Poinsettia Tablecloth (1948): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Size 20 mercerized crochet cotton (printed: Star Article 20, Size 20, or Gem Article 35, Size 20)
• Yardage: 38 balls × 250 yd = about 9,500 yd (or 32 balls × 300 yd = about 9,600 yd) of size 20 cotton, as printed
• Tapestry needle, rustproof pins and starch for blocking
• Hook: Start with a 1.1 mm (US 11) steel hook — the printed size is #11 — and change size so one motif measures about 4¼ inches.

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch

chain

sl st

slip stitch

sc

single crochet

dc

double crochet

tr

treble crochet

sts

stitches

st

stitch

yo

yarn over

Notes before you start

• Source: "Poinsettia 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 20; 38—250 yd. Balls Cream, Ecru or White or “Gem” Mercerized Crochet Cotton, Article 35, Size 20. 32—300 yd. Balls. Steel Crochet Hook #11. Each motif measures about 4¼ inches. 221 motifs 13x17 are required for cloth measuring about 55x72 inches without edge.. 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: “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: “d c” → “dc”
• Modernisation note: “tr c” → “tr”
• Modernisation note: “thread over” → “yo” (yarn over)
• Modernisation note: “break thread” → “fasten off”
• Modernisation note: “attach” → “join”
• 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 8, join to form a ring, ch 1 and work 16 sc in ring, join in 1st sc.
2. Row 2: Ch 7, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 2, skip 1 sc, sc in next sc, repeat from beginning all around.
3. Row 3: Sl st to center of picot, * ch 8, sc in next picot, repeat from * 6 times, ch 4, dc in 1st picot (this brings thread in position for next row).
4. Row 4: Ch 4, 4 dc over same loop, work 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc over each remaining loop working 3 dc over remainder of 1st loop, join in 3rd st of ch.
5. Row 5: Sl st in next st of ch, * ch 7, 7 tr with ch 1 between each tr in next ch 1 loop, ch 7, sc in next ch 1 loop, repeat from * 3 times.
6. Row 6: Sl st to center of loop, sc over same loop, ** ch 5, sc in next ch 1 loop, * ch 3, sc in next ch 1 loop, repeat from * 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 6, sc in next loop, repeat from ** twice, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 loop, * ch 3, sc in next ch 1 loop, repeat from * 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 2, dc in 1st sc.
7. Row 7: Ch 3, 2 dc over same loop, ** ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop. * ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * 3 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from ** twice, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, * ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * 3 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, join in 3rd st of ch.
8. Row 8: Ch 1, 2 tr in same space, ** ch 7, skip 1 dc 3 tr in next dc, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 5 ch loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, * ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * twice, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, 3 tr in next dc, repeat from ** twice, ch 7, skip 1 dc, 3 tr in next dc, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 5 ch loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, * ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * twice, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, join in 4th st of ch.
9. Row 9: Ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 2 tr, ** ch 7, sc in next loop, ch 7, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 5 ch loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, * ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * once, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, repeat from ** twice, ch 7, sc in next loop, ch 7, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 5 ch loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, * ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * once, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, join in 4th st of ch.
10. Row 10: Ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 2 tr, * ch 9, sc in next loop, ch 9, sc in next loop, ch 9, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 5 ch loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, repeat from * twice, ch 9, sc in next loop, ch 9, sc in next loop, ch 9, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 5 ch loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 3, join in 4th st of ch.
11. Row 11: Ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 2 tr, ** ch 9, sc in next loop, ch 5, work 4 cluster sts with ch 5 between each cluster st in next loop (cluster st: * yo twice, insert in loop, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, repeat from * twice, yo and work off all loops at one time), ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 9, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 5 ch loop, * ch 5, sc in next loop, repeat from * once, ch 3, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, repeat from ** twice, ch 9, sc in next loop, ch 5, work 4 cluster sts with ch 5 between each cluster st in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 9, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 5 ch loop, * ch 5, sc in next loop, repeat from * once, ch 3, join in 4th st of ch.
12. Row 12: Ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 2 tr, ** ch 9, sc in next loop, * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, repeat from * 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 9, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, 1 sc in each of the next 2 loops, ch 3, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, repeat from ** twice, ch 9, sc in next loop, * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, repeat from * 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 9, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 3, skip next 3 ch loop, 1 sc in each of the next 2 loops, ch 3, join in 4th st of ch.
13. Row 13: Sl st across each tr and to center st of next loop, sc over same loop. * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, repeat from * twice, ch 5, cluster st in next cluster st, ch 11, cluster st in same space, ch 5, cluster st in next loop, repeat from * twice, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 9, * yo twice, insert in next tr and work off 2 loops twice. repeat from * 5 times, yo and work off all loops at one time, ch 9, sc in next loop, continue all around in same manner ending row with ch 9, sl st in 1st sc, fasten off.
14. Work a 2nd motif in same manner joining to 1st motif in last row as follows: sl st to center of 1st loop, sc in same loop, * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, repeat from * twice, ch 5, cluster st in next cluster st, ch 6, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 6, cluster st in same cluster st of 2nd motif, * ch 3, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 3, cluster st in next loop of 2nd motif, repeat from * twice, ch 3, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 3, sc in next loop of 2nd motif, ch 5, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 5, * yo twice, insert in next tr of 2nd motif, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, repeat from * 5 times, yo and work off all loops at one time, ch 5, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 5, sc in next loop of 2nd motif, * ch 3, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 3, cluster st in next loop of 2nd motif, repeat from * twice, ch 3, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 3, cluster st in next cluster st of 2nd motif, ch 6, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 6, cluster st in same cluster st of 2nd motif and complete motif same as 1st motif.
15. Join 3rd motif to 2nd motif and 4th motif to 3rd and 1st motifs in same manner.
16. EDGE: Join thread at joining at right hand side before corner, ch 4, cluster st in same space, ch 4, sl st in top of cluster st for picot, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 4, sl st in top of sc for picot, * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, ch 4, sl st in top of cluster st for picot, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 4, sl st in top of sc for picot, repeat from * once, ch 5, cluster st in next loop, picot, ch 5, sc in top of tr group, ch 4, sl st in top of sc for picot, * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, picot, ch 5, sc in next loop, picot, repeat from * twice, ch 5, cluster st in same space, picot, ch 6, sl st in 4th st from hook for picot, ch 2, cluster st in same space, picot, ch 5, sc in same space, picot, (corner) * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, picot, ch 5, sc in next loop, picot, repeat from * once, ch 5, cluster st in next loop, picot, ch 5, sc in top of tr group, picot, * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, picot, ch 5, sc in next loop, picot, repeat from * twice, ** ch 5, cluster st in joining, picot, * ch 5, sc in next loop, picot, ch 5, cluster st in next loop, picot, repeat from * twice, ch 5, sc in top of tr group, picot, * ch 5, cluster st in next loop, picot, ch 5, sc in next loop, picot, repeat from * twice, repeat from ** all around working all corner motifs same as 1st corner motif.
17. If napkins are desired, cut linen the required size. Roll a narrow hem and work a row of sc over hem. Finish with edge same as on cloth.