Fingering Fleece Classic Pattern

Size  14
1 Pr. Standard No. 2 Needles
1 Pr. Standard No. 3 Needles
Size 2 Steel Crochet Hook

SCALE: 7½ sts to 1 in.

Jack Frost Fingering Fleece—6 1-oz. Balls

BACK: With No. 2 Needles cast on 99 sts. Work in ribbing of K 1, P 1, for 3½ in. Change to No. 3 Needles and P 1 row increasing to 126 sts at even intervals across row.  Work even in stockinette st until piece measures 12 in. from lower edge. Bind off 8 sts at beginning of each of next 2 row for underarm; decrease 1 st at each end every other row 8 times. Work even until piece measures 6½ in. from underarm.  Bind off 8 sts at beginning of each of next 8 rows for shoulders. Bind off remaining sts for back of neck.

FRONT: Work same as given for back until piece measures 5 in. from underarm.  Work over 37 sts; place on st-holder. Bind off next 20 sts for front of neck . On remaining sts, work 2 rows even, then decrease 1 st  at neck edge every other row 5 times. Work even until piece measures 6½ in. from under arm. Starting at shoulder edge, bind off 8 sts every other row 4 times. Work other side to correspond.

Sew shoulder seams, leaving 2 in. free at neck edge on each side for opening.

Sew underarm seams.

SLEEVES: With No. 2 Needles cast on 79 sts. Work in ribbing of K 1, P 1, for 1½ in. Change to No. 3 Needles increasing to 80 sts. Work in stockinette st increasing 1 st at each end every 4th row 4 times. Work even until piece measures 4½ in. from lower edge. Bind off 8 sts at beginning of each of next 2 rows for underarm; decrease 1 st at each end every other row 8 times, then every 4th row 3 times. Bind off 2 sts at beginning of every row until 22 sts remain. Bind off remaining sts.

Sew sleeve seams. Sew sleeves in place.

Work 1row of s c around opening on shoulders, working loops for buttonholes on front edges.

TRIMMING:
Row 1—Work 1 row s c across back  of  neck. Ch 4, turn.
Row 2—Skip first s c, work  1 d  c  in  next st, * Ch  2, skip next s c, work  1 d c in next s c; repeat from * across row (14 meshes ). Ch 4, t urn.
Row 3—Work 1 d c into first mesh, * ch 2, 1 d c in next mesh, ch 2, 1 cl c in same mesh; repeat from * across row. Ch 4, turn.
Row 4—Repeat  row 3.
Row 5—Work 1 cl c in 2nd mesh, * ch 1, 1 d c in next mesh; repeat from * across row. Fasten off. Repeat above 5 rows across front neck edge, having 27 open meshes instead of 14 as on back.