Casino Blouse Knitted Pattern

This blouse pattern was originally published in July 1934 in Needlecraft The Home Arts Magazine.

Among the perfectly good reasons why this is the very "knitting-est" season that we have ever known is the fact that models are so absolutely smart that they are just about irresistible, also that working materials are now nearly as varied as to kind and texture as are yard goods. Truly there is a yarn suitable for any garment and any occasion. Many people have actually knitted entire wardrobes, from bathing suits to evening gowns, lacy blouses to sport coats.

A comparatively new material which is delightfully adaptable to any number of wearables is an all-linen yarn which does not shrink or stretch and is fast-color dyed in many lovely shades. The modish blouse illustrated used a nice buttercup yellow. Four two-ounce balls (about two hundred and fifty yards to the ball) of two-ply linen yarn are required for the sixteen-year size and one pair of No. 2 fourteen-inch standard steel knitting needles.

The design of the knitting is especially pleasing and not at all difficult. Twenty-four rows form one complete pattern; and it is repeated throughout except for the band at bottom of blouse and the cuffs.

Following are directions for the pattern rows:

1. Knit 1, * knit 3, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, repeat from *, ending row with knit 2.

2. Purl back. Every even row is the same.

3. Knit 2, * knit 3, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, repeat from *, ending row with knit 1.

5. Knit 1, over, knit 2 together, * knit 3, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, repeat from *.

7. Knit 2, over, knit 2 together, * knit 3, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, repeat from *, ending row with knit 3, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, knit 1.

9. Knit 1, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, * knit 3, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, repeat from *, ending row with knit 3, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together.

11. Knit 2, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, * knit 3, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, repeat from *, ending row with knit 3, over, knit 2 together, knit 1.

13. Knit 1, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, * knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, repeat from *, ending row with knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2.

15. Knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, * knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, repeat from *, ending row with knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 1.

17. Knit 1, knit 2 together, over, * knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, repeat from *, ending row with knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2.

19. Knit 2 together, over, * knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, repeat from *, ending row with knit 1.

21. Knit 1, * knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, repeat from *, ending row with knit 2.

23. * Knit 3, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, knit 2 together, over, repeat from *, ending row with knit 3.

24. Purl. This completes one pattern.

Cast on 100 stitches for the back. Work ribbing (knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches) for 3 inches. Knit the next row, increasing by knitting in both front and back of every 5th stitch, making 120 stitches on the needle. Purl the next row.

Now begin the pattern and make four and one-half repeats, ending with the 12th row. Bind off 3 stitches each side for underarm. Then decrease 1 stitch each side of work, with purled side of work toward you, every purled row for three patterns. The back should now measure seven and one-half patterns from 1st purled row. Bind off the 42 stitches which remain.

For the front: Cast on 100 stitches and work in ribbing (knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches) for 3 inches, increase as for back in the next (knit) row by knitting in both front and back of every 5th stitch (120 stitches on needle). Purl the next row. Work in pattern for four and one-half pattern repeats. Slip 60 stitches onto a stitch-holder and work on one-half of the front. Bind off 3 stitches for underarm and keep neck edge straight. Continue, decreasing 1 stitch at armhole edge every purled row, until front measures six full patterns from 1st purled row (35 stitches on needle). Bind off. Make the other side of front to correspond.

For sleeves: Cast on 74 stitches, and work in ribbing (knit 2, purl 2) for 1 ½ inches. Knit next row, increasing in every 10th stitch, making 84 stitches on the needle. Purl next row. Work one full pattern. Then bind off 3 stitches each side, and thereafter decrease 1 stitch each side every 3d row (one time the decrease is on the knit side and the next time on the purled side) until the sleeve is four and one-half patterns long (28 stitches on needle). Bind off.

For the collar: Cast on 30 stitches and knit in pattern for 52 inches; bind off.

Press all parts with a warm iron. Sew the shoulder seams, sew in the sleeves, and sew underarms and sleeves. Be careful to match the pattern rows. Sew the collar to neck edge, center of collar to center back. Work double crochets around neck of blouse. Press seams.

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