MAKE 2 PANELS IN MAIN COLOR:
Row 1: Fhdc x 50 (54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78), turn.
Rows 2 - 16: Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), 49 (53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77)x hdc across for total 50 (54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78) hdc incl ch 2.
Begin Shaping Armhole:
Row 17: Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), [hdc2tog] 2 times, hdc across to last 4 stitches then [hdc2tog] 2 times, 4 stitches decreased, 46 (50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74) stitches remain.
Rows 18 - 19: Repeat Row 17, 38 (42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66) stitches remain.
Rows 20 – 27 (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34): Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), hdc across for total 38 (42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66) hdc incl ch 2.
Shape Neck & Make First Strap:
Row 28 (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35): Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), 5 (6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16)x hdc, hdc2tog, hdc, TURN. Total 8 (9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19) hdc - incl ch 2.
Row 29 (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36): Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), 7 (8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18)x hdc across, TURN. Total 8 (9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19) hdc - incl ch 2.
Row 30 (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37): Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), 5 (6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16)x hdc, hdc2tog TURN. Total 7 (8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18) hdc - incl ch 2.
Row 31 (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38): Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), hdc2tog, 4 (5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15)x hdc, TURN. Total 6 (7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17) hdc - incl ch 2.
Rows 32 (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) – 34 (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41): Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), 5 (6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16)x hdc across, TURN. Total 6 (7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17) hdc - incl ch 2. each row.
Fasten, leaving long tail for assembly (approx. 6 inches)
Continue Shaping Neck & Make Second Strap:
Rejoin yarn at other side and work as for First Strap.
ASSEMBLY
Marry your two panels with one strap on each side and this will now be INSIDE OUT.
Using your stitch marker or fastener, pin sides of panels together at Row 17 beginning armhole shaping on each side.
Using long tail from bottom, and using mattress stitch method, join sides working from the bottom to the fastener on each side.
Again, using mattress stitch, connect the straps on each side.
After top is assembled TURN RIGHT SIDE OUT then:
CONTINUE WITH MAIN COLOR:
Rounds 1 -3 : Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), 99 (107, 115, 123, 131, 139, 147, 155)x hdc around, sl st to top of ch 2, total 100 (108, 116, 124, 132, 140, 148, 156) incl ch 2.
Large, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X Sizes only:
Rounds 4-6: Rounds 4-6: Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), 99 (107, 115, 123, 131, 139, 147, 155)x hdc around, sl st to top of ch 2, total 100 (108, 116, 124, 132, 140, 148, 156) hdc incl ch 2.
Size 3X, 4X only:
Round 7: Ch 2 (acts as first hdc), 99 (107, 115, 123, 131, 139, 147, 155)x hdc around, sl st to top of ch 2, total 100 (108, 116, 124, 132, 140, 148, 156) hdc incl ch 2.