Shape Armholes:
Now that you have experience with increasing and decreasing, you should have no problem with shaping the armholes.
Row 1 Sl st across 9 sts, dc in next dc, ch 1, sk 1st dc, *2dc in ea of next 2 dc, sk 2 dc* repeat from * to * to last 2 groups. Dc in next dc, ch2,
turn. Leave remaining stitches unworked.
Row 2 2dc in ea of 2nd and 3rd dc of group, continue in pattern to last group. 2dc in 2nd and 3rd dc of last group.
Row 3 2dc in 3rd dc, cont. in pattern to last group. 2dc in 2nd dc of group, 1 dc in tc, ch 2, turn.
Row 4 1 dc in 1st dc, sk 2 dc, cont. in pattern to end. 1 dc in last dc, 1 dc in tc, ch 2, turn.
Work evenly in pattern until fabric measures 7 1/2"--8" from beginning of armhole shaping ( 15 rows more or less). You should have 2 dc's along the edges of both armholes.
Front:
The front is worked exactly as the back up to the armhole shaping. This will give you plenty of practice in decreasing and increasing. As you work the armhole shaping, you will simultaneously be shaping the V neckline. Pay attention to your edges and don't get them confused. You will first work the right front and then the left front. The V neck will decrease one stitch each time you approach that edge, in other words, as you crochet across from the armhole to the neck edge, you will decrease 1 dc at the end of the row. Then you will turn your work and decrease 1 dc again at the neck edge. You will continue this way, shaping the armhole at the same time. It's not as hard as it sounds!
Instructions: Work front as for back to armhole shaping. Shape armhole as for back. Count across 10 groups of double V stitches and place a stitch marker between the 10th and 11th group. This is the center front.
Row 1 Sl st across 9 stitches as on back, work in pattern to 10th group. 2dc in 2nd dc of group, dc in 3rd dc of group, ch 2, turn.
Row 2 2dc in next dc, sk 2 dc, cont. with pattern and decrease armhole at end of row as for back.
Row 3 Decrease armhole, work in pattern, to last 2 dc. Dc in last dc, dc in tc, ch 2, turn.
Row 4 Decrease 1 st at neck and armhole while working in pattern.
Rows 5-15 Decrease 1 st at neck on each row until piece measures same as back from beginning of armhole shaping. Fasten off
Attach yarn at 2nd dc of 11th group with a sl st ,ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, follow pattern and shape armhole and neck as for other side of front. When left from measures same as right front, fasten off. You should have 3 groups of V stitches, the 2 dc at the armhole edge and one dc at the neck edge on the last row.
