Free preview · full pattern in the Vintage Crochet Edgings & Trims
Rose Border for Place Mats and Napkins #816 (1951): vintage crochet pattern
A border of 1¼-inch two-colour roses joined around a linen place mat, with a picot edge and a matching rose appliqué for the napkin corners. Originally published as "Gray Place Mats with Rose Border and Napkins" 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 · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Lace (#0) |
| Yardage | 5 balls of pinks and 4 of green (Gem size 30) for 4 mats and 4 napkins (as printed; yardage not given) |
| Hook | 1 mm |
| Gauge | Each finished rose measures 1¼ in (3.2 cm) across. |
| Finished size | Finished mats measure 10 × 18¼ in (25 × 46 cm); inside of crocheted section 10 × 16½ in (25 × 42 cm); each flower 1¼ in (3.2 cm). Napkins cut 12 × 12 in (30 × 30 cm). |
| Time | about 6 hours |
Materials
- Size 30 crochet cotton: shaded or variegated pink and light green — check the ball band for yardage
- 1.0 mm steel crochet hook
- 1½ yd (1.4 m) of 35 in (90 cm) wide grey linen for 4 mats and 4 napkins
- Sewing needle and thread for the hems
- Hook: Start with a 1.0 mm steel hook (the original No. 12) and change size to match the gauge
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
- slip stitch
- stitch
- space
- repeat
Notes before you start
- Source: "Gray Place Mats with Rose Border and Napkins" (#816), Edgings: crocheted, tatted, hair pin lace (Star Book No. 81), American Thread Company, 1951. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: “GEM” CROCHET COTTON Article 35, size 30 — 5 balls Shaded Pinks, 4 balls Nile Green — steel 12; or “STAR” CROCHET COTTON Article 20, size 30 — 6 balls Shaded Pinks, 4 balls Nile Green — steel 12; or “STAR” CROCHET COTTON Article 30, size 30 — 15 balls Shaded Pinks, 10 balls Nile Green — steel 12; 1½ yds. 35 inch Gray linen will make 4 place mats and 4 napkins.. Gauge: Each flower measures 1¼ inches..
- 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 Gem/Star crochet cottons are size 30; modern size 30 crochet cotton is still made. Ball yardage differs from the 1951 balls — check your ball band.
- Modernisation note: Check: the rose count is stated per side (14 along the first long side, then 9, 14 and 8 plus the shared corner flowers); count your joined roses against the inside measurement of 10 × 16½ in before joining to the linen.
- Modernisation note: The napkin instructions were printed on page 11 (“Continuation from page 11”) and are placed here after the mat.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions added. Finishing steps are our addition.
Row progress: 0 of 6 done (0%)
Place mat — rose
0 of 6 done- With Shaded Pinks ch 5, join to form a ring, ch 5, dc in ring, * ch 2, dc in ring, repeat from * 5 times, ch 2, join in 3rd st of ch.Mark row complete
- 2nd Row—Ch 1 and over each loop work 1 sc, 4 dc, 1 sc, join.Mark row complete
- 3rd Row—* Ch 5, sl st in back of work between next 2 petals, repeat from * all around.Mark row complete
- 4th Row—Ch 1 and over each loop work 1 sc, 7 dc, 1 sc, join.Mark row complete
- 5th Row—* Ch 6, sl st in back of work between next 2 petals, repeat from * all around, cut thread.Mark row complete
- 6th Row—Attach Nile Green in loop and work 1 sc, 1 dc, 5 tr, 1 dc, 1 sc in each loop, join, cut thread.Mark row complete
Working on:
With Shaded Pinks ch 5, join to form a ring, ch 5, dc in ring, * ch 2, dc in ring, repeat from * 5 times, ch 2, join in 3rd st of ch.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Rose Border for Place Mats and Napkins #816 (1951) pattern is in the Vintage Crochet Edgings & Trims
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Joining the roses
- Joining the border to the linen
- Napkins
- Finishing
Included with 618 patterns for $9 — $0.01 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 Gray Place Mats with Rose Border and Napkins pattern from?
It was published as "Gray Place Mats with Rose Border and Napkins" 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 Place Mats with Rose Border and Napkins?
Size 30 crochet cotton. The original uses 5 balls of pinks and 4 of green (Gem size 30) for 4 mats and 4 napkins; check your ball band.
What hook should I use?
Start with a 1.0 mm steel hook (the original No. 12) and change size to match the gauge Gauge: Each finished rose measures 1¼ in (3.2 cm) across.
