Suitable for an Inset


"Suitable for an Inset in Linen or a Handkerchief Border" is a pattern found in  "The Home Art Crochet Book" (1912) edited by Flora Klickmann. The book is available freely at The Antique Pattern Library. The motif is found on page 102 of the book, under Section VIII. Oddments in Crochet.




I reproduce the original antique pattern here (above) which I find suitable for the modern crocheter. The pattern is amazingly elegant, succinct, and complex.  For the sample shown, I used crochet cotton thread size 8 and steel hook size 1.2mm. Smaller thread (size 40 cotton) and hook (perhaps .5mm-.75mm) are required by the original pattern.

Suitable for an Inset in Linen or a Handkerchief Border
UK crochet terminology

Use Arden's No. 40 Cotton.

Make 28 ch, 1 dc in 28th, 10 loops of 18 ch in the little ring, 9 up the side of the last one. Into each loop make 2 more loops of 18 ch each with 5 ch between each 2.

9 ch to top of last loop, catch with 1 dc in each loop, two and two, meeting them over the 5 ch. Make 10 ch between each time, so that there are 9 sp.

Fill each sp with 3 ordinary tr, 3 long tr, 5 ch, 3 long tr, 3 ordinary tr, 1 dc. When joined, lead down to the stem with ch from the last tr. Make a longer ch than the one there, dc in each ch till the other length is reached, then dc over the 2, catching in a ch now and then.




Here I have re-written the pattern to make a smaller, more compact motif using a larger hook and thread. With 1.2mm hook and cotton size 8 thread, the original pattern makes a motif 6.5" wide. The modified pattern makes a motif 4.5" wide.

Suitable for an Inset in Linen or a Handkerchief Border
UK crochet terminology

Use 1.2mm hook and cotton size 8. Finished motif measures 4.5" wide.

Ch 10, sl st in first ch to make a ring.

Row 1: *Ch 12, dc in ring; rep fr * to make 10 loops. Ch 6, turn.

Row 2: Dc in first loop, ch 10, dc in same loop; *ch 3, dc in next loop, ch 10, dc in same loop, ch 10, dc in same loop; rep fr * to the second to the last loop; ch 5, dc in last loop, ch 10, dc in same loop. Ch 5, turn.

Row 3: Dc in first loop, *ch 5, dc in each of next two loops, rep fr * leaving the last loop unworked; ch 5, dc in last loop, ch 1, turn.

Row 4: In each 5-ch sp make (dc, 3 tr, 2 long tr, 5 ch, 2 long tr, 3 tr, dc); dc in last dc. Do not turn, continue to side of motif as follows:

Ch 5, dc in base of Row 2. Ch 10, dc in base of Row 1; 10 dc in ring, turn, sl st in next 5 dc, ch 18 (to make stem), dc in second ch fr hook, dc in each ch towards ring, sl st in last 5 dc in ring. Fasten off.


Comments