Vintage pattern · 1941 · thread crochet bedspread motif

Magnolia Popcorn Motif

Free crochet pattern with chart

The popcorn version of the much-loved Queen Anne's Lace motif, from a 1941 booklet of bedspread and tablecloth favorites. Eight petals of treble popcorns alternate with eight plain fans of treble, and sixteen chain loops ring the edge. In the heavier thread the book suggests, each motif is about 6 inches across.

Thread: Size 10 cottonabout 50 yd a motif
Hook: 1.65 mm steelNo. 7 in 1941
Finished: About 6 in across7 rounds

Every count checked by KrowsheaNo errors in the 1941 original. Modern US and UK terms, and a chart drawn from the counts.

Black and white photo of a round white crochet motif with eight popcorn petals alternating with eight plain fans — **1941** · One Magnolia motif, cropped from the booklet's detail photo of four joined motifs.

Chart

Magnolia Popcorn Motif crochet chart

Right-handedLeft-handed

Crochet symbol chart of Magnolia Popcorn Motif, drawn by Krowshea

The same chart drawn left-handed, mirrored

Reading this chart

Start at the center and read each round counterclockwise, the way a right-handed crocheter works.
Start at the center and read each round clockwise, the way a left-handed crocheter works.
Each round begins at its green mark, its first stitch or chain; its number is printed beside it. Rounds alternate dark and blue so they read apart.
The key under the chart names every symbol. Symbols follow the Craft Yarn Council chart standard.

Drawn by Krowshea from the checked counts, not traced from the original. New to charts? How to read crochet charts.

Written pattern

Round by round

US termsUK terms

Written in US crochet terms

1
Ch 6, join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, ch 4 (counts as a tr), 15 tr in ring, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-4.
16 tr
2
Ch 4 (counts as a tr), ch 3, [tr in next tr, ch 3] 15 times, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-4.
16 tr, 16 sps
3
Ch 4 (counts as a tr), [(5-tr popcorn, tr, 5-tr popcorn) in next sp, tr in next tr, ch 3, tr in next tr] 7 times, (5-tr popcorn, tr, 5-tr popcorn) in next sp, tr in next tr, ch 3, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-4.
24 tr, 16 popcorns, 8 sps
4
Ch 4 (counts as a tr), 5-tr popcorn in same st, [tr in next popcorn, 5-tr popcorn in next tr, tr in next popcorn, (5-tr popcorn, tr) in next tr, ch 4, (tr, 5-tr popcorn) in next tr] 7 times, tr in next popcorn, 5-tr popcorn in next tr, tr in next popcorn, (5-tr popcorn, tr) in next tr, ch 4, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-4.
32 tr, 24 popcorns, 8 sps
5
Sl st in next st, ch 4 (counts as a tr), *[5-tr popcorn in next tr, tr in next popcorn] 2 times, ch 4, sk next st, 5 tr in next sp, ch 4, sk next st, tr in next popcorn; rep from * 6 more times, [5-tr popcorn in next tr, tr in next popcorn] 2 times, ch 4, sk next st, 5 tr in next sp, ch 4, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-4.
64 tr, 16 popcorns, 16 sps
6
Sl st in next st, ch 4, tr2tog over next 2 sts (counts as a tr3tog), [ch 5, sk next st, 2 tr in next tr, tr in each of next 3 tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 5, sk next sp, sk next st, tr3tog over the next 3 sts] 7 times, ch 5, sk next st, 2 tr in next tr, tr in each of next 3 tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 5, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-4.
64 tr, 16 sps
7
With the hook still in the joining stitch, [ch 11, sk next sp, sk next st, tr5tog over the next 5 tr, ch 11, sk next st, sc in next st] 7 times, ch 11, sk next sp, sk next st, tr5tog over the next 5 tr, ch 11, sk next st, join with a sl st in the joining stitch. Fasten off.
8 tr, 7 sc, 16 sps

Weave in the ends.

Written in UK crochet terms

1
Ch 6, join with a ss to the first ch to form a ring, ch 4 (counts as a dtr), 15 dtr in ring, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-4.
16 dtr
2
Ch 4 (counts as a dtr), ch 3, [dtr in next dtr, ch 3] 15 times, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-4.
16 dtr, 16 sps
3
Ch 4 (counts as a dtr), [(5-dtr popcorn, dtr, 5-dtr popcorn) in next sp, dtr in next dtr, ch 3, dtr in next dtr] 7 times, (5-dtr popcorn, dtr, 5-dtr popcorn) in next sp, dtr in next dtr, ch 3, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-4.
24 dtr, 16 popcorns, 8 sps
4
Ch 4 (counts as a dtr), 5-dtr popcorn in same st, [dtr in next popcorn, 5-dtr popcorn in next dtr, dtr in next popcorn, (5-dtr popcorn, dtr) in next dtr, ch 4, (dtr, 5-dtr popcorn) in next dtr] 7 times, dtr in next popcorn, 5-dtr popcorn in next dtr, dtr in next popcorn, (5-dtr popcorn, dtr) in next dtr, ch 4, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-4.
32 dtr, 24 popcorns, 8 sps
5
Ss in next st, ch 4 (counts as a dtr), *[5-dtr popcorn in next dtr, dtr in next popcorn] 2 times, ch 4, miss next st, 5 dtr in next sp, ch 4, miss next st, dtr in next popcorn; rep from * 6 more times, [5-dtr popcorn in next dtr, dtr in next popcorn] 2 times, ch 4, miss next st, 5 dtr in next sp, ch 4, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-4.
64 dtr, 16 popcorns, 16 sps
6
Ss in next st, ch 4, dtr2tog over next 2 sts (counts as a dtr3tog), [ch 5, miss next st, 2 dtr in next dtr, dtr in each of next 3 dtr, 2 dtr in next dtr, ch 5, miss next sp, miss next st, dtr3tog over the next 3 sts] 7 times, ch 5, miss next st, 2 dtr in next dtr, dtr in each of next 3 dtr, 2 dtr in next dtr, ch 5, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-4.
64 dtr, 16 sps
7
With the hook still in the joining stitch, [ch 11, miss next sp, miss next st, dtr5tog over the next 5 dtr, ch 11, miss next st, dc in next st] 7 times, ch 11, miss next sp, miss next st, dtr5tog over the next 5 dtr, ch 11, miss next st, join with a ss in the joining stitch. Fasten off.
8 dtr, 7 dc, 16 sps

Weave in the ends.

Special stitches

5-tr popcorn: Work 5 tr in the st. Take the hook out of the working loop, insert it from front to back under the top of the first tr of the group, pick up the dropped loop and draw it through, closing the group into a cup that pops forward.

Abbreviations (US)

ch chainrep repeatsc single crochetsk skipsl st slip stitchsp(s) space(s)st(s) stitch(es)tr treble crochettr2tog treble crochet 2 stitches togethertr3tog treble crochet 3 stitches togethertr5tog treble crochet 5 stitches together

Special stitches

5-dtr popcorn: Work 5 dtr in the st. Take the hook out of the working loop, insert it from front to back under the top of the first dtr of the group, pick up the dropped loop and draw it through, closing the group into a cup that pops forward.

Abbreviations (UK)

ch chaindc double crochetdtr double trebledtr2tog double treble 2 stitches togetherdtr3tog double treble 3 stitches togetherdtr5tog double treble 5 stitches togethermiss miss (skip)rep repeatsp(s) space(s)ss slip stitchst(s) stitch(es)

Materials

Thread, 1941: A heavier mercerized crochet cotton, sold under a brand name rather than a size. Today's size 10 crochet thread is the nearest match.
Hook, 1941: Steel crochet hook No. 7, about 1.65 mm in today's US steel sizes. Old steel hook sizes varied from maker to maker, so treat the millimeter size as a guide.
Size and yardage, 1941: Each motif measures about 6 inches across before joining and takes about 50 yards of thread.

The 1941 original

As it was printed

Old and New Favorites: Crochet Designs · Magnolia No. 6020
FIRST MOTIF... Starting at center, ch 6, join with sl st. 1st rnd: Ch 4 (to count as tr), 15 tr in ring. Join with sl st to 4th st of ch-4. 2nd rnd: Ch 7, * tr in next tr, ch 3. Repeat from * around; join to 4th st of ch-7. 3rd rnd: Ch 4, * in next sp make a pc st—to make pc st, ch 1, make 5 tr in sp, drop loop from hook, insert hook in ch-1 preceding 5 tr and draw dropped loop through. Then make a tr and pc st in same sp. Make tr in next tr, ch 3, tr in next tr. Repeat from * around. Join last ch-3 to 4th st of ch-4. 4th rnd: Ch 4, pc st in same place as sl st, * tr in next pc st, pc st in next tr, tr in next pc st; in next tr make a pc st and a tr. Ch 4, in next tr make a tr and a pc st. Repeat from * around; join last ch-4 to 4th st of ch-4 first made. 5th rnd: Sl st in tip of next pc st, ch 4; * (pc st in next tr, tr in next pc st) twice; ch 4, skip next tr, 5 tr in next ch-4 sp, ch 4, skip next tr, tr in next pc st. Repeat from * around; join. 6th rnd: Sl st in tip of next pc st, ch 4, tr in next tr and in tip of next pc st, holding back the last loop of each tr on hook; thread over and draw through all loops on hook (a cluster). * Ch 5, skip next tr and sp, make 2 tr in next tr, tr in next 3 tr, 2 tr in next tr; ch 5, skip next sp and 1 tr; make tr in next 3 sts, holding back the last loop of each tr on hook; thread over and draw through all loops on hook (another cluster). Repeat from * around; join. 7th rnd: * Ch 11, skip next sp and 1 tr; tr in next 5 tr, holding back the last loop of each tr on hook and complete a cluster as before. Ch 11, sc in tip of next cluster. Repeat from * around. Join and fasten off. This completes one motif.

The 1941 stitch names

The booklet is written in modern American terms. Its one special stitch is defined in the pattern itself:

In 1941	US today	How we know
pc st	5-tr popcorn	The pattern spells it out: ch 1, 5 tr in one place, drop the loop, put the hook in the ch-1 before the 5 tr and draw the dropped loop through.

What we checked

Round 1: 16 tr in the ring. Round 2: 16 tr with 16 spaces.
Round 3: 8 petals of popcorn, tr, popcorn (16 popcorns, 24 tr).
Round 4: each petal widens to 3 popcorns and 4 tr (24 popcorns, 32 tr).
Round 5: each petal narrows to 2 popcorns, and 8 fans of 5 tr begin between the petals (16 popcorns, 64 tr).
Round 6: 8 clusters close the petals and the fans widen to 7 tr (56 tr).
Round 7: 8 clusters over the fans and 16 loops of 11 chains. The book's own joining directions agree: 2 loops joined on each of 4 sides and 2 left free between them make 16.
The compiled chart shows the same 8 popcorn petals and 8 fans as the photo.

How we read the old wording

The book's popcorn begins with ch 1 and closes through that chain. Krowshea's written pattern closes its popcorn through the top of the first tr and has no opening chain; the count and the place are the same.
"Sl st in tip of next pc st, ch 4" in round 5 moves the start to the first popcorn of the petal.
Round 6's clusters are 3 tr worked off together over a popcorn, a tr and a popcorn.
Round 7 begins with chains straight from the join, and its last sc falls on the cluster where it began. The join stands in that place (7 sc and the join).
The book goes on to join motifs, add a small fill-in motif and edge the spread. This page covers the first motif.

No errors in the original. It prints no stitch counts, but every round closes evenly and the 16 loops agree with its joining directions.

More vintage patterns

All vintage patterns

Krowshea is in beta

Make it with Krowshea

This pattern stays free right here. Krowshea members will be able to do more with it:

Turn it in 3D Yarn and watch it grow round by round
Save it to your Library and make it your own: new colors, a border, a different size
Track your rounds with Make it, on your phone
Open it in the Studio: change the thread, size it up in yarn, join motifs

Join the betaSave to Pinterest