CROCHET: Daisy Apron

**this post is courtesy of Country Living Magazine**

Fashionable and functional, this Daisy Apron in easy-care cotton can be crocheted with or without a bib. The apron skirt, waist and ties are crocheted as one piece and soft pleats are incorporated at the waistline. The bib is crocheted separately then sewn to the skirt. Crocheted edging around each piece gives the apron an attractive finished look, as do the crocheted flowers, which are optional.

MATERIALS:
Lily Sugar 'n Cream (70.9 g/2.5 oz)
Main color (MC) (46 Rose Pink) 4 balls
Contrast Color A (01 White) 1 ball
Contrast Color B (10 Yellow) 1 ball

Size 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.
Yarn or tapestry needle for finishing

GAUGE:
13 half double crochets and 8 rows = 4 inches [10 cm]

INSTRUCTIONS:
Note: To change color, work to last 3 loops on hook. Draw loop in next color through 3 loops on hook to complete stitch and proceed in next color.
Chain 2 does not count as half double crochet.

ABBREVIATIONS & TERMS
MC - Main Color
WS - Wrong side of fabric
RS - Right side of fabric
in(s) - inch(es)
cm - centimeter
* * -- repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat from a give set of instructions

STRIPE PATTERN
With MC, work 5 rows.
With Color B, work 1 row.
With MC, work 2 rows.
With Color B, work 2 rows.
With MC, work 2 rows.
With Color B, work 1 row.
With MC, work 5 rows.
These 18 rows form Stripe Pattern.

With MC, chain 87.

Foundation Row: (WS). 1 half double crochet in 3rd chain from hook. 1 half double crochet in each chain to end of ch. 85 half double crochet. Turn.

Next row: Chain 2. 1 half double crochet in 1st half double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through back loop only. *1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through front loop only. 1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through back loop only. Repeat from * to last half double crochet. 1 half double crochet in last half double crochet. Turn.
Repeat last row until work from beginning measures 15 ins [38 cm].

Next row: Chain 2. Working through both loops, 1 half double crochet in each half double crochet to end of row. Fasten off.

Pleats: With RS of Apron facing, place marker along top edge 6 ins [15 cm] from either side. Fold a 1 ins [2.5 cm] pleat and pin in position. The upper edge of Apron is now 22 ins [56 cm] long.

Ties and Waistband: 1st row: With Color B, chain 42. With RS facing, join with slip stitch to upper left corner of Apron. Working through all thicknesses of pleats, work 1 single crochet in each stitch across top of apron to end of row. Chain 43. Turn. 2nd row: 1 single crochet in 2nd chain from hook. 1 single crochet in each of next 41 ch. 1 single crochet in each single crochet across. 1 single crochet in each of next 42 ch. Turn. 3rd row: Chain 1. 1 single crochet in each single crochet to end of row. Repeat last row once. Fasten off.

With RS of work facing, join Color A with slip stitch to any corner of Tie. Work one row single crochet around Tie and outer edge of Apron, having 3 single crochet in each outside corner and single crochet two together in inner corners as follows: (Draw up a loop in next st) twice. Yarn over hook and draw through all 3 loops on hook . You have just single crocheted two stitches together. Join with slip stitch to first single crochet. Next round: Working from left to right instead of from right to left as usual, work 1 reverse single crochet in each single crochet around. Join with slip stitch to first single crochet. Fasten off.

Pocket: With MC, chain 41. 1st row: (WS). 1 half double crochet in 3rd chain from hook. *1 half double crochet in each chain to end of chain 39 half double crochet. Turn. 1st row of Stripe pattern is complete.

Keeping continuity of Stripe pattern, proceed as follows: 1st row: Chain 2. 1 half double crochet in 1st half double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through back loop only. *1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through front loop only. 1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through back loop only. Repeat from * to last half double crochet. 1 half double crochet in last half double crochet. Turn. Repeat last row until 18 rows of Stripe pattern are complete. Fasten off.

With RS facing, join Color A with slip stitch to lower right corner of Pocket. Work 18 single crochet up right side, 3 single crochet in corner, 37 single crochet across top, 3 single crochet in corner, 18 single crochet down left side, 3 single crochet in corner, 37 single crochet across bottom and 3 single crochet in corner. Join with slip stitch to first single crochet. Next round: Working from left to right instead of from right to left as usual, work 1 reverse single crochet in each single crochet around. Join with slip stitch to first single crochet. Fasten off.

Bib: With MC, chain 35. 1st row: (WS). 1 half double crochet in 3rd chain from hook. *1 half double crochet in each chain to end of ch. 33 half double crochet. Turn. 2nd row: Chain 2. 1 half double crochet in 1st half double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through back loop only. *1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through front loop only. 1 half double crochet in next half double crochet through back loop only. Repeat from * to last half double crochet. 1 half double crochet in last half double crochet. Turn. Repeat last row until work from beginning measures 9 ins [23 cm]. Fasten off.

With RS facing and Color A, join with slip stitch to bottom right corner of Bib. Work 18 single crochet up right side, 3 single crochet in corner, 31 single crochet across top, 3 single crochet in corner and 18 single crochet down left side of Bib. Leave bottom edge unworked. Do not turn. Next row: Working from left to right instead of from right to left as usual, work 1 reverse single crochet in each single crochet along 3 sides of Bib. Fasten off.

Sew bottom edge of Bib to Waistband, centering Bib with Apron Skirt.

Ties for Bib: (make 2). With Color B, chain 82. 1 half double crochet in 3rd chain from hook. 1 half double crochet in each chain to end of ch. 80 half double crochet. Fasten off.

Daisy (optional): With Color B, chain 5. Join in round. 1st round: Chain 1. 10 single crochet in round. With Color B, join with slip stitch to first single crochet.. 2nd round: With Color A, chain 1. 1 single crochet in first single crochet. *Chain 5. Slip stitch in 2nd chain from hook. 1 single crochet in next ch. 1 half double crochet in next ch. 1 dc in next ch. Miss next single crochet. 1 single crochet in next single crochet. Repeat from * to end of round. Join with slip stitch to first single crochet. 5 petals. 3rd round: Chain 1. 1 single crochet in missed single crochet in last round. *Chain 5. Slip stitch in 2nd chain from hook. 1 single crochet in next chain. 1 half double crochet in next ch. 1 dc next chain. 1 single crochet in missed single crochet in last round. Repeat from * to end of round. Join with slip stitch to first single crochet. 5 petals. Note: 5 petals from 2nd round should alternate with 5 petals from 3rd round. Fasten off. Sew one Daisy to upper right corner of Bib as illustrated.

Sew Ties and Pocket to Apron as illustrated. Stitch middle of Pocket at center of Apron through all thicknesses.