastener. Re-block dress.

Other great patterns from New Handknits, Book No. 22.

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