Yay! I discovered how to do it!

#1

I think some people might have seen this pattern: http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1417

And tried it and simply said : WTF. Yep, that was my initial reaction towards it (i downloaded a book with it inside).

But then, today i said : i’m gonna give it a shot and try to draw the pattern. And i think i did a fairly good job - although there’s still some areas that i didn’t figure yet (also, didn’t have the time to really practice the shells on top of the pattern.

So let’s ‘translate’ the thing:
[B]
Original Pattern[/B]
1st row-ch. 12. sc. back or ch. to end.
2nd Row-14 ch. 1 t.
3rd Row-4 ch. 1 sc. 4 ch. 1 sc. 4 ch. 1 sc. 4 ch. 1 sc.
4th Row-Same as 3rd row.
5th Row-Same as 3rd row with 3 p.
6th Row-14 ch. sc. back on 12 repeat until lace is desired length, finish each edge with half rings of 6 ch. 3 ch. catch back on sc. sc. back on 3 ch. 4 sc. ( 1 ch. 1 t. for 6 t.) catch at end where thread is fastened, tu. 1 sc. 1 t. 1 sc. and each s. back. Begin next half ring

[B]‘Translated’ pattern[/B]

1st row - ch 12, [COLOR=“Red”]sc from the 2nd ch from hook till every stitch back.
[/COLOR]
2nd row - ch 14, [COLOR=“Red”]tr on the ch11 sc[/COLOR]

3rd row - ch 4, skip 1 ch of the 2nd row, sc on the next ch - do it 4 times.
4th - same as 3rd.

5th - i still have doubts on this row . Basically, you do the same thing as the 3rd, but you add 3 picots - i’m unsure if you do the ch4, after do the picots on the sc (makes sense, since they’re only 3) and ‘hold’ them on the same sc before beginning the next 4ch or if you continue doing the ch4 after the picot (without ‘holding’ it directly). Either way, it works well.

6th - NOW IS THE CATCH - LOL - ch14 and you join it with a sc at the tr of the 2nd row and BEHIND the clam you did! It’ll make a ‘line’ that will hold the ribbon on its place!

To continue the pattern, repeat - but i’m unsure now if it’s from the 1st row or from the 2nd! It’ll make the place where to put the ribbon. And you’ll work the next rows ‘behind’ each other.

When i make the shells on top of the project i’ll post it to you!

And if you want it, you can tell the world it was me (Lia Matos) that did this ‘translation’ (well most of it) . I’m SO HAPPY!

ETA : i found on another website another translation , and added her notes on mine (it’s a girl on another forum - Crochetville.com - her nickname is darski). I highlited on red what i changed based on her observations.

#2

whoa- that’s really interesting! that original pattern assumes you know exactly how to make it. I find vintage patterns are very sparse on details that we take for granted. Thanks for the translation! it is a pretty pattern…

#3

Those are so beautiful! Wouldn’t they make a lovely gift? Thank you so much for the translation! I wonder if some of the vintage patterns are so sparse because everyone learned a pattern from someone else, rather than all the written patterns we have today. My mother crocheted so many beautiful thread bedspreads and tablecloths, but she said she was never able to read a pattern. (She was born in 1917, so I imagine she and her family were all vintage crocheters.)

#4

oh that is such a beautiful pattern. i so want to learn to crochet just so i can make this.

i will learn after the new year i think, can go on the ever growing list hehe
susi

#5

I’m doing them to give as a present to my boyfriend. I’m doing a set of linen placemats, handkerchiefs and coasters with dotted edgings - pattern from ‘The Home Art Crochet Book’ , available at: http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/ … Something very old-lady like, :rofl:

There are instructions that, even though are brief , are understandable. Others, you have to put a lot of thought and test on before doing a whole piece.

I’m gonna see if this afternoon i figure how to do the shells