Size

Finished bust: 35 (40, 45, 50, 55, 60)" (88 [101.5, 114, 127, 140, 152.5]cm), not including bands

Materials

  • Lion Brand Cashmere Blend; 72% merino wool, 14% cashmere, 14% nylon; 11⁄2 oz (40g)/84 yd (77m)
  • 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8) balls in #098 Cream
  • Size J-10 (6mm) crochet hook
  • Size I-9 (5.5mm) crochet hook for finishing

Gauge

Using J-10 (6 mm) or larger hook, 10 BASE CH/SC or sc = 4" (10cm)
In Shell and V pattern, one repeat (SH, V) = 21⁄2" (6.5cm), 6 rows in pattern = 4" (10cm)
In sc of finishing, 12 sc = 4" (10cm)

Instructions

Yoke
BASE CH/SC 31 (31, 31, 31, 35, 35) to measure approximately 12 (12, 12, 12, 14, 14)" (30.5 [30.5, 30.5, 30.5, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5]cm) stretched.
Sizes 35 (40, 45, 50)
Row 1 (inc): Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), (dc, ch 1, V) in first sc for corner, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc, sk next 2 sc, INC-V in next sc for corner, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc, [sk next 2 sc, V in next sc, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc] twice, sk next 2 sc, INC-V in next sc for corner, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc, sk next 2 sc, INC-V in last sc for corner, turn-5 shells.
Sizes 55 (60)
For a larger neckline, cheat 2 extra stitches by making an increase at the center back neck as follows: Row 1 (inc): Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), (dc, ch 1, V) in first sc for corner, sk next 2 sc, [SH in next sc, sk next 2 sc, INC-V in next sc for corner, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc], sk next sc, V in next sc, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc, sk next 2 sc, INC-V in next sc, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc, sk next 2 sc, V in next sc, sk next sc, repeat between [ ] once, sk next 2 sc, INC-V in last sc for corner, turn-6 shells.
Size 35
Row 2: Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in first V, V in corner ch-sp, SH in V, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 3 times, except omit last SH, instead (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in tch-sp, dc in third ch of tch, turn-10 pattern repeats.
Row 3: PATT ROW 2, fasten off, turn.
Add sts to shape front neck, increase corners as follows:
Row 4 (inc): BASE CH/SC 6 (for front neck extension), V in first dc, SH in V, INC-V in next corner ch-sp, SH in V, V in shell, SH in V, INC-V in next corner ch-sp, SH in V, [V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, INC-V in next corner ch-sp, SH in V, V in top of tch, ch 1, BASE CH/SC 6 (for front neck extension), turn.

Row 5 (even): Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc of base ch, sk next 2 sc, V in next sc, sk remaining 2 sc, *SH in V, [V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, V in corner ch-sp*; repeat from * to * 3 times, SH in V, V in shell, SH in last V, sk next 2 sc of base ch, V in next sc, sk next 2 sc, 3 dc in last sc, turn.
Row 6-10: PATT ROW 1, YOKE 3-4, PATT ROW 2, PATT ROW 1 once more-16 pattern repeats.
Size 40
Row 2 (inc): Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in first V, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V, * [V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 3 times, except omit last SH, instead end (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in tch-sp, dc in third ch of tch, turn-10 shells.
Row 3 (even): Ch 3, 2 dc in first dc, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 3 times, V in shell, 3 dc in top of tch, fasten off, turn.
Add sts to shape front neck, work corners even
as follows.
Row 4 (even): BASE CH/SC 6 (for front neck extension), V in first dc, SH in V, [V in shell, SH in V] across, end with V in top of tch, ch 1, BASE CH/SC 6 (for front neck extension), turn.
Row 5 (inc): Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc of base ch, sk next 2 sc, V in next sc, sk remaining sc, SH in V, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 3 times, repeat between
[ ], sk next 2 sc of base ch, V in next sc, sk next 2 sc, 3 dc in last sc, turn-16 pattern repeats.
Row 6-11: YOKE 4, PATT ROW 2, YOKE 1-2, PATT ROW 1-2-24 pattern repeats.
Size 45
Inc at four corners and at center back neck as follows.
Row 2 (inc): Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in first V, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*, V in shell, SH in V, INC-V in shell at center back, SH in V; repeat from * to * twice, except omit last SH, instead (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in tch-sp, dc in third ch of tch, turn-
10 shells.
Row 3 (even): Ch 3, 2 dc in first dc, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 4 times, V in shell, 3 dc in top of tch, fasten off, turn.
Add sts to shape front neck as follows.
Row 4 (even): Same as Size 40 Row 4.
Inc across front neck to balance center back, inc at 4 corners as follows.
Row 5 (inc): Ch 3, dc in first sc of base ch, sk next sc, SH in next sc, sk next 2 sc, V in remaining sc, SH in V, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 3 times, repeat between [ ], V in first sc of base ch, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc, sk next sc, 2 dc in last sc, turn-18 pattern repeats.
Row 6-11: YOKE 2, PATT ROW 1, YOKE 3-4,
PATT ROW 2, then PATT ROW 1 once more-26
pattern repeats.
Size 50
Row 2-11: Same as Size 45 Rows 2-11.
Row 12: PATT ROW 2-26 pattern repeats.
Size 55
Work even over center back inc, inc 4 principal corners as follows:
Row 2 (inc): Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in first V, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*, [V in shell, SH in V] to center back corner ch-sp, V in center ch-sp, SH in V; repeat from * to * twice, except omit last shell, instead (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in tch-sp, dc in third ch of tch, turn-12 pattern repeats.
Row 3 (even): Ch 3, 2 dc in first dc, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 3 times, V in shell, 3 dc in top of tch, turn.
Row 4 (even): Ch 4, dc in first dc, [SH in V, V in shell] across, ending with V in top of tch, fasten off, turn-16 pattern repeats.
Add sts to shape front neck, inc corners as follows:
Row 5 (inc): BASE CH/SC 8 (for front neck extension), dc in first dc, (dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch-sp, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, INC-V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 3 times, V in shell, (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in last V, dc in third ch of tch, ch 1, BASE CH/SC 8 (for front neck extension), turn.
Row 6 (even): Ch 3, dc in first sc, sk next sc, SH in next sc, sk next 2 sc, V in next sc, sk next sc, SH in remaining sc, *[V in shell, SH in V] to next corner ch-sp, V in corner ch-sp, SH in V*; repeat from * to * 3 times, repeat between [ ], V in last shell, SH in first sc of base ch, sk next sc, V in next sc, sk next 2 sc, SH in next sc, sk next sc, 2 dc in last sc, turn-24 shells.
Row 7-12: PATT ROW 2, YOKE 1-2, PATT ROW 1-2, PATT ROW 1 once more-28 pattern repeats.
Size 60
Row 2-6: Same as Size 55 Rows 2-6-24
pattern repeats.
Row 7-13: PATT ROW 2, YOKE 1-2, then PATT ROW 1-2 twice-32 pattern repeats.

Excerpted from "Everyday Crochet" by Doris Chan. Copyright © 2007. Published by Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc.