Tulip Tablecloth (1948): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Size 20 mercerized crochet cotton (printed: Star Article 20, Size 20, or Gem Article 35, Size 20)
• Yardage: 48 balls × 250 yd = about 12,000 yd (or 40 balls × 300 yd = about 12,000 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 6 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: "Tulip 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; 48—250 yd. Balls White, Ecru or Cream or “Gem” Mercerized Crochet Cotton, Article 35, Size 20. 40—300 yd. Balls. Steel Crochet Hook #11. Each motif measures about 6 inches. 176 motifs 11x16 are required for cloth measuring 66x96 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” → “yo” (yarn over)
• Modernisation note: “tr c” → “tr”
• 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: “s c” → “sc”
• Modernisation note: “break thread” → “fasten off”
• Modernisation note: “d c” → “dc”
• 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.

Large Motif

1. Ch 8, join to form a ring, ch 4, * yo twice, insert in ring, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, repeat from *, yo and work off all loops at one time, ** ch 4, * yo twice, insert in ring, pull through and work off 2 loops twice, repeat from * twice, yo and work off all loops at one time (a cluster st), repeat from ** 6 times, ch 4, join in 1st cluster st.
2. Row 2: Ch 4, tr in same space, ch 7, 2 tr in same space, * ch 3, 2 tr, ch 7, 2 tr in next cluster st, repeat from * all around, ch 3, join in 4th st of ch.
3. Row 3: Sl st to center of loop, ** ch 5, 2 tr in 1st st of ch, * ch 4, 2 tr in top of last tr, (rice st) repeat from * 7 times, sc in top of 4th rice st, ch 4, 2 tr in same space, ch 4, 2 tr in top of last tr, sc in top of 2nd rice st, ch 4, 2 tr in same space, ch 4, 2 tr in top of last tr, skip one loop, sc in next loop, repeat from ** all around, fasten off.
4. Row 4: Join thread between 5th and 6th rice sts, ch 12, dc between next 2 rice sts, * ch 9, dc between next 2 rice sts, repeat from *, ** ch 9, sc between 10th and 11th rice sts, ch 7, tr between 12th and 13th rice sts, tr between 1st and 2nd rice sts of next group, ch 7, sc between 3rd and 4th rice sts, ch 9, dc between 5th and 6th rice sts, * ch 9, dc between next 2 rice sts, repeat from * twice, repeat from ** 6 times, ch 9, sc between 10th and 11 rice sts, ch 7, tr between 12th and 13th rice sts, tr between 1st and 2nd rice sts of 1st group, ch 7, sc between 3rd and 4th rice sts, ch 9, join in 3rd st of ch.
5. Row 5: Sl st to loop, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in same space, ** ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in next loop, * ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from *, sc in next loop, ch 3, sc in next 7 ch loop, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in next loop, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from ** 6 times, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in next loop, * ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from *, sc in next loop, ch 3, sc in next 7 ch loop, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in next loop, ch 3, join in 3rd st of ch.
6. Row 6: Sl st to center of next loop, * ch 5, sc in next loop, repeat from * 10 times, ** skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 3 ch loop, ch 2, sl st in last 5 ch loop of previous scallop, ch 2, sc in next 3 ch loop of 2nd scallop, ch 2, sl st in next 5 ch loop of previous scallop, ch 2, sc in next 3 ch loop of 2nd scallop, * ch 5, sc in next loop, repeat from * 11 times, repeat from ** 6 times, skip next 3 ch loop, sc in next 3 ch loop, ch 2, sl st in last 5 ch loop of previous scallop, ch 2, sc in next 3 ch loop of 1st scallop, ch 2, sl st in next 5 ch loop of previous scallop, ch 2, sc in next 3 ch loop of 1st scallop, ch 3, dc in sl st of 1st loop, (this brings thread in position for next row).
7. Row 7: Ch 3, sc in next loop, * ch 7, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 2, 2 dc in next loop, repeat from * 5 times, ch 7, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 2, sc in next loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 6, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 1, sc in next loop of next scallop, repeat from beginning all around, fasten off.
8. Work a 2nd motif in same manner joining to 1st motif in last row as follows: ch 3, sc in next loop, * ch 7, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 2, 2 dc in next loop, repeat from * twice, * ch 5, sl st in corresponding picot of 1st motif, ch 2, complete picot, ch 2, 2 dc in next loop of 2nd motif, repeat from twice, ch 7, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 2, sc in next loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 6, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 1, sc in next loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 7, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 2, 2 dc in next loop, * ch 5, sl st in corresponding picot of 1st motif, ch 2, complete picot, ch 2, 2 dc in next loop of 2nd motif, repeat from * twice and complete motif same as 1st motif, fasten off. Join 3rd motif to 2nd motif and 4th motif to 3rd and 1st motifs in same manner.