Free preview · full pattern in the Heirloom Doilies & Tablecloths
Ballerina Motif Cloth (1941): vintage crochet pattern
Round five-inch lace motifs with fill-ins, recommended for tablecloths, bedspreads, luncheon sets and runners. Originally published as "Ballerina" in Old and New Favorites (Book No. 172) by The Spool Cotton Company in 1941, it is now in the public domain.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Advanced |
| Yarn weight | Lace (#0) |
| Yardage | 41–46 yd (37–42 m) |
| Hook | 1.4 mm |
| Gauge | As printed: Using the materials recommended, each motif measures 5″ in diameter and requires approximately 46 yds. of thread. Fill-in requires about 2½ yds. |
| Finished size | Each motif 5 in (12.7 cm) across; overall size depends on the number of motifs |
| Time | about 7 hours |
Materials
- Size 20 six-cord mercerized crochet thread (printed: Clark's O.N.T. or J. & P. Coats Best Six Cord, size 20)
- Yardage: About 46 yd per motif plus fill-ins, as printed
- Tapestry needle, rustproof pins and starch for blocking
- Hook: Start with a 1.4 mm (US 9) steel hook for size 20 thread and change size so one motif measures 5 inches (the printed hook is Milward's No. 10).
Yarn Kit & Substitution Options
This pattern calls for 46 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
1 skeins required
approx. $$5.49 total
Abbreviations (US terms)
- chain
- slip stitch
- single crochet
- double crochet
- treble crochet
- stitches
- stitch
- space
- round
- yarn over
Notes before you start
- Source: "Ballerina" (674), Old and New Favorites (Book No. 172), The Spool Cotton Company, 1941. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: CLARK’S O.N.T. or J. & P. COATS BEST SIX CORD MERCERIZED CROCHET, size 20. See thread information on page 22.; Milward’s Steel Crochet Hook No. 10.. Gauge: Using the materials recommended, each motif measures 5″ in diameter and requires approximately 46 yds. of thread. Fill-in requires about 2½ yds..
- 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: 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: Page numbers, page-continuation notes and illustration references removed.
- Modernisation note: Hook numbers in the original are Milward's steel hook sizes; a starting size is suggested from the thread weight instead of converting the old numbering.
- Modernisation note: The original lists: recommended uses — Tablecloths, bedspreads, luncheon sets, runners.
- Modernisation note: Stitch counts have not been added; where the original prints a count it is kept as printed.
Row progress: 0 of 17 done (0%)
Motif
0 of 17 done- Starting at center, ch 8, join with sl st.Mark row complete
- Rnd 1: Ch 5, * dc in ring, ch 2. Repeat from * 6 more times. Join to 3rd st of ch-5 (8 sps).Mark row complete
- Rnd 2: Sl st in next sp, ch 5, 4 d tr in same sp, holding back the last loop of each d tr on hook; yo and draw through all loops on hook (a cluster); * ch 8, 5 d tr in next sp, holding back the last loop of each d tr on hook; yo and draw through all loops on hook (cluster). Repeat from * around, ending with ch 8, sl st at tip of 1st cluster made.Mark row complete
- Rnd 3: 10 sc in each sp (80 sc in rnd).Mark row complete
- 4th toMark row complete
- 7th rnds incl: Sc in each sc, ending 7th rnd with sl st in next st.Mark row complete
- Rnd 8: * Ch 5, skip 1 st, sc in next st, ch 5, skip 2 sts, sc in next st. Repeat from * around (32 loops).Mark row complete
- Rnd 9: Sl st to center of next loop, 2 sc in loop, * ch 5, sc in next loop. Repeat from * 2 more times, ch 5, 2 sc in next loop, and continue thus around, ending with sl st in 1st sc made.Mark row complete
- Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sc, * 2 sc in next loop; (ch 5, sc in next loop) twice, ch 5, 2 sc in next loop, sc in next 2 sc. Repeat from * around, ending with 2 sc in last loop, sl st in ch-1 first made.Mark row complete
- Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sc, * 2 sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, 2 sc in next loop, sc in next 6 sc. Repeat from * around, ending with sl st in ch-1 first made.Mark row complete
- Rnd 12: Ch 1, sc in next 6 sc, * 2 sc in next loop, ch 7, 2 sc in next loop, sc in next 10 sc. Repeat from * around, ending rnd as before.Mark row complete
- Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in next 8 sc, * in ch-7 loop make 2 sc, ch 5, 2 sc; sc in next 14 sc. Repeat from * around; join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc in each sc, making 5 sc in each ch-5 loop; join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in each sc, making 2 sc in center st of 5-sc group; join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 16: Sc in next sc, ch 6 (to count as dc and ch-3), dc in same place as last sc, * ch 6, skip 5 sc, sc in next sc, ch 6; in center sc at tip of next point make dc, ch 3, dc; ch 6, skip 5 sc, sc in next sc, ch 6, skip 5 sc; in next sc make dc, ch 3, dc. Repeat from * around, joining last ch-6 to 3rd st of ch-6 first made.Mark row complete
- Rnd 17: Sl st in next ch, sc in sp, ch 6, dc in same sp, * ch 6, sc in next sc, ch 7; in sp at point make dc, ch 3, dc; ch 7, sc in next sc, ch 6; in next sp make dc, ch 3, dc. Repeat from * around. Join and fasten off.Mark row complete
- Make necessary number of motifs. With over-and-over stitches sew 3 points at 1 side of motif to corresponding 3 points of adjacent motifs, thus leaving 1 point free on each motif between joinings.Mark row complete
Working on:
Starting at center, ch 8, join with sl st.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Ballerina Motif Cloth (1941) pattern is in the Heirloom Doilies & Tablecloths
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Fill-In Lace
Included with 236 patterns for $19 — $0.08 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 Ballerina pattern from?
It was published as "Ballerina" in Old and New Favorites (Book No. 172) by The Spool Cotton Company in 1941. 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 Ballerina?
Size 20 six-cord mercerized crochet thread. About 46 yd per motif plus fill-ins, as printed
What hook should I use?
Start with a 1.4 mm (US 9) steel hook for size 20 thread and change size so one motif measures 5 inches (the printed hook is Milward's No. 10). Gauge: As printed: Using the materials recommended, each motif measures 5″ in diameter and requires approximately 46 yds. of thread. Fill-in requires about 2½ yds.
