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White Rice Stitch and Shell Handkerchief Edging #8111 (1951): vintage crochet pattern
A ten-row handkerchief border of treble shells separated by small rice stitches, widening at the corners and finished with double cluster-and-picot scallops. Originally published as "Green Handkerchief with White Rice Stitch Edging" in Edgings: crocheted, tatted, hair pin lace (Star Book No. 81) by American Thread Company in 1951, it is now in the public domain.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Reviewed · Editorial policy
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Reviewed September 14, 2026 under our editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Advanced |
| Yarn weight | Lace (#0) |
| Yardage | 4 balls (as printed; yardage not given) |
| Hook | 0.85 mm |
| Gauge | Not given in the original. Suggestion: work the first row so each rice-stitch-and-shell repeat covers 3 hemstitched spaces, about ⁵/₁₆ in (8 mm), without puckering. |
| Finished size | Not given in the original; the first row spaces stitches about ⁵/₁₆ in (8 mm) apart along the hemstitching. |
| Time | about 3 hours |
Materials
- Fine crochet cotton (about size 70–80), white — check the ball band for yardage
- 0.85 mm steel crochet hook
- A hemstitched handkerchief (green in the original)
- Hook: Start with a 0.85 mm steel hook (the original No. 13) and change size to match the gauge
Abbreviations (US terms)
Notes before you start
- Source: "Green Handkerchief with White Rice Stitch Edging" (#8111), Edgings: crocheted, tatted, hair pin lace (Star Book No. 81), American Thread Company, 1951. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY “STAR” TATTING CROCHET, Article 25; 4 balls White or color desired; 1 Handkerchief; Steel crochet hook No. 13. 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 “Star” Tatting Crochet (Article 25) is a fine mercerised cotton with no size printed; a modern fine crochet cotton (around size 70–80) is the closest match. Check your ball band for yardage.
- Modernisation note: The “rice st” (ch 4, 2 dc cluster in 4th ch from hook) is the original's own definition, kept word for word.
- Modernisation note: Finishing steps are our addition.
Rows
- Attach thread in 1st hemstitched space to right of corner, ch 8, 2 dc in 4th st from hook leaving last loop of each dc on hook, yarn over and pull through all loops at one time, ** 1 tr, ch 3, 1 tr in corner space, ch 4, 2 dc in 4th st from hook leaving last loop of each dc on hook, yarn over and pull through all loops at one time (a rice st), tr in next hemstitched space, * work a rice st, skip 3 hemstitched spaces (about ⁵/₁₆ inch), 1 tr, ch 3, 1 tr in next space, work a rice st, skip 3 hemstitched spaces, tr in next space, repeat from * across side of handkerchief ending with 1 tr in hemstitched space to right of next corner, work a rice st, repeat from ** all around ending row with rice st, join in 4th st of ch 8.
- 2nd Row—Ch 7, tr in same space, rice st, 4 tr with ch 3 between each tr in corner loop, * rice st, 2 tr with ch 3 between in next tr, rice st, tr in next loop, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner ending row with rice st, join in 4th st of ch.
- 3rd Row—Sl st into loop, ch 8, rice st in 4th st from hook, 1 tr, ch 3, 1 tr in next loop, ch 3, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 tr in next loop, ch 3, 1 tr, ch 3, 1 tr in next loop, * rice st, tr in next loop, rice st, 1 tr, ch 3, 1 tr (shell) in next tr, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner and ending row with rice st, join in 4th st of ch.
- 4th Row—Ch 7, tr in same space, rice st, shell in next loop, ch 3, shell in next loop, ch 3, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 tr in next loop, ch 3, shell in next loop, ch 3, shell in next loop, * rice st, shell in next tr, rice st, 1 tr in next shell, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner and joining last rice st in 4th st of ch.
- 5th Row—Ch 8, rice st in 4th st from hook, shell in next shell, ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, ch 3, skip 1 loop, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 tr in next loop, * ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, repeat from * once, * rice st, tr in next shell, rice st, shell in next tr, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner and joining last rice st in 4th st of ch.
- 6th Row—Ch 7, tr in same space, rice st, shell in next shell, ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next loop, ch 5, shell in same space, * ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, repeat from * once, rice st, shell in next tr, rice st, 1 tr in next shell, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner, ending row to correspond, joining last rice st in 4th st of ch.
- 7th Row—Ch 8, rice st in 4th st from hook, shell in next shell, * ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, repeat from * once, ch 3, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 tr in next loop, ch 3, shell in next shell, * ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, repeat from * once, * rice st, tr in next shell, rice st, shell in next tr, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner and joining last rice st in 4th st of ch.
- 8th Row—Ch 7, tr in same space, rice st, shell in next shell, * ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, repeat from * once, ch 3, skip 1 loop, 1 tr, ch 5, 1 tr in next loop, * ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, repeat from * twice, * rice st, shell in next tr, rice st, 1 tr in next shell, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner joining last rice st in 4th st of ch.
- 9th Row—Ch 8, rice st in 4th st from hook, shell in next shell, * ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, repeat from * once, ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next loop, ch 5, shell in same space, * ch 3, skip 1 loop, shell in next shell, repeat from * twice, * rice st, tr in next shell, rice st, shell in next tr, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner and joining last rice st in 4th st of ch.
- 10th Row—Ch 4, cluster st in next shell (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 3, sl st in top of cluster st for picot, ch 3, cluster st in same shell, picot, ch 4, skip 1 loop, sc in next shell, ch 4, skip 1 loop, cluster st in next shell, picot, ch 3, cluster st in same shell, picot, ch 4, skip 1 loop, sc in next shell, ch 4, cluster st in corner loop, picot, ch 3, cluster st in same space, picot, ch 4, sc in next shell, ch 4, skip 1 loop, cluster st in next shell, picot, ch 3, cluster st in same shell, picot, ch 4, skip 1 loop, sc in next shell, ch 4, skip 1 loop, cluster st in next shell, picot, ch 3, cluster st in same shell, picot, ch 4, sc in next tr, * ch 4, cluster st in next shell, picot, ch 3, cluster st in same shell, picot, ch 4, sc in next tr, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner ending row to correspond, join, cut thread.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the White Rice Stitch and Shell Handkerchief Edging #8111 (1951) pattern is in the Vintage Crochet Edgings & Trims
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Finishing
Included with 18 patterns for $9 — $0.50 per pattern.
Errata
No corrections have been published for this pattern. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will log the fix here with a date.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Green Handkerchief with White Rice Stitch Edging pattern from?
It was published as "Green Handkerchief with White Rice Stitch Edging" in Edgings: crocheted, tatted, hair pin lace (Star Book No. 81) by American Thread Company in 1951. The publication is in the public domain in the United States; this version is transcribed and modernised by crochetpatterns.io.
What yarn or thread do I need for the Green Handkerchief with White Rice Stitch Edging?
Fine tatting crochet cotton (size not printed; about size 70–80). The original uses 4 balls; check your ball band.
What hook should I use?
Start with a 0.85 mm steel hook (the original No. 13) and change size to match the gauge Gauge: Not given in the original. Suggestion: work the first row so each rice-stitch-and-shell repeat covers 3 hemstitched spaces, about ⁵/₁₆ in (8 mm), without puckering.
