Encyclopedia of Needlework Part 36

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 476. PATTERN OF A COUNTERPANE IN TUNISIAN CROCHET.

MATERIALS: Coton pour crochet D.M.C Nos. 6 to 8, or Coton a tricoter D.M.C Nos. 6 to 12.[A]

COLOURS: Gris-Amadou 385 and Rouge-Cardinal 346, Vert-Bouteille 492 and Violet-Mauve 316, or Bleu-Gentiane 479 and Gris-ecru 706.]

For the first coloured border, which immediately surrounds the centre square, take a coloured thread and make 2 chain st.i.tches and upon these the common Tunisian st.i.tch, fig. 444. Increase to the right in every row by one st.i.tch, to the number of 6 = then put the needle into the first st.i.tch on one side of the square, turn the thread round and draw it through. Here you must be careful to observe, in the first instance, that the second part which is now to be joined to the square, should always remain on the left side of the square and secondly, that the thread with which you join the two parts together, should lie to the left and be drawn through, from the wrong side to the right. Having now got 7 Tunisian st.i.tches on the needle, make 18 double rows, and join the last st.i.tch of each row to a st.i.tch of the square.

When these rows are finished, you proceed to decrease on the right till you have only 2 st.i.tches left; and then again to increase as at the beginning of the stripe. At each increase, after each double row you must pa.s.s the thread through the corresponding st.i.tch opposite of the same row. When you have again got 7 st.i.tches on the needle, join them as before to the square. Work round the 4 sides of the square in this manner and when you come to the last decrease, join the st.i.tches to those of the first increase, and fasten off. The next stripes are to be worked in the same way; they may be made either wider or narrower, plain, or ornamented with a cross st.i.tch pattern which you work upon them.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 477. PATTERN OF COUNTERPANE WORKED IN STRIPES.

MATERIALS: Coton pour crochet D.M.C Nos. 6 to 12, Coton a tricoter D.M.C Nos. 6 to 14, or Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C No. 15.[A]]

PATTERN OF COUNTERPANE WORKED IN STRIPES (fig. 477).--This is intended for a child's coverlet and is worked in pale blue, Bleu-Indigo 334, and white; the stripes and the lace border, in white, the setting, partly in white, partly in blue.

For the first stripe, make a foundation chain of 26 st.i.tches; then counting back, draw the needle through the 6th and 7th chain st.i.tches, drawing up all the three loops together = 2 chain, then put the needle again through 2 chain st.i.tches, draw up the 3 loops together = 2 chain and so on.

Coming back, make the loop of the first st.i.tch and that of the second on the chain st.i.tches of the preceding row = begin every row with 3 chain, which form picots along the edge of the stripe; when the stripes are finished, take a blue thread and make 1 plain st.i.tch on each picot and 3 chain.

This blue row is followed by a white one, worked in cl.u.s.ter st.i.tch, fig.

426, with 2 chain st.i.tches between every 2 cl.u.s.ters.

Then follows another blue row of one plain st.i.tch on each chain st.i.tch of the previous row. The second blue row consists entirely of plain st.i.tches worked along the long sides of the stripes, which are joined together afterwards, but not along the short sides until the counterpane is finished; then the st.i.tches should border all the 4 sides. The second stripe, which should be of the same width as the first, is worked in Tunisian crochet; for the edge make one row of plain st.i.tches in blue, one of cl.u.s.ter st.i.tches in white, and then again a row of plain in blue.

Join the stripes together on the wrong side with plain st.i.tches, taking up one loop on the right and one on the left, alternately.

When you have joined the stripes, make the outer border, which consists of 7 straight rows and a scalloped lace edging.

1st row--in blue: 3 chain and 1 plain on each picot, 1 plain, and so on, down the long sides of the stripes = along the short sides, the side of the chain st.i.tches or that of the previous row: 1 plain, 3 chain, miss 2, 1 plain.

2nd row--in white or unbleached: 1 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tch, fig. 426, on each picot formed by the 3 chain st.i.tches of the 1st row; on the corner picots, you must make 3 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tches.

3rd, 4th, 5th rows--in blue: similar to the first. Increase at the corners by making: 1 plain, 3 chain, 1 plain on the same st.i.tch.

6th row--in white or unbleached: similar to the 2nd row.

7th row--in blue: 1 treble on each of the st.i.tches of the previous row.

Lace edging.--The scallops extend over 22 st.i.tches of the previous row and on that account it is better to make the corners first, to count the st.i.tches both ways so as to distribute the st.i.tches that are left over, between the scallops.

Corner scallop.--Fasten on the thread to the left of the second of the st.i.tches that were added to make the turn, make 6 chain, 1 single on the 4th treble to the right = 1 single on the next treble = turn the work = * 2 chain, 1 treble on the 6th chain, repeat 7 times from *, in all therefore 8 trebles = after the 8th treble: 2 chain, miss 1 treble, 1 single on the 2 next trebles = turn the work = 2 chain, 1 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tch between each treble, in all 9 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tches, then 2 chain, miss 2 trebles, 1 single st.i.tch on the next 2 trebles = turn the work = 2 chain, 1 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tch over the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th pairs of chain st.i.tches in the preceding row, and 2 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tches and 2 chain over the 5th, 6th and 7th chain st.i.tches; over the other chain st.i.tches again: 1 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tch; then 2 chain, miss 2 trebles, join to the 3rd treble = fasten off.

For the scallops on the right side, divide the st.i.tches between the corner scallops into equal portions. Supposing that they are divisible by 22, count 9 st.i.tches to the right, fasten on the thread at the 9th; *

7 chain, miss 2 trebles of the row beneath, 1 plain on the 3rd, 1 single st.i.tch on the next = turn the work = 2 chain, 1 treble on the 7 chain, repeat 5 times from * and finish with 2 chain, 1 single on the 2nd lower treble, 1 single on the next treble = turn the work = 2 chain and 1 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tch between each treble of the preceding row, 2 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tches between the 3rd and 2nd trebles = after the 8th st.i.tch: 2 chain, miss 1 treble, 1 single on each of the 2 next st.i.tches = repeat 3 times over 2 chain st.i.tches of the previous row: 2 chain, 1 cl.u.s.ter st.i.tch = on the 4th, 5th and 6th chain st.i.tches: 2 cl.u.s.ter and 2 chain; on the 3 last chain the same st.i.tches as on the 3 first = then 1 single over each of the next 18 and repeat from *.

The final row consists of open picots, formed of 5 chain st.i.tches and 1 plain, between each cl.u.s.ter st.i.tch; after the last of these st.i.tches and in the indent of the scallops on the straight line, only 2 chain st.i.tches and 1 plain on the 3rd st.i.tch.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 478. PATTERN IN SQUARES FOR COUNTERPANES.

MATERIALS: Coton a tricoter D.M.C Nos. 6 to 12, Cordonnet 6 fils D.M.C Nos. 1 to 5, or Coton pour crochet D.M.C Nos. 6 to 12.

COLOURS: Gris-Coutil 323 and Brun-Caroubier 303 or Bleu-cendre 448 and Rouge-Cornouille 449, Vert-Mousse 470 and Bleu d'Azur 3325.[A]]

PATTERN IN SQUARES FOR COUNTERPANES (fig. 478).--This pattern may be worked in the same st.i.tch as the previous one, either in Tunisian crochet or in any other of the st.i.tches already described.

Make a foundation chain of 18 st.i.tches on which you work 10 rows to and fro in the dark colour. The 11th and following rows up to the 21st are worked in the light colour, then take up the dark colour again. Each stripe should be 3 squares long.

The 2nd stripe is begun in the light colour, and the st.i.tches, made at the beginning of each row, are joined to those of the first stripe, as the st.i.tches of the 3rd are to those of the 2nd and so on.

When you have made sufficient big squares, each consisting of 9 small ones, border them with seven rows of plain st.i.tches, worked to and fro.

The 4 squares that form the corners are only to be bordered in this manner on two sides; the squares along the straight edges, on 3 sides, and only those that are intended for the centre of the counterpane, on all 4 sides. The separate parts are then either sewn or crocheted together on the wrong side. The dark squares are ornamented with small stars worked in the light colour, the light ones with scallops in the dark colour.

For the small stars--4 chain, close the ring; 2 plain on each st.i.tch of the chain; 8 plain in all = after the 8th st.i.tch: 8 chain, 1 plain on the 1st plain of the 8 plain st.i.tches. Repeat the 8 chain 7 times and fasten off, then sew the star on in the centre of the dark square, taking care to spread out the little points formed of chain st.i.tches at regular distances from each other. The scallops are worked from left to right; fasten the thread on at the point where 4 squares touch, then make a chain of 18 st.i.tches and secure it at the opposite point. On the chain st.i.tches: 6 plain, 1 picot, 7 plain, 1 picot, 7 plain, 1 picot, 6 plain = fasten off.

Repeat the same scallop over the second half of the square; when you come to the 2nd picot of the first scallop join the two picots. When both scallops are completed, fasten them on to the foundation by a few st.i.tches on the wrong side.

The outside border of the counterpane is made separately, and is worked inwards from without and from left to right.

1st row--begin with the dark colour and make * 10 chain st.i.tches, drop the loop, put the needle into the 1st of the 10 chain, take up the loop and draw it through the st.i.tch; 2 chain and on the 10 st.i.tches: 6 trebles quite close together. Repeat from * and go on repeating the sequence until the lace is long enough to trim the counterpane handsomely.

2nd row--in the light colour and similar to the 1st = only that in joining the chain st.i.tches together, you make the single st.i.tch on the chain st.i.tches of the 1st row.

3rd row--in the dark colour and similar to the 2nd.

4th, 5th and 6th rows--in the light colour and from right to left: 7 chain, 2 plain on each loop of chain st.i.tches of the previous row.

7th row--in the light colour and from left to right: * 2 plain on the treble of the lace, 11 chain, 2 plain on the next loop of chain st.i.tches = these 2 st.i.tches are made on the wrong side of the work = drop the loop, turn the work to the right, 3 plain on the last 3 chain, 8 chain **, and repeat always from * to **.

One row of plain made on each chain st.i.tch and a 2nd row of trebles on the plain st.i.tches completes the lace edging, which is afterwards sewn on to the counterpane.

COUNTERPANE WITH FRINGED BORDER (fig. 479).--This pattern requires three colours; we suggest the following as making a very effective combination: Rouge-Turc 321, Bleu-Indigo 311 and white.

The stripes, one red, the other blue, may be worked in any st.i.tch. They are edged with 8 plain st.i.tches of 3 different lengths worked in red. *

The first st.i.tch pa.s.ses only under the loops of the st.i.tches; the 2nd over 2 st.i.tches; the 3rd over 1, the 4th inwards, over 3. Repeat from *.

These st.i.tches must be worked parallel to each other along the two edges that are to be joined together.

The stripes are fastened together on the wrong side by single or plain st.i.tches.

The outside edge consists of 15 rows: 1st row--in red: 1 row of plain st.i.tches on the right side of the work.

2nd row--in red, and on the wrong side of the work: plain st.i.tches.

3rd and 4th rows--in red, and on the right side of the work: plain st.i.tches.

5th row--in dark blue and on the right side: 1 treble, 1 chain, miss 1 plain of the row beneath, 1 treble and so on.