This suspender skirt has such a grown-up air that any little girl would be thrilled to pieces with it (Size 8-10) MATERIALS: J.&P. Coats or Clark’s .O.N.T. Pearl Cotton, size 5, 24 balls. Milwards steel crochet hook No.8. 5 small buttons. GAUGE FOR WAISTBAND: 4 Xsts make 1 inch; 5 rows make 1 inch. SKIRT: Start at waistline. Make a 27″ chain. 1ST ROW: Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next ch, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch, dc in ch just skipped (thus an X-st is made). Make another X-st, * dc in each of next 3 ch, make 2 X-sts. Repeat from * across until there are 30 dc-groups and 30 X-st groups in the row. Cut off remaining chain. Ch 3, turn. 2ND ROW: Skip 1 dc of 1st X-st group, dc in next dc, * ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc, dc in dc just skipped, ch 1, dc in each of next 3 . dc, ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc, dc in dc just skipped. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in each of  2 dc, dc in turning ch. Ch 3, turn .. 3RD ROW: Skip 1 dc, dc in each of next 2 dc, * ch 1, skip 1 dc dc in next dc, dc in dc just skipped, ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc, dc in dc just skipped,ch 1, dc in each of 3 dc. Repeat from * across, ending with ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in 3rd st of turning ch, dc in dc just skipped. Ch 3, turn. 4TH TO 9TH ROWS INCL: Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately. At end of 9th row; ch-1, but do not turn. Sl st in 3rd st of turning ch-3 at beginning of row. Hereafter work is done in rnds, instead of rows. 1ST RND: Ch 3, dc in each of 3 dc, * ch 1 and make X-st over each X-st, ch 1, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc (an increase), dc in next dc. Repeat from * around. Join last ch-1 with sl st to 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 2ND RND: Ch 3, dc in each of 3 dc, * ch 1, X-st over each X-st, ch 1, dc in each of 4 dc. Repeat from * around join. Continue in this manner, increasing 1 dc in center of each dc-group every 10th rnd, until there are 7 dc in each group. Work 4 rnds without increasing and every 5th rnd thereafter until there are 11 dc in each dc-group. Work without . increasing until skirt measures 17 inches. Fasten off. WAISTBAND: 1ST ROW: Attach thread to first st of X-st on 1st row at waistline. Ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc, dc in dc just skipped, ch 1, skip 2 dc, dc in next dc, dc in 1st of 2 dc just skipped. Continue in this manner, making X-st over X-st, and X-st over each 3-dc group. Ch 2, turn. 2ND ROW: * Skip 1 dc, sc in next dc, sc in dc just skipped. Repeat from * across. Ch 3, turn. 3RD ROW: * Skip 1 sc, dc in next sc, dc in sc just skipped: Repeat from * across. Ch 2, turn. Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows alternately until waistband measures 31/2 inches or desired depth. Do not break off but work sc closely together along short side of waistband to waistline; turn and work sc in each sc for 2 more rows. Fasten off. Attach thread to opposite short side and work 2 rows of sc, making five ch-4 loops at equal distances apart in 2nd row. Fasten off. STRAPS (Make 2): Starting at one end, ch 21. 1ST ROW: Dc in 4th ch from hook, * skip 1 ch, dc in next ch, dc inch just skipped. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in last ch. Ch 2, turn. 2ND ROW: Skip 2 dc, sc in next dc, sc in the 2nd dc skipped, * skip 1 dc, sc in next sc, sc in dc just skipped. Repeat from * across, ending with sc in turning ch. Ch 3, turn. 3RD ROW: Skip 2 sc, dc in next sc, dc in the 2nd dc skipped, * skip 1 sc, dc in next sc, dc in sc just skipped. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in turning ch. Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows alternately until piece measures 21 inches. Sew straps to waistband, crossing straps at back before sewing the back ends of straps in place. Sew on buttons.