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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 · 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 | 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
Abbreviations (US terms)
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.
Place mat — rose
- 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.
- 2nd Row—Ch 1 and over each loop work 1 sc, 4 dc, 1 sc, join.
- 3rd Row—* Ch 5, sl st in back of work between next 2 petals, repeat from * all around.
- 4th Row—Ch 1 and over each loop work 1 sc, 7 dc, 1 sc, join.
- 5th Row—* Ch 6, sl st in back of work between next 2 petals, repeat from * all around, cut thread.
- 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.
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 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 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.
