Vintage pattern · 1953 · square thread crochet motif

Pillowcase Insert Motif

Free crochet pattern with chart

A small square lace motif from a 1953 booklet of things to make for fairs and bazaars. The center is a yellow ring of eight clusters. Around it, in white, a solid bar sits at the middle of each side and a fan of seven treble clusters with picots fills each corner. The booklet joins six of them by their picots into a triangle and sets it into the corner of a pillowcase.

Thread: Size 30 cottonwhite and light yellow
Hook: 1 mm steelNo. 12 in 1953
Finished: about 2 in square5 rounds

Every count checked by KrowsheaWe found and fixed an error in the original. Modern US and UK terms, and a chart drawn from the counts.

Color photo of six small white crochet lace squares with round yellow centers, joined in a triangle and edged in yellow, lying on a white pillowcase — **1953** · The motif insert on its pillowcase, from the 1953 booklet. Detail of the page 4 photo, enlarged.

Chart

Pillowcase Insert Motif crochet chart

Right-handedLeft-handed

Crochet symbol chart of Pillowcase Insert 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
yellow Ch 9, join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as the first dc), then work the bracketed step of the 3-dc cluster twice (not 3 times) in the ring, yarn over and draw through all loops on the hook, [ch 3, 3-dc cluster in ring] 7 times, ch 3, join with a sl st to the first st.
8 clusters, 8 sps
2
Ch 1 (does not count as a st), [(2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc) in next sp] 8 times, join with a sl st to the first st. Fasten off.
32 sc, 8 sps
3
white Join white in any ch-3 sp, ch 3 (counts as a dc), 2 dc in same sp, [ch 4, shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp] 3 times, ch 4, shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
28 dc, 12 sps
4
Ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc in same st, [dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, four in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, sk next 2 sts, 2 dc in next dc] 3 times, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, four in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, sk next 2 sts, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
20 dc, 16 clusters, 20 sps
5
Sl st in next st, ch 3, dc2tog over next 2 sts (counts as a dc3tog), ch-3 picot, *ch 5, sk next sp, [2-tr cluster in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-tr cluster in same sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1] 2 times, 2-tr cluster in same sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-tr cluster in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-tr cluster in same sp, ch 5, sk next st, sk next sp, sk next st, dc3tog over the next 3 dc, ch-3 picot; rep from * 2 more times, ch 5, sk next sp, [2-tr cluster in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-tr cluster in same sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1] 2 times, 2-tr cluster in same sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-tr cluster in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-tr cluster in same sp, ch 5, sk next st, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off.
4 dc, 28 clusters, 28 picots, 56 sps

Weave in the ends.

Written in UK crochet terms

1
yellow Ch 9, join with a ss to the first ch to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as the first tr), then work the bracketed step of the 3-tr cluster twice (not 3 times) in the ring, yarn round hook and draw through all loops on the hook, [ch 3, 3-tr cluster in ring] 7 times, ch 3, join with a ss to the first st.
8 clusters, 8 sps
2
Ch 1 (does not count as a st), [(2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next sp] 8 times, join with a ss to the first st. Fasten off.
32 dc, 8 sps
3
white Join white in any ch-3 sp, ch 3 (counts as a tr), 2 tr in same sp, [ch 4, shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, 3 tr in next ch-3 sp] 3 times, ch 4, shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
28 tr, 12 sps
4
Ch 3 (counts as a tr), tr in same st, [tr in next tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, four in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, miss next 2 sts, 2 tr in next tr] 3 times, tr in next tr, 2 tr in next tr, ch 4, four in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, miss next 2 sts, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
20 tr, 16 clusters, 20 sps
5
Ss in next st, ch 3, tr2tog over next 2 sts (counts as a tr3tog), ch-3 picot, *ch 5, miss next sp, [2-dtr cluster in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-dtr cluster in same sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1] 2 times, 2-dtr cluster in same sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-dtr cluster in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-dtr cluster in same sp, ch 5, miss next st, miss next sp, miss next st, tr3tog over the next 3 tr, ch-3 picot; rep from * 2 more times, ch 5, miss next sp, [2-dtr cluster in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-dtr cluster in same sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1] 2 times, 2-dtr cluster in same sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-dtr cluster in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1, 2-dtr cluster in same sp, ch 5, miss next st, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3. Fasten off.
4 tr, 28 clusters, 28 picots, 56 sps

Weave in the ends.

Special stitches

3-dc cluster: [Yarn over, insert the hook in the st, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 3 times, all in the same st (4 loops on hook); yarn over and draw through all 4 loops. The stitches meet at the top as one. It counts as one st.
shell: (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in the same place.
four: (2-tr cluster, ch 3, 2-tr cluster, ch 3, 2-tr cluster, ch 3, 2-tr cluster) in the same place.
ch-3 picot: ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.
2-tr cluster: [Yarn over twice, insert the hook in the st, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] 2 times, all in the same st (3 loops on hook); yarn over and draw through all 3 loops. The stitches meet at the top as one. It counts as one st.

Abbreviations (US)

ch chaindc double crochetdc2tog double crochet 2 stitches togetherdc3tog double crochet 3 stitches togetherrep repeatsc single crochetsk skipsl st slip stitchsp(s) space(s)st(s) stitch(es)tr treble crochet

Special stitches

3-tr cluster: [Yarn round hook, insert the hook in the st, yarn round hook and draw up a loop, yarn round hook and draw through 2 loops] 3 times, all in the same st (4 loops on hook); yarn round hook and draw through all 4 loops. The stitches meet at the top as one. It counts as one st.
shell: (2 tr, ch 3, 2 tr) in the same place.
four: (2-dtr cluster, ch 3, 2-dtr cluster, ch 3, 2-dtr cluster, ch 3, 2-dtr cluster) in the same place.
ch-3 picot: ch 3, ss in the 3rd ch from the hook.
2-dtr cluster: [Yarn round hook twice, insert the hook in the st, yarn round hook and draw up a loop, yarn round hook and draw through 2 loops, yarn round hook and draw through 2 loops] 2 times, all in the same st (3 loops on hook); yarn round hook and draw through all 3 loops. The stitches meet at the top as one. It counts as one st.

Abbreviations (UK)

ch chaindc double crochetdtr double treblemiss miss (skip)rep repeatsp(s) space(s)ss slip stitchst(s) stitch(es)tr trebletr2tog treble 2 stitches togethertr3tog treble 3 stitches together

Materials

Thread, 1953: Mercerized crochet cotton, size 30: 2 balls of white and 1 ball of light yellow for a pair of pillowcases. Today's size 30 crochet thread is the match.
Hook, 1953: Steel crochet hook No. 12, about 1.0 mm in today's US steel sizes. Old steel hook sizes varied from maker to maker, so treat the millimeter size as a guide.

The 1953 original

As it was printed

Suggestions for Fairs and Bazaars · Pillowcase with Motif Insert and Edge, pictured on page 4
MOTIF: With Lt. Yellow ch 9, join to form a ring, ch 3, 2 d c in same space keeping last loop of each d c on hook, thread over and work off all loops at one time, * ch 3, cluster st in ring, (cluster st: 3 d c in same space keeping last loop of each d c on hook, thread over and work off all loops at one time), repeat from * 6 times, ch 3, join in 1st cluster st. 2nd Row. Ch 1, * 2 s c in next loop, ch 3, 2 s c in same loop, repeat from * all around, join in 1st s c, cut Yellow. 3rd Row. Attach White in ch 3 loop, ch 3, 2 d c in same space, * ch 4, 2 d c, ch 3, 2 d c (shell) in next ch 3 loop, ch 4, 3 d c in next loop, repeat from * all around ending with ch 4, 2 d c, ch 3, 2 d c in next loop, ch 4, join. 4th Row. Ch 3, d c in same space, ** 1 d c in next d c, 2 d c in next d c, ch 4, 2 tr c in next shell keeping last loop of each tr c on hook, thread over and work off all loops at one time (2 tr c cluster st), ch 3, 2 tr c cluster st in same space, repeat from * twice, ch 4, 2 d c in next d c, repeat from ** all around ending to correspond, ch 4, join. 5th Row. Sl st to next d c, ch 3, 1 d c in each of the next 2 d c keeping last loop of each d c on hook, thread over and work off all loops at one time, ** ch 3, sl st in top of cluster st just made for picot, ch 5, skip 1 loop, 2 tr c cluster st in next loop, ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1, 2 tr c cluster st in same loop, ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1 (picot loop), 2 tr c cluster st in next loop, * ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1, 2 tr c cluster st in same loop, repeat from * once, ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1, 2 tr c cluster st in next loop, ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1, 2 tr c cluster st in same loop, ch 5, skip 1 d c, 3 d c cluster st over next 3 d c, repeat from ** all around ending to correspond, ch 5, join, cut thread.

The 1953 stitch names

The booklet prints its own list of abbreviations, all in modern American terms, so nothing needs translating. Its special stitches are spelled out in the directions:

In 1953	US today	How we know
cluster st	3-dc cluster	"3 d c in same space keeping last loop of each d c on hook, thread over and work off all loops at one time."
2 tr c cluster st	2-tr cluster	"2 tr c in next shell keeping last loop of each tr c on hook, thread over and work off all loops at one time."
3 d c cluster st over next 3 d c	dc3tog	One dc in each of 3 stitches, worked off together: "1 d c in each of the next 2 d c keeping last loop of each d c on hook".
picot loop	ch 1, ch-3 picot, ch 1	"Ch 4, sl st in 3rd st from hook for picot, ch 1 (picot loop)."

What we checked

Round 1: 8 clusters and 8 ch-3 loops in the ring.
Round 2: 32 sc and 8 ch-3 loops.
Round 3: 28 dc, 4 groups of 3 and 4 shells of 4, with 8 ch-4 loops.
Round 4: 20 dc, 16 treble clusters (4 in each shell) and 20 loops.
Round 5: 28 treble clusters, 7 to a corner, 4 clusters over 3 dc at the sides, and 28 picots. Four equal quarters.
The booklet's joining agrees: a second motif joins 2 picots, passes the side cluster and joins 2 more.
The photo shows the same shape as the chart: a round yellow center and a fan at each corner. It is too small to count stitches.

How we read the old wording

Round 4 says "repeat from * twice" and no * is printed. We read it as "ch 3, 2 tr c cluster st in same space" three times, which makes 4 clusters and 3 loops in each shell. Round 5 needs exactly 3 loops there.
Round 5 opens "Sl st to next d c": one slip stitch, so the first cluster sits over the middle 3 dc of the 5.
The picot on each side cluster is closed in the top of the cluster in the booklet. Our written pattern closes it in the 3rd chain from the hook.
Round 5 "skip 1 loop" is the ch-4 loop. The last cluster of each shell and the end dc of each 5 are passed without the booklet saying so.
The booklet goes on to join six motifs, add a small joining motif and a yellow edge, and sew the insert to a pillowcase. This page covers the single motif.

One slip in the original: round 4 says "repeat from * twice" with no * to repeat from. Read as above, every round closes evenly. The booklet prints no counts.

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