Chrysanthemum Tablecloth (1948): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Size 30 mercerized crochet cotton (printed: Star Article 20, Size 30, or Gem Article 36, Size 30)
• Yardage: 40 balls × 325 yd = about 13,000 yd (or 33 balls × 400 yd = about 13,200 yd) of size 30 cotton, as printed
• Tapestry needle, rustproof pins and starch for blocking
• Hook: Start with a 1.0 mm (US 12) steel hook — the printed size is #12 — and change size so one motif measures about 3 inches.

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch

chain

sl st

slip stitch

sc

single crochet

sts

stitches

st

stitch

yo

yarn over

Notes before you start

• Source: "Chrysanthemum Tablecloth", New Tablecloths (Star Book No. 57), American Thread Company, 1948. Public domain in the USA.
• As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY; “STAR” MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON.; ARTICLE 20. SIZE 30; 40—325 yd. Balls White, Ecru or Cream or “Gem” Mercerized Crochet Cotton, Article 36, Size 30. 33—400 yd. Balls. Steel Crochet Hook #12. Each motif measures about 3 inches. 567 motifs, 21x27 are required for a cloth measuring about 63x81 inches.. 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: “thread over needle” → “yo”
• Modernisation note: “thread over” → “yo” (yarn over)
• Modernisation note: “s c” → “sc”
• 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: “break thread” → “fasten off”
• 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.

Motif

1. Ch 12, join to form a ring, ch 3, * yo, insert in ring, pull through and work off 2 loops, repeat from *, then work off remaining loops at one time, ** ch 4, * yo, insert in ring, pull through and work off 2 loops, repeat from * twice, yo and work off remaining loops at one time (this is a cluster stitch), repeat from ** until there are 8 cluster sts in ring, ch 4, join.
2. Row 2: Ch 6, sl st in 4th st from hook for picot, ch 7, sl st in 4th st from hook for picot, ch 2, sc in next cluster st, repeat from beginning all around, join.
3. Row 3: Sl st to center of picot loop, * ch 9, sc in center of next picot loop, repeat from * all around, join.
4. Row 4: Sl st into loop, ch 3 and work 3 cluster sts with ch 3 between each cluster st in same loop, * ch 6, 3 cluster sts with ch 3 between each cluster st in next loop, repeat from * all around, ch 6, join in 1st cluster st.
5. Row 5: Sl st in ch 3 loop, ch 3, work 2 cluster sts with ch 3 between in same loop, ch 3, 2 cluster sts with ch 3 between in next loop, * ch 6, skip 1 loop, 2 cluster sts with ch 3 between in next loop, ch 3, 2 cluster sts with ch 3 between in next loop, repeat from all around, ch 6, join.
6. Row 6: Sl st into loop, ch 3 and work 2 cluster sts with ch 3 between in same loop, * ch 3, 2 cluster sts with ch 3 between in next loop, repeat from * once, ** ch 1 sc over the ch 6 loops of 2 previous rows, ch 4, 2 cluster sts with ch 3 between in next ch 3 loop, * ch 3, 2 cluster sts with ch 3 between in next loop, repeat from * once, then repeat from ** all around, join in 1st cluster st.
7. Row 7: Ch 1, * 2 sc, 4 ch picot, 1 sc in each 3 ch loop, ch 6, sl st in 4th st from hook for picot, ch 2, skip the 2-ch 4 loops, repeat from * all around, join, fasten off.
8. Work another motif in same manner joining it to 1st motif in last row as follows: work 2 sc in 1st ch 3 loop, ch 2, sl st in corresponding picot of 1st motif, ch 2, complete picot, 1 sc in same loop of 2nd motif, join the next 4 picots of 2nd motif in same manner and complete motif same as 1st motif. Join 3rd motif to 2nd motif and join 4th motif to 3rd and 1st motifs in same manner leaving 2 picots free between joinings.