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Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, for blouse, 5 balls of color 82 Autumn Glow and 1 ball of contrasting color; for skirt, 10 balls of color 82 Autumn Glow; or, if you prefer a pastel, color 26 Nile Green is suggested. Milward’s knitting needles, 1 pair of No. 1 (2½ millimeter) and 1 pair of No. 2 (2¾ millimeter).

Gauge: (Stockinette) 7 sts equal 1 inch; 9 rows equal 1 inch.

Back of Blouse: Using No. 1 needles, cast on 140 sts. Work ribbing (k 2, p 2) for 4 inches. Change to No. 2 needles.

To get twisted effect in lace stripe of blouse, slip 2 sts at the same time as though you were knitting 2 sts together and put them back onto the left needle, then knit them. The slipping makes it possible to knit the 2nd st first and the 1st st second. On the alternate twists the sts are slipped together as though you were purling 2 together. Then knit them. The difference is that in one case the left st comes on top and the other, the right st is on top. As this depends on whether the knitting is done the American way (with thread in right hand) or the Continental way (with the thread held over the 1st finger of the left hand). In the following directions “right twist” indicates that the next 2 sts are twisted so that the right hand st comes on top and the “left twist”, when the left hand st is on top.

1st row: * K 14, p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, 1 right twist, p 1 and repeat from * across. Finish row with k 14. 2nd row: * P 14, k 1, p 2, k 1, p 2, k 1, and repeat from * across. Finish row with p 14. 3rd row: * K 14, p 1, 1 left twist, p 1, 1 left twist, p 1, and repeat from * across. Finish row with k 14.

4th row: Same as 2nd row. The 4th row completes the pattern. Repeat pattern 22 times (88 rows or 14 inches) which brings work to underarm and beginning of yoke. 93rd row: Cast off 10 sts. K 4. * P 1,1 right twist and repeat from * across, ending row with k 14. 94th row: Cast off 10 sts. P 4, * k 1, p 2, and repeat from * across to last 4 sts. P 2, p 2 together. 95th row: K 2 together, k 1. * P 1, 1 left twist, and repeat from * across to last 4 sts. K 2, k 2 together. 96th row: P 2 together, p 1, * k 1, p 2, and repeat from * across. P last 2 sts together. 97th row: Cast off 1 st. * P 1,1 right twist, and repeat from * across, k last 2 sts together. 98th row: Cast off 1 st. * K 1, p 2 and repeat from * across. 99th row: * P 1, 1 left twist, and repeat from * across. 100th row: * K 1, p 2, and repeat from * across. 101st row: * P 1, 1 right twist, and repeat from * across. 102nd row: Same as 100th row. Repeat from 99th row until work measures 16½ inches from ribbing. Then decrease 3 sts at beginning of every row for 7 rows. Cast off 24 sts at center for neck. Working on one-half of remaining sts, decrease 2 sts at shoulder and 1 st at neck, at beginning of every row, until all sts are worked off. Then make other side to correspond.

Right front: With No. 1 needles, cast on 146 sts. Work ribbing (k 2, p 2) for 4 inches. 1st row: P 10, * k 1, p 2, k 1, p 2, k 1, p 14, and repeat from * once. Then k 1, p 2, k 1, p 2, k 1, p 10, k 8. Put remaining sts on st holder. 2nd row: K 18, * p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, k 14, and repeat from * once. P 1, * 1 right twist, p 1, repeat from * once, then k 10. 3rd row: Same as 1st row. 4th row: Same as 2nd row, but make left twists instead of right ones. The 4th row completes the pattern. Repeat until work measures 2 inches from ribbing, then make a buttonhole. Cast off 3rd to 6th sts of the next even row of the pattern and on the next row cast them on again, to make buttonhole. Make buttonholes every 2½ inches up the center strip. Work until 23 patterns have been completed (92 rows from ribbing). Reinforce buttonholes with sewing thread and a buttonhole st. 93rd row: Cast off 10 sts, * k 1, p 2, and repeat from * 15 times, k 1, p 10, k 8. 94th row: K 18, * p 1, 1 right twist, repeat from * to end of row, but k last 2 together. 95th row: K 2 together, * k l, p 2, and repeat from * 14 more times, k l, p 10, k 8. 96th row: K 18, * p 1,1 left twist, repeat from * to end of row. K last 2 together. 97th row: * K 1, p 2, and repeat from * 14 more times, k 1, p 10, k 8. 98th row: K 18, * p 1, 1 right twist, and repeat from * to end of row. 99th row: Same as 97th row. 100th row: K 18, * p 1, 1 left twist, repeat from * to end of row. Continue until work measures 14 inches from ribbing. Cast off 8 sts at neck. Then cast off 1 st at neck each row for 20 rows. Then work straight at neck and decrease 12 sts at shoulder at beginning of rows until all sts have been worked off.

Left front: Pick up remaining sts at top of ribbing and begin at outside end. 1st row: K 10, * p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, k 14, and repeat from * once. P 1, 1 right twist, p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, k 10, cast on 8 sts. 2nd row: K 8, p 10, * k 1, p 2, k 1, p 2, k 1, p 14, and repeat from * once. K 1, p 2, k 1, p 2, k 1, p 10. 3rd row: K 10, * p 1, 1 left twist, p 1, 1 left twist. P 1, k 14, and repeat from * once. P 1,1 left twist, p 1,1 left twist, p 1, k 18. 4th row: Same as 2nd row. 5th row: K 10, * p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, 1 right twist, pl, k 14, and repeat from * once. P 1, 1 right twist, p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, k 18. Repeat from 2nd row until 92 rows have been made. Then make left front correspond to right front. Sew up underarm and shoulder seams.

Sleeves: With No. 1 needles, cast on 90 sts. Work 1½ inches of ribbing (k 2, p 2). Change to No. 2 needles. 1st row: K 10, * p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, k 14. Repeat from * 2 more times. P 1, 1 right twist, p 1, 1 right twist, p 1, k 10. 2nd row: P 10, * k 1, p 2, k 1, p 2, k 1, p 14, and repeat from * two more times. K 1, p 2, k 1, p 2, k 1, p 10. 3rd row: Same as 1st row, but substitute left twists for right ones. 4th row: Same as 2nd row. The 4th row completes the pattern. Repeat from 1st row until 8 patterns have been made. 33rd row: P 2 together. * 1 right twist, p 1, and repeat from * across. P last 2 together. 34th row: * K 1, p 2, and repeat from * across. K last st. 35th row: P 1, * 1 left twist, p 1, and repeat from * across. 36th row: Same as 34th row. 37th row: P 1, * 1 right twist, p 1, and repeat from * across. Repeat from 34th row 3 more times, then decrease 1 st at each end every row until work measures 9 inches from ribbing, then cast off. Repeat for other sleeve. Sew up seams in sleeves and ease into armholes.

Collar: Using No. 2 needles, cast on 18 sts. K plain until work measures 8½ inches, then change to No. 1 needles. Slip 1st st, k 1, * bring thread in front of needles and slip 1, k 1, and repeat from * until narrow portion is 18 inches long. Then change to No. 2 needles and k plain for 8½ inches, then cast off. Attach to neck, leaving center flap of blouse free.

Belt: With contrasting color, using No. 1 needles, cast on 16 sts. 1st row: Slip 1, k 1, * bring thread in front of needles and slip 1, thread back of needle, k 1. Repeat from * across. Repeat this row until belt is 33 inches long. Cast off and fold to make point at one end and tack in place. Attach buckle to other end of belt.

Skirt: With No. 2 needles, cast on 200 sts. 1st row: K 1, p 1, across. 2nd row: P 1, k 1, across. Alternate these 2 rows until work measures 1½ inches. Change to No. 1 needles and work remainder of skirt in stockinette st (k 1 row, p 1 row). Decrease 1 st at each end every 15th row until work measures 25 inches. Then decrease 1 st at each end every 5th row for 9 inches. Then work 2 inches of ribbing (k 2, p 2). The skirt is made in two pieces. Repeat for back of skirt, then sew up the two side seams, leaving the left seam open for 7½ inches at the top. Repeat directions for making belt and work a strip for facing of placket. Attach to belting.