Ecru Spring Jacket

Do not be afraid to try thread!  This jacket is worked holding 2 strands of size 10 thread together throughout. Imagine that you are using sport or fingering yarn.  Just be sure to pick up both threads with each stitch. Unlike crocheting with a single strand of thread, your work will progress quickly.

I used Woolworth 4 Cord Crochet Thread (polyester) that I found in a big bag at Goodwill.  This thread was wonderful to work with.  It was durable but a little springy and made a very nice fabric. It’s a shame that this thread has been discontinued because I like it so much better than cotton.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Size: 39″ Bust and 41″ Hips (Hips flare out slightly because of loosness of starting chain. There is no shaping in this jacket.)

Materials: About 2700 yards of size 10 thread, Ecru. Crochet hook size 3.50 E. Stitch markers, (6) 1/2″  buttons, yarn needle

Gauge: With 2 strands held together, 27 stitches and 22 rows = 4″ blocked

Note: You will hold 2 strands of thread together throughout this pattern.

Back

Ch 122. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 2, sk 2 chs, sc in inext ch. *Ch 2, sk 2 chs, sc in next ch**.  Repeat from * to ** to end of chain. Mark as right side of fabric. Turn.

Rows 2-62: Ch 1. sc in 1st sc, ch 2, sk 2 chs. Sc in next sc, * ch2, sk 2 chs, sc in next sc **.  Repeat from * to ** to end of row. Turn.

Shape Armhole

Row 1: Sl st across 13 sts, placing a sl st into ea sc and into ea ch. End with a sl st in 13th sc. Ch 1, sc in same st, continue to work in pattern to last 13 sts. Sc in next sc. Leave remaining sts unworked. Turn.

Rows 2:  Work even in pattern to last sc.  Sc into last sc.  Leave remaining sl sts unworked. Turn.

Rows 3-43: Work even in pattern. Fasten off.

Right Front

Ch 62. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 2, sk 2 chs, sc into next ch. *Ch 2, sk 2 chs, sc in next ch**.  Repeat from * to ** to end of chain. Mark as right side of fabric. Turn.

Rows 2-72: Work as for back, making armhole on right side the same way and continuing to work until you have completed 72 rows.

Shape Neck

You will be skipping the first stitch at the neck edge on every row. Your first stitch should always be a sc at the neck edge.  When you come back to the neck edge on the next row, your last stitch will always be a sc.

Row 1: Ch 1, sk 1st sc, sc into next ch, ch 1, sk next ch, sc into next sc. Continue in pattern stitch to end of row.  Turn.

Row 2: Work in pattern to last (sc, ch 1, sc) group. Sc in next sc, sc in next ch. Leave remaining sc unworked. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, Sk 1st sc, sc in next sc. Work in pattern to end of row. Turn.

Row 4: Work in pattern to last (sc, ch2, sc) group. Sc in next sc,ch 1, sk next ch, sc in next ch. Leave remaining sc unworked. Turn.

Rows 5-28: Repeat rows 1-4 consecutively.

Rows 29-end: Work even in pattern until front measures the same as back from hem and has the same number of rows. Fasten off.

Left Front

Work as for right front but reverse neck and armhole shaping.

Sleeves (Make 2)

You will be increasing 1 stitch at each end every other row.

Ch 68. Work in body pattern to end of ch. Mark as right side of fabric, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in 1st sc, ch 2, sk 2 ch, sc in next sc. Work pattern to last sc. 2 sc in last sc. Turn

Row 3: Ch 1, sc into ea of 1st 2 sc. Work in pattern to last 2 sc. Sc into ea of last 2 sc. Turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in 1st sc, ch 1, sc in next sc. Work in pattern to last 2 sc. Sc in next sc, ch 1, sc in next sc. Turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in 1st sc, ch 1, sk next ch, sc in next sc. Work in pattern to last 3 sts. Sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch, sc in last sc. Turn.

Row 6: Ch 1, sc in 1st sc, ch 2, sk next ch, sc in next sc. Work in pattern to last 3 sts. Sc in next sc, ch 2, sk next ch, sc in last sc. Turn.

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in 1st sc, ch 2, sk 2 ch, sc in next sc. Work in pattern to last 4 sts. Sc in next sc, ch 2, sk 2 chs, sc in last sc. Turn.

Rows: 8-48: Repeat rows 2 through 7 consecutively, ending with row 5. Turn

Rows: 49-56: Work row 5 evenly until you have worked 56 rows total. Fasten off.

Joining

Block pieces lightly. Weave in all ends.  With right sides together, seam shoulder seams together with a whip stitch or crochet together using 1 strand of thread and a small hook. With right sides together, join sleeves to body sections, placing center of top of sleeve at shoulder seam and pivoting at underarm to attach to armhole extension. ( See photo ). With right sides together, sew or crochet sleeve underarm seams and side seams.

 

Bottom Trim

Attach yarn at outside corner of lower left front. Ch 1, sc in join. *Sc in next ch,sk next ch, sc in next sc** Repeat from * to ** along bottom of jacket.  You should end up with 163 sc.  If you do not, then go back and add or subtract stitches until you have the right number.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in 1st sc, *sk 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc** repeat from * to ** along bottom edge to end of row. Turn.

Row 3:  Ch 1, sc in 1st sc, *sc in ea of next 5 dc, sl st in next sc** Repeat from * to ** to last 6 sts. Sc in ea of last 5 dc, sc in last sc. Fasten off.

Front and Neck Edging

Attach yarn on outside bottom corner of right front. Ch 1, sc in join. Sc in next end-of-row (eor), sc in next eor, *sk 1 eor, sc in ea of next 2 eor**.  Repeat from * to ** until you have worked 50 sc. Work 2 sc in corner st at bottom of V-neck, work 106 sc around neck to st at bottom of V-neck on left front. 2 sc into corner st of  V-neck. Work 51 sc along left front as for right front. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc into ea sc along fronts and neck. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, Sc into 1st sc, ch 2, sk 2 sc, (sc into ea of next 8 sc, ch 2, sk 2 sc) 5 times more. 2 sc into next st, sc around neck, working 2sctog at shoulder seams and placing 2 sc into corner st at bottom of V-neck. Sc along left front edge. Turn.

Row 4:  Ch 1. Sc into ea sc along left front, neck edge, and right front, placing 2 sc into ea ch 2 sp on right front. Turn.

Row 5: Ch 1. Sc into ea st around neck and fronts. Fasten off.

Sleeve Trim

This will be worked in the same manner as the bottom trim with the exception that it will be worked in rounds.

Attach thread at underarm seam of sleeve at wrist on right side. Ch 1, sc in join. Work 48 sc around sleeve as you did for the bottom of the jacket. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. Turn.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in join. *Sk 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc** Repeat from * to ** around the sleeve edge to last 2 sc. Sk 2 sc, join with sl st to 1st sc. Turn.

Round 3:  Ch 1, sc in join. *Sc in ea of next 5 dc, sl st in next sc** Repeat from * to ** around sleeve to last 5 dc. Sc in ea of last 5 dc. Sl st to join with 1st sc. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends.  Block seams and edging. Sew buttons onto left front opposite buttonholes.

Copyright: Carol Wolf, March 2011

 

Enchanted Evening Cardigan

 

This pattern uses two strands of size 10 thread held together throughout.  The openwork pattern of the body of the sweater changes to straight triple crochet on the sleeves to make increases easier.  Pattern pieces are all rectangular except for the sleeves which taper to the wrist.

I like to chain 2 instead of chain 3 at the beginning of a row when making double crochet stitches.  If you prefer to chain 3, be aware that your edge will be a bit wavy and not straight.  The chain 2 counts as a stitch throughout this pattern.  When you reach the end of a row and must place your last  single crochet into the 2nd chain of the turning chain from the previous row.  When working the sleeves, the ch 3 at the beginning of the row counts as a triple crochet stitch.

Size: 44″ Bust and Hips

Materials: Department 71 Size 8 Perle Cotton, 50 grams, 440 yds. 8 balls, Black. Size E (3.50mm) crochet hook, 3/8″ black button

Gauge: Body Pattern: 3 shells and 2 ch 3 sps ( shell, ch 3, shell, ch 3, shell ) = 4″

                                 12 row = 4″

            Sleeve Pattern: 16 sts and 7 rows = 4″

Stitches Used:  ch, sc, sc 2tog, dc, tr, shell (5 dc into same ch 3 sp)

Lower back

Holding 2 strands of thread together, ch 114.  Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch1, sk 1 ch, *sc into next ch, ch3, sk 3 chs**. Repeat from * to ** to last 3 chs. Sc into next ch, ch 1, sk 1 ch, sc into last ch.  This is the right side of your work. Turn.

Row 2:  Ch 2, dc into 1st sc, 2 dc into 1st ch 1 sp.  * sk next sc, 5 dc ( shell)  into next ch 3 sp**.  Repeat from * to ** to last 3 sts.  Sk next sc, 2 dc into next ch 1 sp, dc in next sc. Turn

Row 3:  Sc into 1st dc, ch 1, sk 2 dc, *sc into next dc, ch 3, sk 3 dc, sc into next dc**.  Repeat from * to ** to the last 3 sts. Sc into next dc, ch1, sk next dc, sc into top of tc from prev. row. Turn.

Rows 4- 22:  Repeat rows 2 and 3 nineteen(19) times more. Make sure you end on the wrong side of the piece. Turn.

Shape armhole:  Right side-sl st into the next 11 sts and chs.  You will place your last stitch into the 5th dc of the 1st complete shell.  Ch 1, sc into same st, ch 3, continue to work pattern to last complete shell. Sc in 1st dc of shell.  Leave remaining sts unworked. Turn.

Row 2:  Ch 5 ( counts as dc, ch3) *sk next 3 chs, 5dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3**  Repeat pattern to last sc. Dc in last sc. Turn.

Row 3:  Ch 1, sc in 1st dc, *ch 3, sk 3 chs, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in next dc** Repeat pattern to Ch 5 from prev row. Ch 3, sk 3 chs, sc in next ch. Turn.

Rows 4-20:  Repeat rows 1 and 2 or until piece measures 8 1/2″ from beginning of armhole shaping. Fasten off.

Right Front

Ch 58. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, sk 1 ch, *sc in next ch, ch 3, sk 3 chs** Repeat from * to ** to last 2 chs. Ch 1, sk 1 ch, sc in last ch. Turn.

Rows 2-22:  Work as for lower back until piece measures the same as lower back before armhold shaping.

Shape Armhole:  Work right armhole shaping the same as for back. Continue working in pattern to front edge of right front piece. Work until armhole measures 4″, ending at armhole edge.

Shape Neck:  Work pattern across 4 shells ending with a sc in last dc of last shell. Leave remaining stitches unworked. Turn.

Row 2:  Ch 2.  Four dc in 1st ch 3 sp, 5 dc in next ch 3 sp…work in pattern to end of row. Turn

Row 3:  Work in pattern to last shell. Ch 3, sc in top of tc from prev. row. Turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until armhole measures same as for back. End on a WS row. Fasten off

Left Front

Work same as for right front but reverse armhole and neck shaping.

Sleeves:

Ch 41. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and into ea ch across. Turn

Row 1: Ch 3. tr into ea st across. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 3. Tr into base of tc just made. Tr into ea st across to last st (tc from prev row) 2 tr into top of tc. Turn. (2 increases made).

Rows 3-33: Repeat rows 1 and 2.  Fasten off (68 sts)

Joining: With right sides facing each other, stitch shoulder seams of back and both fronts.  With right sides together, center top of sleeves over shoulder seams and stitch to armhole corner. Pivot sleeve and sew 2″ of long side of sleeve to armhole extensions on back and fronts.  With right sides together, stitch underarm seams and side seams of fronts.

Bottom Edging

Round 1:  Attach yarn on RS at bottom left front corner.  Ch 1, sc into 1st sc, sc into  ch 1 sp, sc into next sc. *3 sc into next ch 3 sp ( you will be working around the ch 3 from the starting ch and from the row below the starting ch, having 2 ch 3′s enclosed in your 3 sc’s ), sc in next sc** Repeat from * to ** side seam. [Sc in next sc, sc into ch 1 sp] twice. Sc into next sc. Repeat from * to ** around bottom in this manner, working side seam as stated above. until you come to the right front edge. 3 sc into corner sc. Work 79 sc along front edge ( place 1 sc into ea sc and ea dc at end of ea row). 2 sc into corner st at neck edge, sc into ea of next 2 dc, [3 sc into ch 3 sp, sc into ea of next 5 dc] twice. sc into next ch 3 sp,  Work into ends of rows as for front to ch 3 sp in corner. sc into ch 3 sp, *sc into ea dc, 3 sc into ea ch 3 sp** to front corner st, 3 sc into corner st, work sc along front edge as for opposite front ( 79 sts).  Turn.

Round 2:  Sc along front edge, place 3 sc into top corner st at neck, sc around neck placing 1 sc into ea st but skipping the center sc over ea ch 3 sp. Sc  2 tog at inside corners. 3 sc into opposite neck corner st, sc into ea sc down center front, 3 sc into bottom corner st, Sc along bottom edge, skipping middle sc over ch 3 sp to corner. Turn

Row 3: Ch 1, sc into ea st along bottom edge to corner. Turn.

Row 4:  Ch 3, tr into 1st 2 sc. 4 tr into ea sc around bottom edge to last 3 sts. Tr into ea of last 3 sts. Fasten off

Neck Edge:

Round 1:  Attach yarn on rs neck corner st of right front. Ch 1, sc in same place. Sc around neck, skipping middle sc over ch 3 sp to corner and working a sc2tog in ea inside corner. Turn

Round 2:  Ch 3, tr into ea of next 2 sc, 4 tr into ea sc around neck to last 3 sc. Tr into ea of last 3 sc. Fasten off.

Front Edges

Right Front Edge:

Attach yarn on RS in corner st near hem. Ch 1. sc in same place, 5 dc into end of ruffle row, sk 1 row, sc into end of next row, *sk 1 sc, dc into next sc, sk 1 sc, sc into next sc**.  Repeat from * to **  End with 5 dc into end of ruffle row at neck. Sc into top of tr of ruffle row. Fasten off

Left Front Edge:

On RS attach yarn at neck edge. Sk 1 row,  5 dc into end of next row, *sk 1 sc, sc into next sc, sk 1 sc, 5 dc into next sc** Repeat from * to ** along front edge to bottom, ending with 5 dc into end of ruffle row, sc into top of tr from ruffle row.  Fasten off.

Lightly block edges of cardigan  Weave in ends. Sew small button at right front neck edge.  Use space between Tr stitches as buttonhole.

Copyright Carol Wolf, March 2011

 

Still Working…

Well, both fronts and the back have been blocked and are ready for weaving in ends and joining at the shoulders.  I’m hitting a bit of a snag with the sleeves.  I want them to be straight triple-crochet to make it easier to increase on each side but for some reason they keep working up to be too small.  The math for the increases turned out to be: 1 and 1/2 times per row so that’s also causing a bit of a problem.  It seems that the sleeve is not getting as wide as I want as quickly as I want.  Okay, back to the planning stages for now.