Baroque Centerpiece Pattern #7116

aterials: Choose one of the following threads: Clark's O.N.T. Mercerized Crochet, size 30, 4 balls of Yellow and 6 balls of Seal Brown. J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, size 30, 3 balls of Yellow and 4 balls of Seal Brown. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 12. When completed, centerpiece measures about 25 x15 inches. Gauge: 6 squares (18 dc) make linch; 6 rows make 1 inch.

Starting at "A", with Seal Brown ch 23, turn. Ist row: Dcin Ath ch from hook, dcineachch across (21dcinrow, counting turning ch-3 as1dc).

2nd row: Chll, turn. Dcin Ath ch from hook, 7 more dc on foundation chain just made, dcineachdc of previous row; * thread over hook, insert hook at base of dc just made and draw loop through, thread over and draw through one loop, thread over and draw through 2 loops, thread over and draw through remaining 2 loops (1d c added). Repeat from * until 9 dcinall have been added.

3rd row: Ch8,dcin4th ch from hook, 4 more dc on foundation chain just made, dcineachdc of previous row; then add 6 more dc at end, as before.

4th row: Ch5, turn. Dc in 4th ch from hook, dcinnext2ch,dcindc. Hereafter continue following chart (each individual square indicates 3 dc) until 6 rows in all have been completed.

7th row: Ch5, turn and add 3 dc. Then, holding Yellow along top of previous row (thus concealing Yellow), d cineachdc until 52 dcinall are made (including 3 dc added at beginning of row). Thread over, insert hook in next dc and draw loop through, thread over and draw through 2 loops, drop Seal Brown, pick up Yellow and draw through remaining 2 loops ($3 Seal Brown dc made). With Yellow, make 9 dc, carrying Seal Brown concealed indc's and completing last dc with Seal Brown, as before. Complete row with 33 Seal Brown dc, following chart (always being sure to carry Yellow as far as necessary to be picked up on following row).

8th row: Add 3dcas before, dcineach of 30 dc, completing last dc with Yellow (and taking care not to pull Yellow too tightly), 15 Yellow d c (concealing both Seal Brown and carried Yellow for first 3 dc, and only Seal

Brown for remaining 12 dc), drop Yellow at front (wrong side), 35 Seal Brown dc.

9th and 10th rows: Follow chart, increasing at ends of rows as before, and being sure to drop Yellow on wrong side only.

11th row: Follow chart through 21 Yellow dc, carry Yellow concealed in next 15 Seal Brown dc, then drop Yellow on wrong side and continue, following chart.

12th row: 24 Seal Browndc (completing last dc with Yellow), 3 Yellow dc, 12 Seal Brown dc, 21 Yellowdc, 12 Seal Browndc, 3 Yellowdc, drop Yellow on wrong side and complete row, following chart.

Hereafter follow chart to within Ist decrease row, concealing unused color as before, and being sure to carry Yellow as far as necessary, to be picked up on following row. To decrease at beginning and end of next row, sl st to 4thdc, ch 3 (to count as dc) and follow chart across row, omitting last 3dc. Ch 3, turn, and complete centerpiece following chart. (Chart shows one half of centerpiece. When top row of chart has been completed, reverse design by working back to Ist row, but do not repeat top row.) Break off.

This free pattern originally published in Spool Cotton #118, Doilies, Luncheon Sets and Table Runners Dover Needlework, Crocheting Doilies