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Sofa Pillow in Stripes (1847): vintage crochet pattern
A Victorian striped sofa pillow with a small figure on imperial blue and drab stripes, given two ways: with chiné wool for the figure, or with each figure row counted out in plain colours. Also suggested as a silk bag or slipper.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Fine (#2) |
| Yardage | Not printed. (as printed; yardage not given) |
| Hook | 3.75 mm |
| Gauge | Not printed. Work to the size of the article; the book sizes by counted stitches or measurement. |
| Finished size | Not printed. Bag variation: about 130 ch in No. 2 crochet silk. |
| Time | about 7 hours |
Materials
- Sport-weight (CYC #2) wool, similar to double German wool / zephyr, in black, scarlet, straw colour, imperial blue, drab; chiné wool (black/white/scarlet and blue/black/white) or plain claret, dark claret, gold colour, dark scarlet, dark green, middle green, white and light green
- Bag or slipper: Silk or silk-blend thread about the thickness of size 3 crochet thread, approximating crochet silk; optional metallic gold thread
- Tapestry needle for weaving in (“running”) the ends
- Hook: Start with 3.75 mm (US F-5) and adjust to suit your yarn; no hook size or gauge is printed.
Yarn Kit & Substitution Options
This pattern calls for 350 yards of weight #2 yarn. Select a suggested yarn to see required skeins and estimated cost:
Lion Brand Coboo · 50% Cotton, 50% Bamboo
232 yds per skein · Silky breathable drape, lovely stitch shine
2 skeins required
approx. $$12.98 total
Abbreviations (US terms)
- chain
- single crochet
- stitch
- stitches
- row
- repeat
Notes before you start
- Source: "A Sofa Pillow in Stripes", My Crochet Sampler (Miss Lambert), D. M. Peyser, 1847. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: Zephyr, or double German wool.; Bag: No. 2 Crochet Silk; gold may be introduced. Gauge: Not given.
- Modernisation note: Victorian stitch names converted to modern US terms strictly by the book's own definitions (pp. 15–21, 57), not by modern UK equivalents: “plain double crochet”, “plain crochet”, “plain stitch” and “plain stitch double crochet” = sc; “plain single crochet” = sl st; “chain” = ch; “open crochet” = dc with ch 1 over a skipped st; the “double stitches” / “long stitches” of open crochet = dc; “double open crochet” = pairs of dc with an open space; “treble open crochet” = groups of 3 dc alternating with open spaces; “plain stitch open crochet” = ch-5 loops joined by sc to the centre of the loops below; “dividing”, “seam” or “raised” stitch = 2 sc in one st under both loops, stacked; “treble increased stitch” = 3 sc in one st; “double stitch crochet” = sc under both loops; “raised” or “ribbed” crochet and “plain stitch elastic crochet” = sc in back loop only, turning each row; “to increase” = 2 sc in one st; “to decrease” = sc2tog or sk 1; “to make a stitch” = ch 1 at each end of the row; “fasten off” = draw the yarn through the last st; “fasten on” = lay the new end along the work and crochet over both; “run the ends” = weave in ends. Note that the book's “double crochet” is a modern sc, and its “treble” never means a modern tr.
- Modernisation note: Period wording modernised: “needle” / “crochet needle” written as “hook”; “commence” as “begin”; “unite the ends” / “join both ends together” as “join into a ring” (the book does not name the joining stitch); “a chain and first row” as “ch, then Row 1”; “cheques” as “checks”. The book says “row” even when working round and round; “row” is kept as printed.
- Modernisation note: Printed paragraphs split into one step per row or instruction; no colours, counts or rows added, removed or reordered. Colour-sequence rows are written as “Row 4 (sc): 1 light green, 1 black, 5 red brown …”, meaning that many sc in each colour, in order.
- Modernisation note: “German wool” (the fine worsted-spun Berlin wool) and single “zephyr” are approximated as fingering-weight (CYC #1) wool; “double German wool” and “Zephyr, or double German wool” as sport-weight (CYC #2) wool.
- Modernisation note: Period silks have no exact modern equivalent. The book's hints (p. 22) rank them: crochet silk is “the coarsest” and best for bags; second-sized netting silk is “prettiest for purses”; fine netting silk and reel silk are finer. The modern silk or crochet-thread sizes given are approximations.
- Modernisation note: “Gold”, “gold cord”, “gold thread” and “gold passing” were metallic threads; use a modern metallic thread or cord of about the same thickness as the silk or wool.
- Modernisation note: No hook (needle) size and no gauge is printed — the book names only “steel” or “ivory” needles. The modern starting hook is an approximate suggestion only.
- Modernisation note: No yardage is printed and none is estimated.
- Modernisation note: Colour swatches are approximate modern readings of the period colour names; they are not in the book. “Gold colour” is a golden-yellow yarn, whereas “gold” on its own in the silk designs means metallic gold thread or cord. “Ponceau” is poppy red, “drab” a dull greyish brown, “stone colour” a pale greyish beige, “claret” a deep wine red. By the book's own definitions (p. 24), “chiné” yarn is dyed in two or more colours at intervals along one thread, and “ombré” yarn shades gradually from light to dark in one colour.
- Modernisation note: Check: the rows of the figure give only the figure's own stitches; the ground stitches between figures and the spacing of the figures along the row are shown only in engraving No. 6.
- Modernisation note: Check: the number of ground rows in the drab stripe is not printed; the blue stripe has 7 rows.
- Modernisation note: “No. 2 Crochet Silk” is a period size with no modern equivalent; the thread size given is approximate.
- Modernisation note: “Weave in ends” added.
Row progress: 0 of 9 done (0%)
First method (chiné figure)
0 of 9 done- Stitch (book's definition): “Plain double crochet,—where two loops are kept on the needle, and the wool drawn through both before the stitch is finished” = single crochet (sc). The book adds that “unless any other stitch be mentioned, the plain, or double crochet stitch, is always to be employed”, so every stitch in these directions is sc unless another stitch is named. A “plain row” is a row of sc in one colour.Mark row complete
- Reading the engraving (book, p. 21): “The engravings of the patterns are placed in the book as they are intended to be worked; that is, by commencing at the lower part, on the right hand side.” Read each chart from the bottom row upward, starting at the right-hand edge; one square = 1 sc.Mark row complete
- Ch in black; Row 1: black.Mark row complete
- Row 2: scarlet.Mark row complete
- Row 3: straw colour.Mark row complete
- Blue stripe: 7 rows of imperial blue, with the pattern in chiné wool — black, white and scarlet.Mark row complete
- Rep the three plain rows reversed: straw colour, scarlet, black.Mark row complete
- Drab stripe: work a stripe in drab, with the pattern in chiné wool — blue, black and white.Mark row complete
- Begin again as at first.Mark row complete
Working on:
Stitch (book's definition): “Plain double crochet,—where two loops are kept on the needle, and the wool drawn through both before the stitch is finished” = single crochet (sc). The book adds that “unless any other stitch be mentioned, the plain, or double crochet stitch, is always to be employed”, so every stitch in these directions is sc unless another stitch is named. A “plain row” is a row of sc in one colour.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Sofa Pillow in Stripes (1847) pattern is in the Heirloom Doilies & Tablecloths
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Second method (figure in plain colours)
- Bag or slipper variation
- Finishing
Included with 236 patterns for $19 — $0.08 per pattern.
Errata
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the A Sofa Pillow in Stripes pattern from?
It was published as "A Sofa Pillow in Stripes" in My Crochet Sampler (Miss Lambert) by D. M. Peyser in 1847. 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 A Sofa Pillow in Stripes?
fine (#2) yarn. Not printed.
What hook should I use?
Start with 3.75 mm (US F-5) and adjust to suit your yarn; no hook size or gauge is printed. Gauge: Not printed. Work to the size of the article; the book sizes by counted stitches or measurement.
