Baby Preemie Hospital Crochet Shirt - Free Pattern

Now she's got some tubes removed, Chloe can wear a top. She still has lots of wires, lines and IVs attached, and she does have a large wound on her abdomen, so it has to be something that is easy to get on and off and has access to the lines and to her wound. So I made this cute "hospital shirt" which has a single tie to close the opening.

I used LionBrand Cotton-Ease. You can buy this yarn online here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251427649179

Baby Preemie Hospital Crochet Shirt

Baby Preemie Hospital Crochet Shirt - Free Pattern

To fit a 5lb baby

Materials:
H hook 

#4 yarn

Abbreviations:

dc = double crochet   

st  = stitch   

ch = chain   

sp = space   

sc = single crochet

Special stitch:

Shell: (dc, ch1, dc) in one stitch.

Instructions:

You start at the neckline of the shirt

Chain 48

Row 1: dc in 2nd ch from hook (counts as first dc now and throughout) and in the next 6 sts.  Make a shell in next st, dc in next 9 sts, shell in next st, dc in next 12 st, shell in next st, dc in next 9 st, shell in next st, dc in last 7 st. Ch 2, turn. 52 dc.

Rows 2-6:  (Increase rows) dc in the 2nd dc from the ch2.  dc in every dc including the ones on either side of the shell, to the ch-1 sp, shell in ch-1 sp, dc across to next ch-1 sp, shell in ch-1 sp, dc across to next ch-1 sp, shell in ch-1 sp, dc across to next ch-1 sp, shell in ch-1 sp, dc in remaining last space.  Ch 2, turn. 

Row Counts:
Row 2 = 59 dc
Row 3 = 67 dc
Row 4 = 75 dc
Row 5 = 83 dc

Row 6 = 91 dc

Row 7: (armhole row) dc to first ch-1 sp, skip all sts to next ch-1 sp, connect first and second ch-1 spaces together with a dc (one armhole made). dc across to next ch-1 sp, connect third and fourth ch-1 spaces together with a dc (second armhole made). dc across to end.  

Rows 8 - 14: Ch 2, turn. dc in each dc across.
At the end of  Row 14, ch 1 and turn.

Finishing: sc around the entire shirt, making 3 sc at the corners. Join with a sl st to the first sc.
fasten off and weave in ends.  Join yarn to edge of front panel about half way up and chain 20. Fasten off and weave in end. Repeat on the other front panel. Two ties made.