Yellow Lace Handkerchief Edging #8121 (1951): vintage crochet pattern

Materials

• Fine crochet cotton (about size 70–80), yellow — check the ball band for yardage
• 0.85 mm steel crochet hook
• A 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

tr

treble crochet

sc

single crochet

sl st

slip stitch

sh

shell

sk

skip

sp

space

st

stitch

rep

repeat

Notes before you start

• Source: "Yellow Edging" (#8121), 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; 4 balls Yellow; 1 Handkerchief; 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: Corrected obvious misprint in the 7th row: “skip l loop” (letter l) is read as “skip 1 loop”.
• Modernisation note: Check: the 6th row prints “repeat from * to last 3 d c, ch 5, 3 d c group before corner group” — the wording is unclear in the original; compare with the back-cover photograph at each corner.
• Modernisation note: Finishing steps are our addition.

Rows

1. Attach thread about ½ inch from any corner, ch 3, 1 dc in each of the next 2 spaces keeping last loop of each st on hook, yarn over and work off all loops at one time, ch 7, 1 dc in each of the next 3 spaces keeping last loop of each st on hook, yarn over and work off all loops at one time, ** ch 7, 3 dc in corner space keeping last loop of each st on hook, yarn over and work off all loops at one time, * ch 7, 1 dc in each of the next 3 spaces keeping last loop of each st on hook, yarn over and work off all loops at one time, repeat from * to next corner space, repeat from ** all around in same manner ending row with ch 3, dc in top of 1st dc group (multiple of 4 plus 1 loop on each side).
2. 2nd Row—Ch 3, 2 dc in dc, * ch 3, 3 dc in center st of next loop, repeat from * once, ** ch 5, 3 dc in top of 3 dc group at corner, ch 5, 3 dc in center st of next loop, * ch 3, 3 dc in center st of next loop, repeat from * to last loop before next corner, repeat from ** all around in same manner ending row to correspond.
3. 3rd Row—Sl st to next loop, sc in same space, * ch 7, sc in next loop, repeat from * once, ** ch 11, sc in next loop (corner loop), * ch 7, sc in next loop, repeat from * to last loop on side, repeat from ** all around in same manner ending row with ch 3, tr in 1st sc (this brings thread in position for next row).
4. 4th Row—Ch 7, sc in next loop, ch 4, 3 dc in center st of next loop, ** ch 7, 3 dc, ch 7, 3 dc in center st of corner loop, ch 7, 3 dc in center st of next loop, * ch 4, sc in next loop, ch 8, sc in next loop, ch 8, sc in next loop, ch 4, 3 dc in center st of next loop, repeat from * to loop before corner loop, repeat from ** all around in same manner ending row with ch 3, tr in tr.
5. 5th Row—Ch 8, sc in next loop, ch 4, 3 dc in next dc, ch 7, sc in next loop, ch 7, 3 tr in next dc, ch 5, 3 tr, ch 5, 3 tr in center st of corner loop, ch 5, skip 2 dc, 3 tr in next dc, ch 7, sc in next loop, ch 7, skip 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc, * ch 4, skip 1 loop, sc in next loop, ch 8, sc in next loop, ch 4, 3 dc in next dc, ch 5, skip 1 dc, 3 dc in next dc, repeat from * to 2nd dc group before corner dc group, ch 4, sc in next loop, repeat from beginning all around in same manner ending row to correspond.
6. 6th Row—Sl st to 4th st of next loop, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, ch 3, 3 dc in next st of same loop, ** ch 4, 3 dc in next dc, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, 2 tr in next tr, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, 3 tr in next tr, ch 1, 3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr in center st of corner loop, ch 1, skip 2 tr, 3 tr in next tr, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, skip 2 tr, 2 tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, skip 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc, * ch 4, skip 1 loop, 3 dc in 4th st of next loop, ch 3, 3 dc in next st of same loop (shell), ch 4, 3 dc in next dc, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, skip 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc, repeat from * to last 3 dc, ch 5, 3 dc group before corner group, ch 4, skip 1 loop, 3 dc in 4th st of next loop, ch 3, 3 dc in next st, repeat from ** all around in same manner ending row to correspond.
7. 7th Row—Sl st to center of shell, ** ch 4, skip 1 loop, 3 dc in next dc, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 6, skip 1 loop, dc in next sc, 1 dc in each of the next 2 tr keeping last loop of each dc on hook, yarn over and work off all loops at one time, ch 9, skip 1 loop, sc in next loop, ch 7, sc in next ch 1 loop, ch 7, sc in corner loop, ch 7, sc in next ch 1 loop, ch 7, sc in next loop, ch 9, 1 dc in each of the next 2 tr, 1 dc in next sc, keeping last loop of each dc on hook, yarn over and work off all loops at one time, ch 6, skip 1 loop, sc in next loop, ch 5, skip 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc, * ch 4, skip 1 loop, sc in next loop of shell, ch 4, skip l loop, 3 dc in next dc, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, skip 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc, repeat from * to dc group before last shell, ch 4, sc in loop of next shell, repeat from ** all around ending row to correspond.
8. 8th Row—Sl st to center st of next loop, ch 7, sc in next loop, * ch 7, sc in next loop, repeat from * 3 times, ch 11, sc in next loop (corner loop), * ch 7, sc in next loop, repeat from * 6 times, * ch 3, 3 dc in center st of next loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 7, sc in next loop, ch 7, sc in next loop, ch 7, sc in next loop, repeat from * to 5th loop before corner, repeat from 1st * all around, ending row to correspond.
9. 9th Row—Sl st to center st of next loop, * ch 7, sl st in 4th st from hook for picot, ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * 3 times, ch 5, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 2, 2 dc in center st of corner loop, ch 3, sl st in top of last dc for picot, dc in same space, ch 5, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 3 picot, 1 dc in same space of corner loop, ch 5, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 2, sc in next loop, * ch 7, sl st in 4th st from hook for picot, ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from * 3 times, * ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3 picot, 1 dc in center st of next loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 5, skip 1 loop, 2 dc, ch 3 picot, 1 dc in center dc of next dc group, ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1, 2 dc, ch 3 picot, 1 dc in same space, ch 5, skip 1 loop, sc in next loop, repeat from * to 8th loop before corner (counting corner loop), ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3 picot, 1 dc in center st of next loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, repeat from 1st * all around ending row to correspond, join, cut thread.