Carnation Luncheon Set (1948): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Sillateen Sansil (Article 101) — size not printed; choose a crochet thread that matches the printed mat size
• Yardage: 9 balls × 210 yd White (about 1,890 yd) and 6 balls × 210 yd Red (about 1,260 yd) for 4 mats, as printed
• Tapestry needle, rustproof pins and starch for blocking
• Hook: Start with a 1.3 mm (US 10) steel hook — the printed size is #10 — and change size to reach the printed measurements.

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch

chain

sl st

slip stitch

sc

single crochet

dc

double crochet

st

stitch

yo

yarn over

Notes before you start

• Source: "Carnation Luncheon Set", New Tablecloths (Star Book No. 57), American Thread Company, 1948. Public domain in the USA.
• As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY; “SILLATEEN SANSIL”. ARTICLE 101; 9—210 yd. Balls White. 6—210 yd. Balls Red or any Contrasting Color will make 4 mats. Each mat measures about 12¼ x 18¼ inches. Steel Crochet Hook #10.. Gauge: Not given.
• Modernisation note: Transcribed from the original publication; stitches, repeats and their order are unchanged.
• Modernisation note: Run-on paragraphs split into one round, row or step per line.
• Modernisation note: The source leaflets already use US crochet terms; only abbreviations and wording were modernised.
• Modernisation note: “d c” → “dc”
• Modernisation note: Round/row labels rewritten in modern form (e.g. “2nd Round.” → “Rnd 2:”, “7th to 10th rnds incl:” → “Rnds 7–10:”)
• Modernisation note: “attach” → “join”
• Modernisation note: “thread over” → “yo” (yarn over)
• Modernisation note: “break thread” → “fasten off”
• Modernisation note: “s c” → “sc”
• Modernisation note: Page numbers, page-continuation notes and illustration references removed.
• Modernisation note: No gauge is printed. Suggested check: work to the printed finished size (see the pattern) and change hook size if your piece is noticeably larger or smaller.
• Modernisation note: Stitch counts have not been added; where the original prints a count it is kept as printed.

Instructions

1. With Red, ch 4, 3 dc in 4th st from hook, ch 3, turn.
2. Row 2: 2 dc in 1st dc, skip 1 dc, sl st in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same space with sl st (shell), ch 3, turn.
3. Row 3: 2 dc in 1st dc, sl st in the ch 3 of same shell, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, sl st in ch 3 of next shell, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, ch 3, turn. Repeat the 3rd row having one more shell in each row and ending each row with 2 dc in same space until there are 18 shells in row, break Red.
4. Next row: Join White and work in same manner (when changing Color always complete last half of st with next Color). Work 1 more row in White, break White. Join Red and work 2 rows in same manner, break Red. Continue in same manner working 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 8 rows Red, 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 11 rows White (63 shells in last row), ch 3, turn.
5. Next row: 2 dc in 1st dc, sl st in ch 3 of same shell, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, * sl st in ch 3 of next shell, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, repeat from * to end of row ending with a sl st in the ch 3 of last shell, ch 1, turn (63 shells in each remaining row).
6. Next row: Sl st to ch 3 of 1st shell, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, sl st in ch 3 of next shell, then continue working in shells across row working 2 dc in same space with last sl st, ch 3, turn. Repeat the last 2 rows working 9 more rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 12 rows White.
7. Next row: Sl st to ch 3 of 1st shell, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, sl st in ch 3 of next shell, continue working in shells across row ending row with a sl st in last shell, ch 1, turn. Repeat last row for remainder of mat having 1 shell less in each row working 9 more rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, 8 rows Red, 2 rows White, * 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, repeat from * twice, break White.
8. Join Red and continue in same manner until 2 shells remain. ch 1, turn, sl st to ch 3 of shell, ch 3, yo, insert in same space, pull through and work off 2 loops, yo, insert in 1st dc of next shell, pull through and work off 2 loops, yo, insert in next dc of same shell, pull through, work off 2 loops, yo and work off all loops at one time, fasten off and fasten securely.
9. EDGE: With Red, * ch 3, 2 dc in same space, skip the length of a dc, sc in next st, repeat from * all around.