We may receive a commission when you make a purchase from one of our links to sites such as eBay and others. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for support!
This is a lovely free pattern for an artistic centerpiece featuring solid embroidery flowers and filet crochet for the border. This pattern was written by Mary E. Fitch and was first published in the 1923 February issue of Needlecraft magazine.
Here is a closer view of the centerpiece you can create with this pattern.
The crochet pattern for the border of this centerpiece makes use of Filet Crochet, which is a type of crochet that creates designs and patterns by leaving spaces in the work.
Filet Crochet is typically worked in a series of crochet stitches with a chain for areas where space is desired. Most patterns I have encountered use treble crochet, but always be sure to check as some may use double or single crochet. If you read “sp” as “chain” in these patterns, it will be a bit less confusing on how it all comes together!
Sometimes it’s easier to follow a filet crochet pattern by a diagram rather than the actual written pattern. Here is the diagram of each tab of the border:
Antique Centerpiece Pattern
THAT simplicity rules in the realm of decorative needlework is aptly illustrated by the handsome centerpiece or between-meal cloth-which may be used on other than the dining table, if needed-and is most desirable anywhere.
The petals of flowers are worked in white, in padded satin-stitch, stems and leaves the same. The scrolls are outlined in white, and flower-centers are of yellow, in French knots, closely massed and outlined with the same color.
The embroidery may be varied at pleasure of the worker. For example, the leaves and flower-petals, instead of being solid, may be outlined with satin stitch, or worked from center to edge, giving a midrib. The centers may be of yellow or white, as liked.
The scrolls may be of heavy rope-floss, held along the stamped line and couched on by means of stitches of finer thread taken across at regular intervals, or may be worked in knotted outline or any fancy outline-stitch.
By varying the stitches or method of work one is able to change the effect greatly while keeping to the design, and this study is really fascinating.
The edge of the centerpiece is finished with a plain, narrow hem, to which is added the border, made much after the fashion of the tab collars recently and yet popular; that is, the tabs or scallops are left free save for the row or rows of spaces which join them at the top edge.
Crochet Pattern Instructions
Pattern Notes: Narrow means to decrease, sp means space.
Using a thread suited to your material, make a chain of 116 stitches.
- A treble (tr) in 8th stitch (st) from hook, 36 more spaces (sp) of chain (ch) 2, miss 2, 1 tr.
- One sp (ch 5 for 1st sp), 106 tr, 1 sp.
- One sp, 4 tr, 33 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp.
- One Sp, 4 tr, (16 sp, 4 tr) twice, 1 sp.
- One sp, 4 tr, 2 sp, 10 tr, (10 sp, 10 tr) twice, 2 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp.
- (One sp, 4 tr) twice, 3 sp, (4 tr, 4 sp) twice, 10 tr, (4 sp, 4 tr) twice, 3 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp, 4 tr, then narrow last sp by omitting the 2 ch and making a triple treble (t tr) in corner of 1st sp of preceding row, which will bring you in position to begin next row without slipping over a sp.
- One sp, 4 tr. 5 sp, 4 tr. 2 sp, 10 tr, (3 sp, 10 tr) twice, 2 sp, 4 tr, 5 sp. 4 tr, 1 sp.
- One sp, 4 tr, (2 sp, 4 tr) twice, (3 sp, 10 tr, 3 sp, 4 tr) twice, (2 sp, 4 tr) twice, 1 sp.
- One sp. 4 tr, 3 sp, 7 tr, 6 sp, 4 tr, (3 sp, 4 tr) twice, 6 sp, 7 tr, 3 sp, 4 tr, narrow (as in 6th row).
- One sp, 4 tr, 6 sp, 7 tr, 3 sp, (4 tr, 1 sp) 3 times, 4 tr, 3 sp, 7 tr, 6 sp, 4 tr, narrow.
- One sp, 4 tr, 4 sp, 13 tr, 3 sp, 7 tr, 1 sp, 7 tr, 3 sp, 13 tr, 4 sp, 4 tr, narrow.
- One sp, 4 tr, 4 sp, 10 tr, 2 sp, 10 tr, 1 Sp, 10 tr, 2 sp, 10 tr, 4 sp, 4 tr, narrow.
- One sp, 4 tr, 6 sp, 7 tr, 3 sp, 4 tr, 3 Sp, 7 tr, 6 sp, 4 tr, narrow.
- One sp, 4 tr, (2 sp, 10 tr) twice, P sp, (10 tr. 2 sp) twice, 4 tr, 1 sp.
- Ch 7, tr in last tr made, to widen, 4 tr, 2 sp, 10 tr, 4 sp, 7 tr, 1 sp, 7 tr, 4 sp, 10 tr, 2 sp, 4 tr, ch 2, t tr in same st with last tr, to widen 1 sp.
- One sp, 4 tr, 1 sp, 13 tr, 5 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp, 4 tr, 5 sp, 13 tr, 1 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp.
- One sp, 4 tr, 1 sp, 10 tr, 7 sp, 4 tr, 7 sp, 10 tr, 1 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp.
- Widen, 4 tr, 3 Sp, 4 tr, 4 sp, 28 tr, 4 sp, 4 tr, 3 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp.
- One sp, 4 tr, 7 sp, 10 tr, 5 sp, 10 tr, 7 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp.
- One sp, 4 tr, 7 sp, 4 tr, (1 sp, 7 tr, 1 sp, 4 tr) twice, 7 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp.
- One sp, 4 tr, 3 sp, 10 tr, 4 sp, 7 tr, 1 sp, 7 tr, 4 sp, 10 tr, 3 sp, 4 tr, narrow.
- (One sp, 4 tr) twice, 2 sp, 4 tr, 5 Sp, 10 tr, 5 sp, 4 tr, 2 sp, (4 tr, 1 sp) twice.
- (One sp, 4 tr) twice, (9 sp, 4 tr) twice, 1 sp, 4 tr, narrow.
- (One sp, 4 tr) twice, (7 sp, 4 tr, 1 sp, 4 tr) twice, narrow.
- One sp, 4 tr, 7 sp, 4 tr, narrow, turn.
- One space, 22 tr, narrow.
- Seven sp. Either fasten off, or slip down edge of last 3 rows and across middle Sp of 24th row. Repeat last 3 rows for other side and fasten off.
Make as many of these tabs as required, and join them by working a row of 37 spaces across top of each with 2 chain between tabs; work a 2d row of spaces on these. One chain may be worked between trebles of this row every 6th or 8th space, or as needed to give the proper curve, although as the tabs are free the work is not likely to draw.
Finish the edge by filling the spaces with doubles, 5 doubles in corner space, and picots of 5 chain at intervals; make 1 double under chain between tabs.
This is such a neat project and a fun way to add borders to nearly anything! You could create multiple tabs and add it to almost anything, whether it’s embroidered centerpieces like the article suggests or you could even add it as a creative edge or trim for dresses, shirts, pillowcases and even your table linens.
I hope you enjoy this antique filet crochet pattern and of course if you try the pattern out I would love to see what you create – tell me about your project in the comments section below!