Vintage pattern · 1941 · thread crochet bedspread motif

Pinwheel Popcorn Motif

Free crochet pattern with chart

A six-sided popcorn motif from a 1941 booklet of readers' favorite designs, one of its four "popcorn bedspreads". Six bands of popcorns swirl out from the center like a pinwheel, each growing to five popcorns wide and then narrowing to one, set in an open mesh with a treble shell at every corner. Each motif is 6 inches across; the booklet sews them into a fringed bedspread.

Thread: Bedspread cottonabout 70 yd a motif
Hook: 1.5 mm steelNo. 8 or 9 in 1941
Finished: 6 in across10 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 six-sided white crochet motif with six curved bands of popcorns in an open mesh — **1941** · Pinwheel Popcorn No. 682, as photographed for the 1941 booklet.

Chart

Pinwheel Popcorn Motif crochet chart

Right-handedLeft-handed

Crochet symbol chart of Pinwheel 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 12, join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as a dc), 23 dc in ring, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
24 dc
2
Ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same st, [ch 5, sk next 2 sts, dc in next dc, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next dc] 5 times, ch 5, sk next 2 sts, dc in next dc, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st.
6 popcorns, 6 dc, 12 sps
3
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same sp, [ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in same sp, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 5 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in same sp, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st.
12 popcorns, 6 dc, 18 sps
4
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same sp, [ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in same sp, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 5 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in same sp, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st.
18 popcorns, 6 dc, 24 sps
5
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in same sp, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in same sp, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st.
24 popcorns, 6 dc, 30 sps
6
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 3 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in same sp, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 3 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in same sp, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st.
30 popcorns, 6 dc, 36 sps
7
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 3 times, ch 3, dc in next popcorn, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 3 times, ch 3, dc in next popcorn, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st.
24 popcorns, 18 dc, 42 sps
8
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 2 times, ch 3, dc in next popcorn, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 4 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp] 2 times, ch 3, dc in next popcorn, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 4 times, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st.
18 popcorns, 30 dc, 48 sps
9
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same sp, *ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp, ch 3, dc in next popcorn, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 6 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp, ch 3, dc in next popcorn, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 6 times, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st.
12 popcorns, 42 dc, 54 sps
10
Sl st in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first dc) and work the rest of a 5-dc popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 3, dc in next sp] 3 times, ch 3, sk next st, (3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr) in next dc, ch 3, sk next sp, dc in next sp, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, 5-dc popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 3 times, ch 3, sk next st, (3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr) in next dc, ch 3, sk next sp, dc in next sp, [ch 3, dc in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, join with a sl st to the first st. Fasten off.
6 popcorns, 36 dc, 36 tr, 54 sps

Weave in the ends.

Written in UK crochet terms

1
Ch 12, join with a ss to the first ch to form a ring, ch 3 (counts as a tr), 23 tr in ring, join with a ss to the top of the beginning ch-3.
24 tr
2
Ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same st, [ch 5, miss next 2 sts, tr in next tr, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next tr] 5 times, ch 5, miss next 2 sts, tr in next tr, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st.
6 popcorns, 6 tr, 12 sps
3
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same sp, [ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in same sp, ch 5, tr in next sp, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 5 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in same sp, ch 5, tr in next sp, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st.
12 popcorns, 6 tr, 18 sps
4
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same sp, [ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in same sp, ch 5, tr in next sp, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 5 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in same sp, ch 5, tr in next sp, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st.
18 popcorns, 6 tr, 24 sps
5
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in same sp, ch 5, tr in next sp, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in same sp, ch 5, tr in next sp, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st.
24 popcorns, 6 tr, 30 sps
6
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 3 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in same sp, ch 5, tr in next sp, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 3 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in same sp, ch 5, tr in next sp, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st.
30 popcorns, 6 tr, 36 sps
7
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 3 times, ch 3, tr in next popcorn, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 3 times, ch 3, tr in next popcorn, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st.
24 popcorns, 18 tr, 42 sps
8
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 2 times, ch 3, tr in next popcorn, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 4 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp] 2 times, ch 3, tr in next popcorn, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 4 times, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st.
18 popcorns, 30 tr, 48 sps
9
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same sp, *ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp, ch 3, tr in next popcorn, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 6 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp, ch 3, tr in next popcorn, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 6 times, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st.
12 popcorns, 42 tr, 54 sps
10
Ss in next sp, ch 3 (counts as the first tr) and work the rest of a 5-tr popcorn in the same sp, *[ch 3, tr in next sp] 3 times, ch 3, miss next st, (3 dtr, ch 3, 3 dtr) in next tr, ch 3, miss next sp, tr in next sp, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, 5-tr popcorn in next sp; rep from * 4 more times, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 3 times, ch 3, miss next st, (3 dtr, ch 3, 3 dtr) in next tr, ch 3, miss next sp, tr in next sp, [ch 3, tr in next sp] 2 times, ch 2, join with a ss to the first st. Fasten off.
6 popcorns, 36 tr, 36 dtr, 54 sps

Weave in the ends.

Special stitches

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

Abbreviations (US)

ch chaindc double crochetrep repeatsk skipsl st slip stitchsp(s) space(s)st(s) stitch(es)tr treble crochet

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 (UK)

ch chaindtr double treblemiss miss (skip)rep repeatsp(s) space(s)ss slip stitchst(s) stitch(es)tr treble

Materials

Thread, 1941: Bedspread cotton, a heavier crochet thread than the size 20 or 30 of the booklet's lace motifs.
Hook, 1941: Steel crochet hook No. 8 or 9, about 1.5 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 6 inches across, from side to side, and takes about 70 yards of thread. 10 rounds.

The 1941 original

As it was printed

Old and New Favorites: Crochet Designs · Pinwheel Popcorn No. 682
MOTIF... Starting at center, ch 12, join with sl st. 1st rnd: Ch 3, 23 dc in ring. Join to 3rd st of ch-3. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, 4 dc in same place as sl st; drop st from hook, insert hook back in 3rd st of ch-3 first made and draw loop through the one on hook (a pc st). * Ch 5, skip 2 dc, dc in next dc, ch 3, 5 dc in next dc; drop st from hook, insert hook back in last ch made and draw loop through the one on hook (a pc st). Repeat from * around, ending with ch 2, sl st at tip of first pc st made. 3rd rnd: Sl st in ch-5 sp, ch 3 and complete a pc st; * ch 2, a pc st, ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, a pc st. Repeat from * around, ending with ch 2, sl st at tip of 1st pc st made. 4th rnd: Sl st in next sp (between pc sts), ch 3 and complete a pc st; * ch 2, in next ch-5 sp make 2 pc sts with ch-2 between; ch 5, dc in next sp, ch 2, pc st in sp between 2 pc sts. Repeat from * around, ending as before. 5th and 6th rnds: Same as 4th rnd, making pc sts between pc sts of previous rnd and 2 pc sts in ch-5 sp, always making ch-2 between pc sts (4 pc sts in each group on 5th rnd; 5 pc sts in each group on 6th rnd). 7th rnd: Sl st in next sp (between 1st 2 pc sts), ch 3 and complete a pc st; * (ch 2, pc st between next 2 pc sts) 3 times; ch 3, dc at tip of next pc st, ch 3, dc in ch-5 sp, ch 3, dc in next sp, ch 2, pc st between next 2 pc sts. Repeat from * around. Join. 8th rnd: * 3 pc sts between pc sts of previous rnd, with ch-2 between; ch 3, dc at tip of next pc st; (ch 3, dc in next sp) 4 times; ch 2 and repeat from * around. Join. 9th rnd: * 2 pc sts between pc sts of previous rnd, with ch-2 between; ch 3, dc at tip of next pc st; (ch 3, dc in next sp) 6 times, ch 2. Repeat from * around. Join. 10th rnd: Sl st in sp (between pc sts), ch 3 and complete a pc st; * (ch 3, dc in next sp) 3 times; ch 3, skip next dc and sp; in next dc make 3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr; ch 3, skip next sp and dc; dc in next sp; (ch 3, dc in next sp) twice, ch 2, pc st between pc sts of previous rnd. Repeat from * around. Join and fasten off.

The booklet is written in modern American terms (sc, dc, tr), the same ones its own stitch page defines, so nothing needs translating. Its "pc st" is a popcorn of 5 dc.

What we checked

Round 1: 24 dc in the ring, the ch 3 counting as the first.
Round 2: 6 popcorns and 6 dc, each repeat using 4 of the 24 stitches.
Rounds 3 to 6: the popcorn bands grow by one a round, 2, 3, 4 and 5 popcorns each (12, 18, 24, 30 popcorns). The booklet prints "4 pc sts in each group on 5th rnd; 5 pc sts in each group on 6th rnd", and both check.
Rounds 7 to 9: the bands narrow, 4, 3, 2 popcorns each, while the mesh grows to 3, 5 and 7 dc a side.
Round 10: one popcorn at each band's tip (6), 36 dc, and 6 corner shells of 3 tr, ch 3, 3 tr (36 tr). The corner lands on the middle dc of the 7.
Every round closes evenly, and the compiled chart shows the same six swirling bands and six corners as the photo.

How we read the old wording

"Ch 3, 5 dc in next dc; drop st from hook, insert hook back in last ch made" closes the popcorn through the 3rd chain, so 2 chains lie between the dc and the popcorn. The round's own ending says the same: "ending with ch 2". We write ch 2 before each popcorn.
Round 3: "ch 2, a pc st" is a second popcorn in the same ch-5 space and "dc in next sp" is in the ch-2 space. Round 4 spells the same thing out in full.
Rounds 5 and 6 are one sentence in the booklet ("Same as 4th rnd") and are written out here.
"Pc st between next 2 pc sts" is worked in the ch-2 space between them. "Dc at tip of next pc st" is in the top of the popcorn.
Rounds 8 and 9 print no opening. They open like round 7: slip stitch into the space between the first 2 popcorns, then ch 3 and the rest of a popcorn.
The first popcorn of a round is ch 3 and 4 dc, closed through the top of the ch 3.
The booklet goes on to sew motifs together and add a fringe. This page covers the single motif.

No errors in the original. The two counts it prints (4 and 5 popcorns in a group) check out, and every round closes evenly.

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