free pattern: good night irene victorian choker

easy to make choker with floral applique and I-cord button in one size.

good night irene victorian choker
by kate sonnick

the perfect one-skein wonder for your hurricane sunday.  my first published design, the victorian choker was inspired by a pair of victorian wristlets originally featured in weldon's practical knitter, circa 1890. originally published in the (sadly) now-defunct spun ezine in 2006,  reprinted here by popular demand... just in time for fall 2011's bold choker trend.

width: approx. 3.5 inches with scalloping (may be increased or decreased based on neck length)
length: 13 inches

materials
1 ball debbie bliss cashmerino
one pair size US4 (3.5mm) needles
one size 4 dpn (for I-cord)
size G crochet hook (for floral applique)

gauge
6 sts = 1 inch over rib pat

directions
cast on 80 sts.
work in k1, p1 rib for 10 rows.
work vertical buttonhole over the next three rows as follows:
row 11: k1, p1, bind off 1 st (79 sts); continue in rib to end of row.
row 12: k1, p1 rib to last three sts; join a length of yarn on other side of buttonhole; rib to end.
row 13: work across buttonhold one more time in rib.
next row: work in rib to buttonhole; cast 1 st back on; continue in rib to end of row.
k1, p1 rib for nine more rows. (there will be 10 rows above and below the 3-row vertical buttonhole.)
bind off loosely in rib.

scalloped edging:
1 single crochet (sc) in the first rib; chain 1, 5 double crochets (dc) in the next rib, chain 1*
repeat from * around top and bottom of choker.
join at end with slip st.

I-cord button:
with dpn, cast on three sts.
work I-cord for 16 rows.
slide sts to right end of needle, pulling yarn to tighten.
pull yarn tail through all sts and gather.
tie cord in single knot and tie tail ends together.
sew knotted button on back.

floral applique (knit):
cast on 57 sts.
row 1: purl.
row 2: k2, *k1, sl this st back to left needle; lift the next 8 sts on the left needle over this st and off needle; (yo) 2 times, knit the first st again, k2, rep from * to end.
row 3: k1, *p2tog, drop 1 yo loop ([k2,p1] 2 times) in rem yo of previous row; p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
row 4: knit.
row 5: *k2tog; rep from * to end.
row 6: *k2tog; rep from * to end.
with needle, thread tail through rem eight sts on needle. gather up and fasten securely.
sew seam and weave in end. sew floral applique slightly off-center on front of choker.

scalloped edging (crochet):
consider the ribs as valleys and mountains.
insert crochet hook into every other valley.
*1 single crochet in the first rib; chain 1, 5 double crochets in the next rib; chain 1; rep from * around top and bottom of choker.
join at end with slip stitch.

(c) kate sonnick, 2011