Free preview · full pattern in the Heirloom Doilies & Tablecloths
Pinwheel Square Motif Cloth (1941): vintage crochet pattern
Square 3½-inch motifs with a swirling pinwheel centre, recommended for tablecloths, bedspreads, luncheon sets, runners, centerpieces and chair sets. Originally published as "Pinwheel" 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 | 22–24 yd (20–22 m) |
| Hook | 1 mm |
| Gauge | As printed: Using the materials recommended, each motif measures 3½″ square and requires approximately 24 yds. of thread. |
| Finished size | Each motif 3½ in (9 cm) square; overall size depends on the number of motifs |
| Time | about 7 hours |
Materials
- Size 50 six-cord mercerized crochet thread (printed: Clark's O.N.T. or J. & P. Coats Best Six Cord, size 50)
- Yardage: About 24 yd per motif, as printed
- Tapestry needle, rustproof pins and starch for blocking
- Hook: Start with a 1.0 mm (US 12) steel hook for size 50 thread and change size so one motif measures 3½ inches square (the printed hook is Milward's No. 12).
Yarn Kit & Substitution Options
This pattern calls for 24 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
- stitch
- space
- round
Notes before you start
- Source: "Pinwheel" (7064), 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 50. See thread information on page 22.; Milward’s Steel Crochet Hook No. 12.. Gauge: Using the materials recommended, each motif measures 3½″ square and requires approximately 24 yds. of thread..
- 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: “attach” → “join”
- 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, centerpieces, chair sets.
- Modernisation note: Stitch counts have not been added; where the original prints a count it is kept as printed.
Row progress: 0 of 12 done (0%)
First Motif
0 of 12 done- Starting at center, ch 8, join with sl st.Mark row complete
- Rnd 1: 16 sc in ring.Mark row complete
- Rnd 2: Ch 4, * dc in next sc, ch 1. Repeat from * around. Join to 3rd st of ch-4 (16 sps).Mark row complete
- Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same place as sl st, * ch 5, skip next dc, 2 dc in next dc. Repeat from * around; join last ch-5 to 3rd st of ch-3 (8 groups of 2 dc).Mark row complete
- Rnd 4: Sl st in next dc, ch 3, * 2 dc in next loop, ch 6, skip 1st dc of next 2-dc group, dc in next dc of same group. Repeat from * around. Join last ch-6 to 3rd st of ch-3.Mark row complete
- Rnd 5: Sl st in next dc, ch 3, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next loop, * ch 7, skip 1st dc of next group, dc in next 2 dc of same group, 2 dc in next loop. Repeat from * around. Join as before.Mark row complete
- Rnd 6: Sl st in next dc, ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next loop. * Ch 8, skip 1st dc of next group, dc in next 3 dc of same group, 2 dc in next loop. Repeat from * around; join as before. 7th,Mark row complete
- 8th andMark row complete
- Rnd 9: Continue in this manner, always skipping the 1st dc of each group and making 2 increases in each group; also, on 7th rnd make ch-9 loops; on 8th rnd make ch-10 loops; on 9th rnd make ch-11 loops (8 dc in each group on 9th rnd); join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 10: Sl st in next 2 dc, ch 3, dc in next 5 dc, * ch 6, sc in next loop, ch 6, skip 1st 2 dc of next group, dc in next 6 dc, ch 10, sc in next loop, ch 10, skip 1st 2 dc of next group, dc in next 6 dc. Repeat from * around; join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 11: Sl st in next 2 dc, ch 3, dc in next 3 dc, * ch 7, sc in next loop, sc in following loop, ch 7, skip 1st 2 dc of next dc-group, dc in next 4 dc, ch 6, 4 dc in next loop, ch 10, 4 dc in next loop, ch 6, skip 1st 2 dc of next group, dc in next 4 dc. Repeat from * around; join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 12: Sl st in next 2 dc, ch 3, dc in next dc, * ch 11, sc between the 2 sc of previous rnd, ch 11, skip 1st 2 dc of next group, dc in next 2 dc, ch 7, 4 dc in next loop, ch 7, 4 dc in next loop, ch 11, 4 dc in same loop (this is corner). Ch 7, 4 dc in next loop, ch 7, skip 1st 2 dc of next group, dc in next 2 dc. Repeat from * around. Join and fasten off.Mark row complete
Working on:
Starting at center, ch 8, join with sl st.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Pinwheel Square Motif Cloth (1941) pattern is in the Heirloom Doilies & Tablecloths
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Second Motif
- Edging
Included with 236 patterns for $19 — $0.08 per pattern.
Errata
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the Pinwheel pattern from?
It was published as "Pinwheel" 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 Pinwheel?
Size 50 six-cord mercerized crochet thread. About 24 yd per motif, as printed
What hook should I use?
Start with a 1.0 mm (US 12) steel hook for size 50 thread and change size so one motif measures 3½ inches square (the printed hook is Milward's No. 12). Gauge: As printed: Using the materials recommended, each motif measures 3½″ square and requires approximately 24 yds. of thread.
