Free crochet pattern
Tea Time Ruffle Doily (1940s–50s): vintage crochet pattern
A small two-colour doily of chain loops, double-crochet groups and picots, finished with a scalloped treble-crochet ruffle in a second colour. It measures about 9¼ inches across in plain crochet cotton or 10¼ inches in the metallic version. Originally published as "Tea Time Ruffle" in Ruffled Doilies (Star Doily Book No. 143) by American Thread Company, it is.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Lace (#0) |
| Yardage | 1 ball each of two colours as printed (ball yardage not printed — check the ball band) |
| Hook | 1.8 mm |
| Gauge | Not given in the original — work to the printed finished size (AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY The Famous “PURITAN” STAR SPANGLED MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON, Article 40 1 ball each Silver Spangle and Pink Spangle Approximate size: 10¼ inches in diameter or The Famous “PURITAN” MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON, Article 40 1 ball each White and Pink or colors of your choice Approximate size: 9¼ inches in diameter Steel crochet hook No. 6). |
| Finished size | AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY The Famous “PURITAN” STAR SPANGLED MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON, Article 40 1 ball each Silver Spangle and Pink Spangle Approximate size: 10¼ inches in diameter or The Famous “PURITAN” MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON, Article 40 1 ball each White and Pink or colors of your choice Approximate size: 9¼ inches in diameter Steel crochet hook No. 6 (about 102 cm) |
| Time | about 4 hours |
Materials
- Puritan Mercerized Crochet Cotton or Puritan Star Spangled (metallic) Crochet Cotton (Article 40) — size not printed; choose a mercerized cotton crochet thread that matches the finished size
- Yardage: 1 ball each of two colours as printed (ball yardage not printed — check the ball band)
- Tapestry needle, rustproof pins and starch for blocking
- Hook: Start with a 1.8 mm (US 6) steel hook — the printed hook is a No. 6 steel — and change size to reach the printed diameter.
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
- slip stitch
- single crochet
- double crochet
- treble crochet
- double treble crochet
- stitch
- round
- yarn over
Notes before you start
- Source: "Tea Time Ruffle", Ruffled Doilies (Star Doily Book No. 143), American Thread Company. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: . Gauge: Not given.
- 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: “double treble crochet ([d tr c] 3 times over hook)” → “dtr (yo 3 times)”
- Modernisation note: “chain (ch)” → “ch”
- Modernisation note: “single crochet (sc)” → “sc”
- Modernisation note: “double crochet (dc)” → “dc”
- Modernisation note: “treble crochet (tr c)” → “tr”
- Modernisation note: “stitch (st)” → “st”
- 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: “slip stitch (sl st)” → “sl st”
- Modernisation note: “tr c” → “tr”
- Modernisation note: “cut thread” → “fasten off”
- Modernisation note: “attach” → “join”
- Modernisation note: Page numbers, page-continuation notes and illustration references removed.
- Modernisation note: No gauge is printed. Suggested check: work to the printed finished size (AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY The Famous “PURITAN” STAR SPANGLED MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON, Article 40 1 ball each Silver Spangle and Pink Spangle Approximate size: 10¼ inches in diameter or The Famous “PURITAN” MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON, Article 40 1 ball each White and Pink or colors of your choice Approximate size: 9¼ inches in diameter Steel crochet hook No. 6) and change hook size if your piece is noticeably larger or smaller.
- Modernisation note: The leaflet is undated; its “New York 13, N. Y.” postal-zone address places it between 1943 and 1963.
- Modernisation note: The general starching directions printed in the leaflet are included under finishing.
- 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%)
Instructions
0 of 12 done- With Silver Spangle or White ch 8, join to form a ring, * ch 12, sc in ring, repeat from * 6 times, ch 6, dtr (yo 3 times) in ring, this brings thread into position for next round.Mark row complete
- Rnd 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in same loop, * ch 8, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from * 6 times, ch 4, tr in 3rd st of ch.Mark row complete
- Rnd 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in same loop, * ch 7, sc in center dc of next dc group, ch 7, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from * 6 times, ch 7, sc in center dc of next dc group, ch 7, join in 3rd st of ch.Mark row complete
- Rnd 4: Ch 5, skip 1 dc, sc in next dc, ch 10, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 5, sc in next dc, repeat from beginning all around ending to correspond, join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 5: Sl st to loop, ch 3, 2 dc in same loop, * ch 7, sc in next loop to right of picot, sc in next loop to left of picot, keeping picot in front of work ch 7, 3 dc in next loop, repeat from * all around ending to correspond, join in 3rd st of ch.Mark row complete
- Rnd 6: Ch 3, 2 dc in same space, * ch 7, skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 7, 1 sc in each of the next 2 SC, ch 7, 3 dc in next dc, repeat from * all around ending to correspond, join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 7: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sl st in sc for picot, ch 5, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, sc in next loop, ch 10, sl st in 5th st from hook for picot, ch 5, sc in next loop, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, repeat from * all around ending to correspond, join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 8: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, * ch 5, 3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc in picot, ch 5, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, sc in next loop, ch 4, 1 dc in 4th st from hook, sc in same loop to right of picot, sc in next loop to left of picot, ch 4, 1 dc in 4th st from hook, sc in same loop, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, repeat from * all around ending to correspond, join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 9: Ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, ** ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 5, sl st in sc for picot, ch 3, 2 tr in next loop, * ch 2, 2 tr in same loop, repeat from * 3 times, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 5, sl st in sc for picot, ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, ch 3, skip next sc and next loop, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sc, ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 3 dc, repeat from ** all around ending to correspond, join.Mark row complete
- Rnd 10: Ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 2 dc, ** ch 4, sc in next loop to right of picot, sc in next loop to left of picot, ch 4, ** 2 tr in next loop, * ch 2, 2 tr in same loop, repeat from * once, ch 2, repeat from 2nd ** 3 times ending with ch 4 instead of ch 2, sc in next loop to right of picot, sc in next loop to left of picot, ch 4, 1 tr in each of the next 6 dc, repeat from 1st ** all around ending to correspond, join, fasten off.Mark row complete
- Rnd 11: Join Pink in joining, ch 4, 6 tr in same space, ch 3, skip next 2 loops, * 2 tr in next loop, ch 2, 2 tr in same loop, ch 2, repeat from * 9 times, 2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr in next loop, ch 3, skip next 2 loops, 7 tr in space between next 2 groups of tr, complete round to correspond, join in 4th st of ch.Mark row complete
- Rnd 12: Sl st to center tr, ** ch 2, 1 dc in same space, 1 sc in same space, ch 3, sc in next loop, * ch 3, 2 tr in next loop, ch 5, sl st in top of tr for picot, 2 tr in same loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * 10 times, ch 3, sc in center tr of next tr group, repeat from ** all around, ending to correspond, join, fasten off.Mark row complete
Working on:
With Silver Spangle or White ch 8, join to form a ring, * ch 12, sc in ring, repeat from * 6 times, ch 6, dtr (yo 3 times) in ring, this brings thread into position for next round.
Finishing
- Starch: Dissolve ½ cup starch in ½ cup of cold water. Boil about 1¼ cups of water, remove from flame, then slowly stir the starch mixture into boiling water stirring constantly. Place back on flame until it thickens.
- As soon as starch is cool enough to handle, dip doily and squeeze starch through it thoroughly. Wring out extra starch. The doily should be wet with starch but there should be none in the spaces. Pin center of doily in position according to size and leave until thoroughly dry. If steam iron is used iron ruffle after it is dry. If regular iron is used dampen ruffle slightly before pressing. Pin folds of ruffle in position and leave until thoroughly dry.
Errata
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the Tea Time Ruffle pattern from?
It was published as "Tea Time Ruffle" in Ruffled Doilies (Star Doily Book No. 143) by American Thread Company. 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 Tea Time Ruffle?
Puritan Mercerized Crochet Cotton or Puritan Star Spangled. 1 ball each of two colours as printed (ball yardage not printed — check the ball band)
What hook should I use?
Start with a 1.8 mm (US 6) steel hook — the printed hook is a No. 6 steel — and change size to reach the printed diameter. Gauge: Not given in the original — work to the printed finished size (AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY The Famous “PURITAN” STAR SPANGLED MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON, Article 40 1 ball each Silver Spangle and Pink Spangle Approximate size: 10¼ inches in diameter or The Famous “PURITAN” MERCERIZED CROCHET COTTON, Article 40 1 ball each White and Pink or colors of your choice Approximate size: 9¼ inches in diameter Steel crochet hook No. 6).
