Hortense Top

EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PATTERN:

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CHAIN STITCH:
If you work outermost on the hook the chain stitch will often be too tight; 1 chain stitch should be as long as 1 single/double crochet is wide.

PATTERN:
See diagrams A.1 and A.2.

CROCHET INFORMATION:
At the beginning of each row of double crochets work 3 chain stitches (replaces the first double crochet), i.e. skip the last stitch on the previous row. Work the last double crochet of the row in the 3rd chain stitch at the beginning of the previous row.

DECREASE TIP:
Decrease 1 double crochet by working 2 double crochets together:
* Make 1 yarn over, insert the hook through the next stitch, pick up the strand, make 1 yarn over and pull it through the first 2 loops on the hook *, work from *-* 1 more time, make 1 yarn over and pull it through all 3 loops on the hook.
Decrease 2 double crochets by working 3 double crochets together:
* Make 1 yarn over, insert the hook through the next stitch, pick up the strand, make 1 yarn over and pull it through the first 2 loops on the hook *, work from *-* 2 more times, make 1 yarn over and pull it through all 4 loops on the hook.

INCREASE TIP (for sides):
Increase by working 2 double crochets in the same stitch. The increased stitches are worked in double crochets.

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START THE PIECE HERE:

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SWEATER – SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
The front and back pieces are worked separately, back and forth, then sewn together. Stitches are worked around the armholes, then the sleeves worked back and forth, top down.

BACK PIECE:
Work 75-83-89-99-107-119 CHAIN STITCHES – read description above, with hook size 4 MM = US 6 and DROPS Cotton Merino. Work 1 double crochet in the 4th chain stitch from the hook (2 double crochets) – read CROCHET INFORMATION, 1 double crochet in each of the next 71-79-85-95-103-115 chain stitches = 73-81-87-97-105-117 stitches. Work back with 1 double crochet in each double crochet.
Then work pattern as follows:
1 double crochet in each of the first 4-3-6-6-5-6 double crochets, A.1 a total of 6-7-7-8-9-10 times, A.2 and 1 double crochet in each of the last 4-3-6-6-5-6 double crochets.
Continue this pattern. REMEMBER THE CROCHET GAUGE!
When the piece measures 8 cm = 31/8", decrease 1 double crochet on each side – read DECREASE TIP = 71-79-85-95-103-115 stitches.
Repeat the decrease when the piece measures 12 cm = 4¾" = 69-77-83-93-101-113 stitches.
When the piece measures 15 cm = 6", increase 1 double crochet on each side – read INCREASE TIP!
Increase like this every 6-6½-4½-7½-5-5 cm = 23/8"-2½"-15/8"-27/8"-2"-2" a total of 3-3-4-3-4-4 times = 75-83-91-99-109-121 stitches.
When the piece measures 28-29-30-31-32-33 cm = 11"-113/8"-11¾"-12¼"-12½"-13", bind off for the armholes as described below, cutting the strand and making sure the next row is a row of double crochets:
Skip the first 4-5-5-6-7-9 stitches for the armhole, fasten the strand with 1 slip stitch in the next double crochet, work 3 chain stitches (first double crochet), work 2-2-3-3-3-3 double crochets together, 1 double crochet in each of the next 8-6-9-7-16-15 double crochets, A.1 a total of 4-5-5-6-5-6 times, work A.2, 1 double crochet in each of the next 8-6-9-7-16-15 double crochets, work 2-2-3-3-3-3 double crochets together and 1 double crochet in the last stitch, turn (do not work the last 4-5-5-6-7-9 double crochets) = 65-71-77-83-91-99 stitches.
Continue the pattern back and forth, working 2-2-3-3-3-3 double crochets together on each side every row a total of 2-4-2-3-5-7 times (including the first decrease when you skipped stitches for the armholes), then work 0-0-2-2-2-2 double crochets together on each side of each row a total of 0-0-3-3-2-1 times = 63-65-67-69-71-73 stitches.
Continue the pattern over the middle stitches and 1 double crochet in each of the outermost double crochets on each side.
When the piece measures 42-44-46-48-50-52 cm = 16½"-17¼"-18"-19"-19¾"-20½", continue with double crochets; finish the lace pattern if necessary.
When the piece measures 45-47-49-51-53-55 cm = 17¾"-18½"-19¼"-20"-21"-215/8", work the neck as follows:
1 double crochet in each of the first 17-18-18-19-19-20 stitches, work 2 double crochets together, turn = 17-18-18-19-19-20 stitches on the shoulder.
Work 1 double crochet in each stitch until the piece measures 47-49-51-53-55-57 cm = 18½"-19¼"-20"-21"-215/8"-22½". Cut and fasten the strand.
Work the other shoulder as follows:
Skip the middle 27-27-29-29-31-31 stitches for the neck, work 2 double crochets together, 1 double crochet in each of the last 16-17-17-18-18-19 double crochets. Work 1 double crochet in each double crochet until the piece measures 47-49-51-53-55-57 cm = 18½"-19¼"-20"-21"-215/8"-22½". Cut and fasten the strand.

FRONT PIECE:
Work in the same way as the back until the piece measures 39-41-42-44-45-47 cm = 15¼"-161/8"-16½"-17¼"-17¾"-18½" = 63-65-67-69-71-73 stitches.
Work the neck as follows:
Work as before over the first 19-20-21-22-23-24 stitches (only work lace pattern where it fits in width; the other stitches are worked with double crochets), work 2 double crochets together (first decrease for neck) = 20-21-22-23-24-25 stitches.
Decrease 1 stitch for the neck on each row 4-4-5-5-6-6 times = 17-18-18-19-19-20 stitches on the shoulder. When the piece measures 42-44-46-48-50-52 cm = 16½"-17¼"-18"-19"-19¾"-20½", continue with double crochets; finish the lace pattern if necessary.
Work 1 double crochet in each stitch until the piece measures 47-49-51-53-55-57 cm = 18½"-19¼"-20"-21"-215/8"-22½". Cut and fasten the strand.
Work the other shoulder in the same way, working the last 21-22-23-24-25-26 stitches from the right side.

ASSEMBLY:
Sew one shoulder seam and both the side seams.

NECK:
ROW 1: Work 1 single crochet around the first row after the shoulder seam, work * 2 chain stitches, skip 1 cm = 3/8", 1 single crochet *, work from *-* around the neck and finish with 1 single crochet around the last row on the shoulder.
ROW 2: Work 2 single crochets around each chain-space.
Cut and fasten the strand.

ASSEMBLY:
Sew the other shoulder seam.

SLEEVES:
Work an edge around the armhole as follows:
Fasten the strand with 1 single crochet in the stitch by the side seam, * work 1 chain stitch, skip 1 stitch, 1 single crochet in the next stitch *, work from *-* over the stitches under the sleeve, then work up the armhole as follows: * 1 chain stitch, 1 single crochet around the next row *, work from *-* around the armhole and down to the bottom of the armhole, work the final stitches under the sleeve in the same way as the first stitches. Finish with 1 single crochet in the last stitch. Make sure your work does not tighten the armhole; work extra chain stitches between each single crochet if necessary = approx. 38-41-43-46-49-53 chain-spaces. Cut the strand.

The sleeve cap is worked back and forth over more and more chain-spaces until you have worked all the chain-spaces.
Work as follows from the right side: Start in the 5th chain stitch from the shoulder seam from the right side, work 1 single crochet around the chain-space, 2 double crochets around the next chain stitch (up towards the shoulder seam), work 2 double crochets around each of the next 7 chain stitches and finish with 1 slip stitch around the next chain-space = 16 double crochets. Turn and work as follows from the wrong side:
3 chain stitches, 1 slip stitch around the next chain-space, 2 double crochets in each double crochet and finish with 1 slip stitch around the next chain-space on the other side of the sleeve = 32 double crochets.
Turn. Work 3 chain stitches, 1 slip stitch around the next chain-space, 2 double crochets in the first double crochet, 1 double crochet in each double crochet until there is 1 double crochet left, 2 double crochets in the next double crochet and finish with 1 slip stitch around the next chain-space = 34 double crochets.
Continue like this and increase 1 double crochet on each side a total of 5-6-8-9-10-12 times = 42-44-48-50-52-56 stitches. There remain now approx. 16-17-15-16-17-17 chain-spaces.
On the next row work alternately 1 and 2 double crochets around the last chain-spaces down to the side seam. Turn and work 1 double crochet in each double crochet and alternately 1 and 2 double crochets around the remaining chain-spaces on the other side of the sleeve = 66-69-70-74-77-81 double crochets. On the next row adjust the number of stitches to 62-65-68-74-77-81 stitches.
Continue back and forth with 1 double crochet in each double crochet.
When the sleeve measures 3 cm = 11/8" at the shortest point, decrease 1-1-1-1-0-0 double crochets on each side. Decrease like this every 3-4-7-0-0-0 cm = 11/8"-1½"-2¾"-0"-0"-0" a total of 4-3-2-1-0-0 times = 54-59-64-72-77-81 stitches.
Continue back and forth with 1 double crochet in each double crochet until the sleeve measures 15-15-14-14-13-12 cm = 6"-6"-5½"-5½"-51/8"-4¾" at the shortest point. Cut and fasten the strand.

Work the other sleeve in the same way.
Sew the sleeve seams.

 

Diagram

All measurements in charts are in cm.

	= double crochet in stitch below
	= double-treble crochet around 2 chain stitches 2 rows below, i.e. work around these 2 chain stitches and the 6 chain stitches on the row below
	= work 2 double crochets together: * Make 1 yarn over, insert hook around the chain-space below, pick up strand, make 1 yarn over and pull it through the first 2 loops on the hook *, work from *-* 1 more time, make 1 yarn over and pull it through all 3 loops on hook.
	= this row has already been worked; shows how the next row is worked in the stitches
	= 2 chain stitches
	= 6 chain stitches