Designer Spotlight

Top-Down Tunic

FINISHED SIZES

Instructions given fit woman’s size small/medium; changes for large/ X-large and 2X-large/3X-large are in ( ).

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust Circumference: 421/2 (51, 593/4) inches

MATERIALS

• Lion Brand LB Collection

Baby Alpaca light (DK) weight baby alpaca yarn

(13/4 oz/146 yds/50g per skein):

8 (11, 14) skeins #098 natural • Size I/9/5.5mm crochet hook or

size needed to obtain gauge • Tapestry needle

• Stitch markers

GAUGE

13 sts = 4 inches; 11 rows = 4 inches Take time to check gauge.

PATTERN NOTES

Rounds begin and end at center back.

Turning at ends of rows prevents bias of the fabric.

When dividing the garment near the bottom, work both back body and front body into the marked stitches.

SPECIAL STITCH

Increase (Inc): In marked st work 3 hdc, move marker to center st of group just made.

TUNIC

YOKE

Ch 82 (88, 100), sl st in first ch. Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 2 (counts as hdc throughout), hdc in next ch and in each ch around, turn. [82 (88, 100) hdc]

Count 13 (14, 16) sts for half back, place marker in next st; beg in st after marker count 13 (14, 16) sts for sleeve, place marker in next st; beg in st after marker count 26 (28, 32) sts for front, place marker in next st; beg in st after marker count 13 (14, 16) sts for 2nd sleeve, place marker in next st; rem sts are for 2nd half of back.

Rnds 2–14 (2–23, 2–27): Ch 2, *hdc in each hdc to marked

st, Inc (see Special Stitch) in marked st, rep from * around, hdc in each rem hdc, join with sl st to top of starting ch-2, turn. [8 sts added each rnd, ending with 186 (264, 308) hdc]

SMALL/MEDIUM ONLY

Rnd 15: Ch 2, hdc in each hdc around, join with sl st to top of starting ch-2. Move markers up at the end of rnd.

Rnds 16–20: Rep row 2. [226 hdc]

Rnd 21: Rep rnd 15.

ALL SIZES

Count sts between markers to verify st count before proceeding to underarm chs. Do not include the marked sts in your counts. Count 31 (36, 42) sts to first marker for half of back; 49 (58, 68) sts between first and

2nd markers for right sleeve; 62 (72, 84) sts between 2nd and 3rd markers for front; 49 (48, 68) sts between 3rd and 4th markers for left sleeve; rem 31 (36, 41) sts are for other half of back.

Underarm Chs

Place working lp on st holder or scrap yarn.

Note: Now we add chs that connect the front and back body and provide fabric for the side body. We will work into the front lp

(see illustration) of these chs when working the first rnd of the body, and work into the back

lp (see illustration) of these chs when working the first rnd of each sleeve.

To beg, with RS facing, with a separate strand of yarn make a lp on your hook for a more secure join. Pull lp through st at first marker; ch 5 (9, 11), sl st to st at 2nd marker, fasten off.

For the opposite side, with separate strand make lp on hook, pull lp through st at 3rd marker; ch 5 (9, 11), sl st to st at 4th marker, fasten off.

Place markers in the center ch of each underarm ch group. You will use these markers when beg divide for lower part of tunic. Leave the other markers in place and do not move up.

BODY

Rnd 1 (WS): Pick up working lp, ch 2, hdc in each hdc to underarm ch, hdc in front lp of each ch, hdc in each hdc to next set of underarm chs, hdc in front lp of each underarm ch, continue working hdc in each hdc around, turn. [138 (166, 194) hdc]

Move markers up at the end of each rnd.

Rnds 2–33 (2–36, 2–40): Ch 2, hdc in each hdc around, join with sl st to top of starting ch-2. Fasten off.

BODY DIVIDE Back Body

The back body can be identified by the join at center back. With RS and back of garment facing, join yarn at marked st.

Row 1 Back: Ch 2, hdc in each hdc across back to next marked st. Do not hdc in next marked st, turn leaving rem sts unworked. [69 (83, 97) hdc]

Work even in hdc for 16 more rows. Fasten off.

Front Body

With RS and front of garment facing, join yarn in marked st.

Row 1 Front: Ch 2, hdc in each hdc across to next marked st, turn. [69 (83, 97) hdc]

Work even in hdc for 11 more rows. Fasten off.

SLEEVES

Note: Sleeves are worked into the last row of unworked sts of each sleeve section, the back lps of underarm chs (that already have body sts worked into them) and the 2 marked sts on either side of underarm chs.

With WS facing, join yarn at center ch at underarm.

Rnd 1: Ch 2, hdc in back lp of each ch, hdc in base of next hdc of body, hdc in each unworked sleeve section hdc around, hdc in base of hdc of body, hdc in back of each rem ch, sl st to top of starting ch-2. [56 (69, 81) hdc] Rnds 2–20 (2–24, 2–28): Work even in turned rnds of hdc around. Fasten off.

Rep on opposite sleeve opening.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends.