Rice Stitch and Double Crochet Shell Handkerchief Edging #8120 (1951): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Fine crochet cotton (about size 70–80), white — check the ball band for yardage
• 0.85 mm steel crochet hook
• An 11 in (28 cm) square hemstitched handkerchief
• Hook: Start with a 0.85 mm steel hook (the original No. 13) and change size to match the gauge

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch

chain

dc

double crochet

sl st

slip stitch

sh

shell

sk

skip

sp

space

st

stitch

rep

repeat

Notes before you start

• Source: "Handkerchief with White Rice Stitch Edging" (#8120), Edgings: crocheted, tatted, hair pin lace (Star Book No. 81), American Thread Company, 1951. Public domain in the USA.
• As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY “STAR” TATTING CROCHET, Article 25; 3 balls White or color desired; 1 Handkerchief 11 inches square; Steel crochet hook No. 13. 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 original “Star” Tatting Crochet (Article 25) is a fine mercerised cotton with no size printed; a modern fine crochet cotton (around size 70–80) is the closest match. Check your ball band for yardage.
• Modernisation note: Rows 7 and 8 are printed as “Repeat the 5th and 6th rows once”; kept as printed.
• Modernisation note: Finishing steps are our addition.

Rows

1. Attach thread in 4th space to right from corner, ch 6, dc in same space, skip 2 spaces (about ¼ inch), 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in next space, ch 4, 2 dc in 4th st from hook keeping last loop of each dc on hook, yarn over and pull through all loops at one time (a rice st), 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc (shell) in corner space, ch 4, rice st in 4th st from hook, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc (shell) in next space, ** skip 2 spaces, shell in next space, * ch 4, rice st in 4th st from hook, skip 2 spaces, shell in next space, skip 2 spaces, shell in next space, repeat from * to space before next corner ending with the 2 shells having the last shell in space before the corner, work a rice st, shell in corner space, work a rice st, shell in next space, repeat from ** all around working all corners same as 1st corner, ending row with rice st, join in 3rd st of ch.
2. 2nd Row—Sl st into loop, ch 6, dc in same space, shell in next shell, work a rice st, shell in corner shell, * work a rice st, shell in next shell, shell in next shell, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner and joining last rice st in 3rd st of ch.
3. 3rd Row—Sl st into shell, ch 6, dc in same space, shell in next shell, work a rice st, 2 dc with ch 3 between in corner loop, ch 5, 2 dc with ch 3 between in same space, * rice st, shell in each of the next 2 shells, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner, joining last rice st in 3rd st of ch.
4. 4th Row—Same as last row but working a shell in each of the 3 loops at each corner.
5. 5th Row—Same as last row but working a shell in each shell at each corner.
6. 6th Row—Work a shell in each shell and a rice st over each rice st working 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in center shell at each corner.
7. Repeat the 5th and 6th rows once.
8. 9th Row—Sl st into shell, ch 7, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1, dc in same space, dc in next shell, ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1, dc in same space, rice st, * dc in next shell, ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1, dc in same space, repeat from * 6 times, * rice st, work 1 dc, ch 1, ch 3 picot, ch 1, 1 dc in each of the next 2 shells, repeat from * all around working all corners same as 1st corner, join, cut thread.