Pond Lily Tablecloth (1948): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Size 20 mercerized crochet cotton (printed: Star Article 20, Size 20, or Gem Article 35, Size 20)
• Yardage: 36 balls × 250 yd = about 9,000 yd (or 30 balls × 300 yd = about 9,000 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 4½ 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: "Pond Lily 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; 36—250 yd. Balls Cream, Ecru or White or “Gem” Mercerized Crochet Cotton, Article 35, Size 20. 30—300 yd. Balls. Steel Crochet Hook #11. Each motif measures about 4½ inches. 192 Motifs 12x16 are required for cloth measuring about 56x74 inches with 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: “d c” → “dc”
• 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: “thread over” → “yo” (yarn over)
• Modernisation note: “tr c” → “tr”
• Modernisation note: “break thread” → “fasten off”
• Modernisation note: “thread over needle” → “yo”
• 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 3 and work 23 dc into ring, join in 3rd st of ch.
2. Row 2: Ch 12, sl st in 7th st from hook, ch 5, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc, repeat from beginning all around.
3. Row 3: 5 sc over next loop, sl st in next loop, ch 4, * yo twice, insert in same loop, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, repeat from * once, yo and work off all loops at one time, ** ch 5, * yo twice, insert in same loop, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, repeat from * twice, yo and work off all loops at one time, repeat from ** twice, ch 5, * yo twice, insert in same loop, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, repeat from * once, yo and work off all loops at one time, ch 4, sl st in same loop, 5 sc in next loop, repeat from beginning all around.
4. Row 4: Sl st across next 5 sc, then ch 4 and to the center of next loop, sc in same loop, * ch 6, sc in next loop, repeat from * twice, sc in next loop, repeat from 1st * all around, join in 1st sc.
5. Row 5: Sl st in each of the next 2 chs, 3 sc in same loop, * ch 6, 3 sc in next loop, repeat from * all around ending row with ch 3, dc in 1st sc (this brings thread in position for next row).
6. Row 6: Ch 4 (ch 4 at beginning of row counts as 1 tr), 2 tr in same space, * ch 5, 3 sc in next loop, repeat from * once, ch 5, then repeat from beginning all around, join in 4th st of ch.
7. Row 7: Ch 4, 2 tr in same space, * ch 7, skip next tr, 3 tr in next tr, ch 6, skip next loop, 5 sc in next loop, ch 6, 3 tr in next tr, repeat from * all around, ending row with ch 7, skip next tr, 3 tr in next tr, ch 6, skip next loop, 5 sc in next loop, ch 6, join in 4th st of ch.
8. Row 8: Ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 2 tr, * ch 7, 3 sc in next loop, ch 7, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 6, skip 1 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sc, ch 6, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, repeat from * all around ending row with ch 7, 3 sc in next loop, ch 7, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 6, skip 1 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sc, ch 6, join in 4th st of ch.
9. Row 9: Ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 2 tr, * ch 7, 3 sc in next loop, ch 7, 3 sc in next loop, ch 7, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, ch 6, sc in center 5 c of sc group, ch 6, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, repeat from * all around in same manner, join in 4th st of ch.
10. Row 10: Ch 4 (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr in each of the next 2 tr, * ch 7, 3 sc in next loop, repeat from * twice, ch 7, 1 tr in each of the next 3 tr, repeat from beginning all around, join, fasten off.
11. Work a 2nd motif in same manner joining to 1st motif in last row as follows: ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 2 tr, * ch 7, 3 sc in next loop, repeat from * once, ch 3, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 3, 3 sc in next loop of 2nd motif, ch 3, sl st in next loop of 1st motif, ch 3, 1 tr in each of the next 6 tr of 2nd motif, * ch 3, sl st in corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 3, 3 sc in next loop of 2nd motif, repeat from * once and complete motif same as 1st motif, fasten off.
12. Join 3rd motif to 2nd motif and 4th motif to 3rd and 1st motifs in same manner.