Crocheted Hug-Me-Tight

For details see First Stitches, page 10, and Old Afghan Stitch, page 27.

MATERIALS

SUNLIGHT four-fold Germantown

6 skeins white

2 skeins pink

1 skein darker pink and 1 skein soft shade of green for the cross stitch embroidery

1 Amber Crochet Hook, No. 5

4 button-molds, 1⅛ inches

INSTRUCTIONS

This pretty garment is crocheted with white yarn in the single crochet. The pink and white border is finished off with a picot edge. A white crocheted band with cross stitch embroidery is worked across back and front parts below shoulders. Belt in back and crocheted buttons add another feature to it. This garment is to be worn double breasted, with the ends of the front parts buttoned to back.

Begin at bottom of back and make a chain of 51 stitches.

1st row: Make 1 single crochet in every stitch on the chain, then make 1 chain, turn.

Repeat the single crochet, taking up in double stitch on preceding row. Work forward and back until you have 55 rows or the length of 13 inches. Turn and start on next row the band for the embroidery.

Make the band in the Old Afghan Stitch.

1st row: Pick up 1 loop in each stitch on preceding row, taking up as before in double stitch (51 loops on needle). * Put yarn over hook, pull through 1 loop and repeat from * to end of row.

2nd row: Same as 1st row with exception of taking up the loops through loops in front on preceding row.

Make 8 rows for the width of band.

Start with the single crochet and make 1 stitch in each loop on preceding row; make 1 chain, turn. Crochet 3 more rows. This will finish the length of back.

Next row: Make 16 single crochet for the shoulder, turn.

Make 5 rows.

Next row: Increase 1 stitch at neck and repeat this for the next three turnings.

Make the band for the cross stitch embroidery same as on back (pick up 20 loops for band).

Repeat the single crochet same as before, making 55 rows or the length of 13 inches.

Make other side of garment to correspond.

Border: Make border all around in the single crochet. Work on right side of garment. Start with pink yarn and make 1 single crochet for every row and 1 single crochet in every stitch at neck and bottom of garment. Increase 1 stitch in each corner. Make 4 rows in white and pink alternately and repeat the increasing of 1 stitch in every corner, each row. (Always take up in double stitch.) Finish off border with a picot edge: Use pink yarn and make 1 single crochet on preceding row. * Crochet a chain of 3 stitches and make a slip stitch, taking up in the 2 loops below chain, skip 1 stitch on preceding row, make 1 single crochet and repeat from * to end of row.

Belt: Start with a chain of 3 stitches. Make 2 single crochet on 1st row. Repeat the single crochet, increasing 1 stitch every turning until you have 11 stitches for width of belt. Make 36 rows or the length of 8½ inches. Decrease 1 stitch each turning until 2 stitches are left.

Button: Cover the mold with either pink yarn or cloth. Use pink yarn and make a 117chain of 2 stitches. 1st row: Make 6 single crochet in 1st stitch of the chain. 2nd row: Make 2 single crochet in every stitch on 1st row. 3rd row: Make 2 single crochet in every other stitch on preceding row. Make next row plain. Run a thread through edge of circle, put mold in, draw together and fasten.

Place belt across back 2 inches above border, having the points come out to the picot edge. Fasten it to back and sew on 1 button at each point. Sew on the other buttons in center of border 3 inches above the points of belt.

Make a box pleat in back under belt to take in the fulness and fasten belt loosely in center.

Make 3 loops on each end of front parts: Crochet a chain for each loop and place one loop in center and the others in the corners. Make all the loops on wrong side and in center of border.

Embroider in cross stitch little pink flowers and green leaves on the bands.

118