Free preview · full pattern in the Vintage Crochet Hats, Bags & Accessories
Lady's Reticule with Ribbon Stripes (1850): vintage crochet pattern
An 1850 drawstring reticule (small handbag) in drab crochet-thread, in bands of double-crochet blocks and open mesh, with two shades of narrow blue satin ribbon threaded through and a double silk lining. Originally published as "Lady's Reticule" in The Lady's Album of Fancy Work for 1850 by Not printed (the Address names only “the Publishers of the Lady's.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Lace (#0) |
| Yardage | Not printed. (as printed; yardage not given) |
| Hook | 1.75 mm |
| Gauge | Not printed. Work to the size of the article. |
| Finished size | Not printed (130-ch foundation). |
| Time | about 4 hours |
Materials
- Cotton crochet thread in drab; no thread number is printed — size 10 is a reasonable starting point
- Narrow satin ribbon in two shades of blue
- Cord and tassels to match the ribbon
- Blue silk and white silk for a double lining
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- Hook: Start with a 1.75 mm (US steel 4) hook and adjust to suit your thread; no hook or gauge is printed.
Yarn Kit & Substitution Options
This pattern calls for 350 yards of weight #0 yarn. Select a suggested yarn to see required skeins and estimated cost:
Caron Simply Soft · 100% Acrylic
315 yds per skein · High-yield yardage, silky no-scratch texture
2 skeins required
approx. $$10.98 total
Abbreviations (US terms)
- chain
- single crochet
- double crochet
- treble crochet
- stitch
- stitches
- row
- repeat
- skip
Notes before you start
- Source: "Lady's Reticule", The Lady's Album of Fancy Work for 1850, Not printed (the Address names only “the Publishers of the Lady's Album of Fancy-Work”), 1850. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: Drab crochet-thread, two shades of narrow blue satin ribbon, cord and tassels to correspond with the ribbon; a piece of blue and a piece of white silk as a lining. Gauge: Not given.
- Modernisation note: Stitch names converted to modern US terms strictly by the book's own “Explanation of the Various Terms used in Crochet”, not by modern UK usage: “double crochet” / “close double crochet” / “d c” = sc; “single crochet” / “single” / “s c” = sl st; “long stitch” / “long” / “l s” = dc; “double long stitch” / “d l s” = tr; “treble long stitch” / “t l s” = dtr; “chain” / “c s” = ch; “single open crochet” = dc, ch 1, sk 1; “chain-stitch open crochet” = ch loops (5 or another odd number) joined into every 3rd st, then into the centre of each loop below; “three chain crochet” = the same with ch-3 loops; “miss” = sk; “unite” = join (the joining stitch is not named). Note that the book's “double crochet” is a modern sc and its “single crochet” a modern sl st.
- Modernisation note: Period wording modernised: “needle” / “tambour-needle” written as “hook”; “commence” as “begin”; “cotton” / “thread” as “thread”; “receipt” as “directions”. Round and row numbers are kept as printed.
- Modernisation note: Printed paragraphs split into one step per row, round or instruction; no stitches, counts or rows added, removed or reordered. Words in square brackets or marked “Check:” are ours.
- Modernisation note: No hook size and no gauge is printed. The modern starting hook is an approximate suggestion only.
- Modernisation note: No yardage is printed and none is estimated.
- Modernisation note: Colour swatches are approximate modern readings of the period colour names; they are not in the book. “Drab” is a dull greyish brown; “puce” a dark purplish brown; “cerise” a deep cherry pink; “geranium” a bright scarlet-pink.
- Modernisation note: Check: Row 2 does not say whether sts are skipped under the ch 3; the last rows (“3 long, 3 chain, miss 3”) suggest ch 3, sk 3.
- Modernisation note: Check: “7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th rows. Like the 2d and 3d” is read as alternating Row 2 and Row 3 for five rows.
- Modernisation note: Check: “repeat from the 3d row twice” is read as repeating Rows 3–11 twice; the book does not say.
- Modernisation note: Check: “1 long, 3 chain” (Rows 4–6) does not say how many sts are skipped.
Row progress: 0 of 3 done (0%)
Stitches
0 of 3 done- Double crochet (book's definition): “having made a chain, pass the needle through the first loop on the chain, draw the cotton through the loop, there will now be two loops on the needle, through these draw the cotton.” = single crochet (sc). “Close double crochet” = sc worked in every st with no chain between.Mark row complete
- Long stitch (book's definition): “Twist the cotton round the needle, pass it through the loop, draw the cotton through the first two loops on the needle, then catch the cotton again and draw it through the next two loops; there will be one loop left on the needle.” = double crochet (dc).Mark row complete
- Double long stitch (book's definition): “This resembles long stitch, excepting that the cotton is twisted twice round the needle.” = treble crochet (tr).Mark row complete
Working on:
Double crochet (book's definition): “having made a chain, pass the needle through the first loop on the chain, draw the cotton through the loop, there will now be two loops on the needle, through these draw the cotton.” = single crochet (sc). “Close double crochet” = sc worked in every st with no chain between.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Lady's Reticule with Ribbon Stripes (1850) pattern is in the Vintage Crochet Hats, Bags & Accessories
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Reticule
- Finishing
Included with 202 patterns for $12 — $0.06 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.
Your notes on this pattern
Keep track of the yarn, hook and changes you used. Saved in this browser only — nobody else can see it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Lady's Reticule pattern from?
It was published as "Lady's Reticule" in The Lady's Album of Fancy Work for 1850 by Not printed (the Address names only “the Publishers of the Lady's Album of Fancy-Work”) in 1850. 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 Lady's Reticule?
Cotton crochet thread about size 10 (period: drab crochet-thread, number not printed). Not printed.
What hook should I use?
Start with a 1.75 mm (US steel 4) hook and adjust to suit your thread; no hook or gauge is printed. Gauge: Not printed. Work to the size of the article.
