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Two-Colour Shell Scallop Towel Edging #8115 (1951): vintage crochet pattern
A pointed scallop edging for a terry towel, worked lengthwise with a shell heading and mesh fans, then outlined in a second colour with single crochet and picots. Originally published as "Gray Towel 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 | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Lace (#0) |
| Yardage | 1 ball each colour (De Luxe) or 2 balls peach and 1 ball green (pearl cotton size 5) (as printed; yardage not given) |
| Hook | 1.65 mm |
| Gauge | Not given in the original. Suggestion: work one 8-row scallop repeat and check that the edging lies flat along the towel end. |
| Finished size | Not given in the original; worked lengthwise on a 12-chain foundation for the width of the towel. |
| Time | about 4 hours |
Materials
- Size 5 pearl cotton, or mercerised crochet cotton similar to size 10: peach and light green — check the ball band for yardage
- 1.65 mm steel crochet hook
- A terry (Turkish) towel
- Sewing needle and thread
- Hook: Start with a 1.65 mm steel hook (the original No. 7) and change size to match the gauge
Abbreviations (US terms)
Notes before you start
- Source: "Gray Towel Edging" (#8115), Edgings: crocheted, tatted, hair pin lace (Star Book No. 81), American Thread Company, 1951. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: “DE LUXE” CROCHET COTTON Article 346 — 1 ball each Peach and Lt. Green — steel 7; or “PURITAN” CROCHET COTTON Article 40 — 1 ball each Pink and Nile Green — steel 7; or “STAR” PEARL COTTON Article 90, size 5 — 2 balls Lt. Peach 1 ball Nile Green — steel 7; 1 Turkish Towel. 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 printed options are De Luxe (Article 346), Puritan (Article 40) — heavier mercerised cottons with no size printed — or Star pearl cotton size 5. Modern size 5 pearl cotton is still made; check your ball band.
- Modernisation note: Check: the contrast outline prints “repeat from * 8 times” before any asterisk appears in that paragraph; the repeat most likely covers the “2 s c, ch 3 picot, 1 s c in next loop” along the heading. Compare with the leaflet photograph before working it.
- Modernisation note: Finishing steps are our addition.
Edging
- With Peach ch 12, 2 dc in 6th st from hook, ch 2, 2 dc in next st, ch 4, skip 4 sts of ch, sl st in last st, ch 3, turn.
- 2nd Row—9 dc in 1st loop, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc (shell) in next loop, ch 5, turn.
- 3rd Row—Shell in center of shell, ch 1, 1 dc in each dc and 1 dc in 3rd st of end ch, ch 4, turn.
- 4th Row—1 dc in each dc with ch 1 between each dc, ch 2, shell in center of shell, ch 5, turn.
- 5th Row—Shell in shell, ch 2, 1 dc in each dc with ch 1 between each dc, ch 1, dc in 3rd st of ch, ch 3, turn.
- 6th Row—* D c in next mesh, dc in next dc, repeat from * 8 times, ch 3, shell in shell, ch 5, turn.
- 7th Row—Shell in shell, ch 3, sc in 1st dc, * ch 4, skip 1 dc, sc in next dc, repeat from * 8 times, ch 4, turn.
- 8th Row—S c in 1st loop, * ch 4, sc in next loop, repeat from * 7 times, ch 3, shell in shell, ch 5, turn.
- 9th Row—Shell in shell, ch 4, skip 1 loop, sc in next loop, ch 3, turn.
- Repeat from 2nd row for length desired. Sew to lower edge of towel as illustrated.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Two-Colour Shell Scallop Towel Edging #8115 (1951) pattern is in the Vintage Crochet Edgings & Trims
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Contrast outline
- 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 Gray Towel Edging pattern from?
It was published as "Gray Towel 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 Gray Towel Edging?
Size 5 pearl cotton (one of the printed options) or crochet cotton similar to size 10. The original uses 1 ball each colour (De Luxe) or 2 balls peach and 1 ball green (pearl cotton size 5); check your ball band.
What hook should I use?
Start with a 1.65 mm steel hook (the original No. 7) and change size to match the gauge Gauge: Not given in the original. Suggestion: work one 8-row scallop repeat and check that the edging lies flat along the towel end.
