Lacy Knitted Blouse Pattern

The lacy knitted blouse pattern was originally published in June 1934 in Needlecraft The Home Arts Magazine.

This distinctive summery model is designed for a thirty-two to thirty-four-inch size. It requires four balls of fine silk-and-wool yarn and four skeins of chiffon boucle, one pair each of No. 2 and No. 4 straight needles (American Standard Gauge) and a No. 6 crochet hook. The stitch measurement is five and one-half stitches to the inch.

Two shades of any desired pastel color, with the chiffon boucle of the darker shade, or white and a pastel, are suggested as possible combinations.

For the back: Using No. 2 needles and one thread each of silk-and-wool yarn and chiffon boucle cast on 86 stitches. Work ribbing (knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches) for 3 inches. Transfer work to No. 4 needles, and start the lace pattern.

1. Using one thread of each yarn, knit 2 * over twice, knit 2 together, knit 2, repeat from * across row.

2. Using the two threads, knit back, dropping extra loop from needle.

3. Using the two threads knit across.

4. Using the two threads, knit back.

5. Using silk-and-wool yarn only knit 4 * over twice, knit 2 together, knit 2, repeat from * across row.

6. With silk-and-wool yarn knit back.

These six rows form lace pattern for entire blouse.

Always use one thread of each yarn for rows 1, 2, 3 and 4 and silk-and-wool yarn only for rows 5 and 6.

When work measures 11 inches, bind off 6 stitches each side of work (underarm) (74 stitches). Decrease 1 stitch each end of needle every other row 6 times (62 stitches). When work measures 6 ½ inches from underarm, bind off loosely.

For the front: Using one thread of each yarn and No. 2 straight needles, cast on 102 stitches. Work ribbing for 3 inches. Transfer work to No. 4 needles. Start pattern.

When work measures even with back at the stitches bound off for underarm, bind off 6 stitches each side of work (90 stitches). Decrease 1 stitch each end of needle every other row 5 times (80 stitches). Next row knit 40 stitches, tie in second ball of yarn, knit remaining 40 stitches. Using extra balls of yarn, knit both sides of neck at the same time. Continue to decrease at underarm every other row until 8 stitches have been decreased above the 6 stitches bound off at underarm. AT THE SAME TIME decrease 1 stitch at neck edge every other row until there are 12 stitches left on each shoulder. When work measures 7 inches from underarm, bind off loosely.

For the sleeves: Using one thread of each yarn and No. 2 straight needles, cast on 66 stitches. Work ribbing for 1 ½ inches. Transfer work to No. 4 needles. Start pattern. When work measures 7 inches, decrease 1 stitch each end of needle every other row until there are 18 stitches left on needle. Bind off loosely.

Join all seams. Crochet sleeves in with single crochets. With one thread of each yarn, make 2 rows of double crochets around neck edge.

For the bow: With chiffon boucle and No. 2 straight needles, cast on 50 stitches. Use stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row). Knit 2 inches. Knit 2 stitches together across row (25 stitches). Next row, purl 2 stitches together across row (13 stitches). Bind off 2 stitches together. Knit second piece to match. Crochet 2 pieces together. Sew bow to blouse with chiffon boucle.

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