HALF-AND-HALF TABARD

HALF-AND-HALF TABARD

(published in 2010 Crochet Pattern-a-Day Calendar)

Skill level: Easy

Finished size: Loose fitting – finished front or back pieces measure approx. 34” long x 21” wide

(total finished bust measurement 42”)

NOTE: Tabard is designed for a loose fit over 36”-38” chest. If wider piece is desired, purchase additional yarn. Depending on yarn choice, garment may stretch somewhat lengthwise.

Materials:

Worsted-weight handpaint, multicolor, or solid color wool, wool-blend or acrylic yarn (sample shown in Mountain Colors “Alpaca Blend”)

500 yds. Color A, 500 yds. Color B

200 yds. contrast color (CC) for seams and edging

Size I hook (or size to obtain gauge)

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 12 dc & 6 rows = 4” with worsted wt. yarn on size I hook

Terms/Abbreviations: back loop only (BLO), beginning (beg), chain (ch), double crochet (dc), hook (hk), repeat (rep), single crochet (sc), slip stitch (sl st), space (sp), stitch (st)

Tabard

Rectangle (Note: each rectangle forms one-half of front or back -- make 4 total:

2 in Color A, 2 in Color B)

Row 1: Ch 103, dc in 4th ch from hook and ea ch across, turn (101 dc)

Row 2: Ch 3, dc in first 2 dc, *ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc, rep from * across, ending with dc in ea of last 2 dc, dc in top of turning ch, turn (48 ch-1 sps)

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in ea dc and sp across, turn (101 dc)

Repeat Rows 2-3 for a total of 15 rows, ending with Row 3. Piece measures 10” from beg. (Note: to increase finished bust measurement of tabard, repeat Rows 2-3 as necessary to provide additional width, keeping in mind that each rectangle equals one-half of front or back.)

Edging: Attach CC to one side of rectangle, ch 1, sc evenly around entire rectangle, placing one sc in ea dc on long sides, 3 sc in ea corner, and 2 sc along sides of rows on short sides of piece. Join with sl st and fasten off.

Repeat for 3 more rectangles.

Center front seam: With wrong sides together, hold one Color A rectangle together with one Color B rectangle. At approx. 10” in from short side of pieces (i.e., the edge that will form the shoulder seams of tabard), attach CC with slip stitch through back loops only (BLO) of dc. Sl st through BLO of ea dc on both pieces until you reach end of seam. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Center back seam: Repeat instructions for center front seam, but begin back seam approx. 6” in from short side of pieces (i.e., the edge that will form the shoulder seam of tabard.)

Shoulder seams: Hold front and back pieces with wrong sides together at shoulder, attach CC and sl st across shoulder seam, working through both loops of dc on front and back pieces for stability. Repeat for second shoulder seam.

Finishing:

Neck edging: Join CC to center back neck, ch 1, sl st evenly around neck opening, join with sl st and fasten off.

Outside edging: Join CC at lower edge of center back, ch 1, sl st evenly around outside edges of tabard, join with sl st and fasten off. Weave in all ends.

If necessary and appropriate for your choice of yarn, consult care instructions on ball band and block piece lightly by laying it flat on thick towels, then cover with damp towels and leave to dry.

Tassel (optional): Holding one strand of each yarn together as one, wrap yarn around a 9” measure (book or piece of cardboard) about 15 times. Tie strands together at the top, then cut lower edge of strands. Wrap a separate length of yarn around tassel (about 1” below top) several times and tie tightly, burying loose ends inside tassel. Attach top of tassel to center front about 1” down from V-opening.

Side Ties (optional)(make 2): If desired, chain ties can be made to hold front and back pieces together at sides. With contrast yarn, ch 100, sl st in 2^nd ch from hook and in ea ch across to end. Fasten off.

To wear: Thread ties through spaces at desired points on each side of tabard and tie in a bow.