Square Motif Pillowcase Edging #8119 (1951): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Size 30 crochet cotton, shaded peach — check the ball band for yardage
• 1.0 mm steel crochet hook
• A pair of pillowcases
• Sewing needle and thread
• Hook: Start with a 1.0 mm steel hook (the original No. 12) and change size to match the gauge

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch

chain

sc

single crochet

dc

double crochet

tr

treble crochet

sl st

slip stitch

cl

cluster

sp

space

st

stitch

rep

repeat

Notes before you start

• Source: "Motif Pillow Case Edging" (#8119), Edgings: crocheted, tatted, hair pin lace (Star Book No. 81), American Thread Company, 1951. Public domain in the USA.
• As printed — materials: “GEM” CROCHET COTTON Article 35, size 30 — 3 balls Shaded Peaches or color desired — steel 12; or “STAR” CROCHET COTTON Article 20, size 30 — 4 balls Shaded Peaches or color desired — steel 12; or “STAR” CROCHET COTTON Article 30, size 30 — 8 balls Shaded Peaches or color desired — steel 12; 1 pair Pillow Cases. Gauge: Not given.
• Modernisation note: Abbreviations respelled to modern US style using the leaflet's own abbreviation table: s c → sc, s d c (short double crochet) → hdc, d c → dc, tr c → tr, d tr c → dtr; “thread over” → “yarn over”. Stitches, order and counts are unchanged.
• Modernisation note: Instructions split into one row, round or step per line; the original prints them as running paragraphs.
• Modernisation note: Hook conversion: the leaflet uses the mid-century US steel hook numbering; the metric size given is the usual modern equivalent (No. 7 ≈ 1.65 mm, No. 11 ≈ 1.1 mm, No. 12 ≈ 1.0 mm, No. 13 ≈ 0.85 mm). Old hooks varied — match the gauge suggestion rather than the number.
• Modernisation note: Thread: the original Gem/Star crochet cottons are size 30; modern size 30 crochet cotton is still made. Ball yardage differs from the 1951 balls — check your ball band.
• Modernisation note: Check: the 2nd row prints “repeat from * 5 times” without an asterisk in the row; read it as repeating “ch 3, d c in next s c” 6 more times, giving 8 dc in all (matching the 8 sc of row 1).
• Modernisation note: Check: the 6th row prints “repeat from twice” without an asterisk; read it as “repeat from * twice”.
• Modernisation note: The second finishing step (neatening the cut fabric edge) is our addition; the original only says to cut away the extra material.

Motif

1. Ch 5, join to form a ring, ch 1 and work 8 sc in ring, join in 1st sc.
2. 2nd Row—Ch 6, dc in next sc, ch 3, dc in next sc, repeat from * 5 times, ch 3, join in 3rd st of ch.
3. 3rd Row—Sl st to center of loop, ch 4, 2 tr in same space keeping last loop of each tr on hook, yarn over and pull through all loops at one time, * ch 3, cluster st in next loop (cluster st: 3 tr in same space keeping last loop of each tr on hook, yarn over and pull through all loops at one time), ch 10, cluster st in same space (corner), ch 3, cluster st in next loop, repeat from * twice, ch 3, 2 cluster sts with ch 10 between in next loop, ch 3, join in top of 1st cluster st.
4. 4th Row—Ch 1, ** 3 sc in next loop, ch 3, sl st in top of last sc for picot, 2 sc in same space, 3 sc in next loop, * ch 3, sl st in top of last sc for picot, 3 sc in same space, repeat from * twice, 3 sc, picot, 2 sc in next loop, repeat from ** 3 times, join.
5. 5th Row—Ch 8, tr in space over next cluster st of 3rd row, ** ch 4, dc in center picot of corner loop, ch 4, tr in same picot, ch 4, dc in same picot, * ch 4, tr in space over next cluster st of 3rd row, repeat from * twice, repeat from ** all around ending row to correspond, join in 4th st of ch.
6. 6th Row—Ch 1, sc in same space, ch 3, sl st in top of last sc for picot, 4 sc in next loop, sc in next tr, ch 3, sl st in top of last sc for picot, ** 4 sc in next loop, sc in next dc, ch 3, sl st in top of last sc for picot, 4 sc in next loop, sc in next tr, ch 7, sl st in top of same sc, 4 sc in next loop, sc in next dc, ch 3, sl st in top of last sc for picot, * 4 sc in next loop, sc in next tr, ch 3, sl st in top of last sc for picot, repeat from twice, repeat from ** all around ending row to correspond, cut thread.