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Pre 1930 Stitch Instructions

These instructions are taken from J & P Coats, 1916

1. Chain Stitch (ch): Is the foundation of all crochet work. Begin by twisting the thread around the needle once, to form a loop, then * throw the thread around the needle and draw through the loop. This forms one chain and is repeated from * for the count or length desired.
2. Slip Stitch (sl st): Is the most frequently used to join rows, or to skip invisibly from one part of the work to another. Having one loop on the needle, insert the needle in the stitch directed, draw the working thread through this stitch and the loop on the needle with one motion, thus making a flat, close stitch.
3. Single Stitch (s st): Having one loop on the needle, insert the needle in the stitch directed, draw the working thread through this stitch, making two on the needle, then draw the working thread through these two loops.
4. Treble Crochet (tr): Having one loop on the needle, throw thread around the needle, insert the needle in the stitch directed, draw working thread through this stitch, making three loops on needle, draw working thread through two loops and then through the remaining two loops. Three chains equal one treble in measure and in count.
5. Double Treble Crochet (d tr): Is made similarly to the treble, the difference being that the thread is thrown around the needle twice and the loops are worked off two at a time for three repeats.
6. Triple Treble Crochet (tr tr): has the thread thrown around the needle three times and the loops are worked off two at a time for four repeats.
7. Half Treble Crochet (h tr): Is sometimes called "group stitch". Having a loop on the needle, throw thread over, insert needle in stitch directed, draw working thread through, draw through two loops, leaving two loops on needle, * thread over, needle in next stitch, draw thread through, draw through two loops, leaving four loops on needle, then draw thread through all four loops.
8. Half Double Treble (h d tr): Is made in the same manner, leaving the last operation of each double treble until the required number have been made and then taking off all the stitches on once.
9. Picots (p): Are usually made by a chain of three or five, then a slip stitch in the first chain. When there is a variation of the above, it is specifically given in the directions.
10. Spaces (sp): Are the open meshes of filet crochet. To form a space, make one treble, then chain two, skip two stitches of previous row and make another treble. This should result in a perfect square but perfection requires persistent practice as well as the correct sizes of needle and thread. For a space at the beginning of a row, chain five, which allows three for the treble on the edge, and two for the usual chain, two at top of space.
11. Blocks (bl): Are formed by working trebles in adjoining stitches for the required number. Where blocks are consecutive there are four trebles in the first block and three trebles in each following block. Therefore, to find the number of trebles in a row of blocks, multiply the number of blocks by three and add one; in two blocks there are seven trebles, in three blocks, ten trebles, etc.
12. Lacet Stitch: Make a foundation chain. 1ST Row: Allow three chains for edge treble, two for two chains and two more for two skipped stitches, work a single stitch in the next chain, * ch 2, skip 2, tr in next, ch 2, sk 1, s st in next. Repeat from * for row.
2d Row: Ch 3 for edge tr, ch 5 more, then tr in tr. * ch 5, tr in tr. Repeat from * for row. Repeat these two rows for the pattern.
13. Knot Stitch (k st): Variously known as Hail Stone or True Lovers Knot, is made thus: Having one loop on the needle, draw it out to the length of 3 ch, thread over the needle and draw through, making an ordinary chain stitch, drawn out to three times its normal length. Then put the needle under that one of the 3 threads of the long loop which seems to lie by itself, draw the thread through and make a single stitch. This is the knot stitch. It is usually worked by making two, then fastening to the previous row by a single stitch unless the row was knot stitch, in which case, work one single stitch each side of the single stitch between the two long loops or knot stitches.
14. Lattice Stitch (lat st): Is combination of single knot stitches and trebles. Work a chain, then make one knot stitch, allow three chains for the first treble, and three for the skipped stitches, work a tr in next ch, * one knot stitch, sk 3 ch, 1 tr. Repeat for length desired. This row is repeated for the pattern, working the tr in tr, each time, bringing the knot stitches over each other.
15. Shell (sh): May be worked with tr, d tr, or longer stitches. They are made up of a given number of stitches on each half, separated by a given number of chain stitches. When worked on a foundation chain, a given number of stitches are skipped. When worked over another row of shells, each one is placed in the chain between the halves of the previous shell, or between two shells.

These instructions are taken from Handbook of Needlecraft, 1915.

Chain. Series of stitches or loops, each drawn with the hook through the stitch preceding.
Slip-stitch. Drop the stitch on the hook, take tip the one it is desired to join, and draw the dropped stitch through. This is used mainly as it fastening or joining stitch where close work is wanted, and sometimes in working along the edge of a row.
Single Crochet. Having a stitch on the needle (as will be understood in the following descriptions), take up the thread and draw through work and stitch on the needle at same time. This is also called slip-stitch and close-chain stitch.
Double Crochet. Put hook through work, take up thread and draw through, making 2 stitches on needle, then take up thread and draw through both stitches. Worked in back part of preceding row, this is frequently called "slipper-stitch," and is very useful for plain, solid work.
Treble Crochet. Put thread over needle as if to make a chain-stitch insert hook in work and draw thread through, making 3 stitches on needle; (take up thread and draw through 2) twice. Many prefer to make what is called a "long treble" drawing first through 1 stitch, then through 2 stitches twice, as directed.
Short Treble. Like treble crochet, except that after the thread is drawn through the work, making 3 stitches on the hook, the thread is drawn through all at once, instead of through 2 stitches twice. Short treble is sometimes called half treble, and in length is between the double and treble stitch.
Double Treble. Thread over twice before insertion of hook in work; draw thread through, making 4 stitches on needle and work off 2 at a time.
Triple Treble. Thread over 3 times and proceed as directed for double treble. Quadruple treble is the same, putting thread over 4 times before insertion of hook in work. These stitches are seldom used in lacemaking save to connect some part of the pattern and bring the thread again to the top. The corresponding chains are: for a double make 1 chain; short treble, 2 chain; treble, 3 chain; double treble, 4 chain, and so on, adding one chain for each "draw" of the treble. In commencing a row a chain is made to correspond with the stitch used.
Shell. Several trebles worked in the same stitch separated in the center by 1, 2 or 3 chain. The shell is usually described in a pattern.
Picot. Make 3, 4, 5, or more stitches, according to size of picot required, and form a loop by joining closely to 1st stitch of chain, or in top of stitch from which the chain starts, according to instructions, which you are following.
Cross Treble Stitch. This stitch is frequently used as heading for lace, or in combination with other stitches as beading to form spaces for ribbon, etc., and is very pretty when neatly done: * Over twice as for double treble, hook in next stitch, take up thread and draw through, over and draw through 2 stitches, over, miss 2 stitches of foundation, insert hook in next, take up thread and draw through, over and draw through 2 stitches at a time until you have worked off all the stitches, chain 2, make a treble in the exact center of the cross-treble, and repeat.
Knot-Stitch. Draw out the loop or stitch on needle 1\4 or 1\2 inch, according to length of "knot-stitch" required: take up thread and draw through this loop, insert hook under thread just drawn through, between it and the loop, take up thread and draw through, take up again and draw through the 2 stitches on the needle. You simply make a double-crochet stitch in the tip of the loop drawn out.
Roll-Stitch. Wind the thread around the needle as many times as called for by the directions worked from, 8, 10, 12 or 20, as the case may be, insert hook in work, draw thread through, then take up thread as if for a stitch, and draw it carefully through the coil of "overs," holding the latter between thumb and finger of left hand to facilitate the passage of the hook, take thread up again and draw through the stitch on needle. Completed, the roll is straight, with a string of its own length on the left side. A slender needle tapering to the hook should be used.
Star-Stitch. Insert hook in next stitch of chain from needle, take up wool and draw through, repeat until you have 5 loops on the needle, take up thread and draw through all at once, and make 1 chain to close the star. For 2d and succeeding stars count stitch on needle as 1st, take 2d through the eye of last star made (under the 1 chain), 3d under back part of last, perpendicular, loop of preceding star, and 4th and 5th in next 2 stitches of chain. Close as before and repeat. The 6-loop star-stitch is made in same way, taking up 5 instead or 4 loops at beginning, and taking the 4th stitch or 2d and following stars in the same stitch of chain through which last loop of preceding star was made, then 5th and 6th loops on the chain.

These instructions are taken from an Emma Farmes Lingerie Book, 1907.

1. Chain (ch.): Catch thread with hook, making a slip knot. Draw the thread thro this loop. Repeat.
2. Single Slip Stitch (s.sl.st.): Form chains, put hook in last chain and draw thread thro. Pull loop just made thro first loop.
3. Slip Stitch (sl.st.): Form chains, put hook in last chain and draw thread thro. Put thread over the hook and draw thro both stitches.
4. Single Crochet (s.c.): Form ch. (this is done in ALL stitches) with thread once around hook, bring into ch., and pull loop through. Twist thread around hook again and pull thro the three loops at one time.
5. Picot (p.): sk (skip) 3 chs. and make a sl. st., Ch 4 and catch back into first ch. thread over hook once, draw thro both loops. Make 3 or 4 sl. st. or number desired, between picots and continue to desired length.
6. Double Crochet (d.c.): With a st. (stitch) on the hook, and thread over the hook, put hook thro the work, draw thro making 3 sts. on the hook, with thread over draw thro 2 sts., with thread over draw thro last 2 stitches.
6a. The Treble is same with two over hook to start.
7. Double Treble (d.t.): With a st. on the hook, and thread over the hook THREE times draw thro, making 4 on the hook, then draw thro 2, again thro 2, and again thro remaining two.
8. Triple Treble (t.t.): Same with four over hook to start, and draw thro 2 five times.
9. Puff Stitch (pf.st.): Work 5 dc. over an open mesh (see No. 19), pull loop of the last dc. thro first one, to form puff, then 1 dc. over 1 dc. in row below, giving you 7 dc. in cluster.
10. Lacet (lac.): Ch. to length, 2 dc. in 9th st. from hook - ch 3, sk.2, 1 sl. st. in next ch. Sk. 2, 1 dc in next ch. Repeat.
11. "X" Stitch (x. st.) or the TREBLE CROSS STITCH: Form chain, wind thread over hook twice (on the turn sk. 8 chs.) draw thread thro, making 4 st. on the hook, draw thro 2, keep 2 on the hook, skip 2 chs., then 1 dc. in next work off the 2 st. on hook, add 2 chs, 1 dc. in middle of dc. just made., ch 2, and repeat - thread over hook twice.
12. Petal Stitch (pt.st.): From ch. work 3 dc. in chs. having last loop of each on hook, draw a loop thro the three on hook, and make 5 chs.
13. Loop (l.): Form chain, allow 12 chs. for first loop, catch with sl. st. then chain 8 and catch with sl. st. in 4th ch.
14. Triangle Stitch (tri.st.): From chain, 1 dc., 3 ch, and 1 dc. in one stitch of chain below (skip 6 ch. on first turn).
15. Shell Stitch (sh.): 5 dc. into one chain. Repeat, sk. 3 chs.
16. Double Treble Cross Stitch (d.t.x.st.): Form chain. With thread over hook THREE times take 1 dc. keep loop on hook, 1 dc. in same stitch, still on hook sk. 3, take 2 dc. in 1 stitch, still on hook, pull thro the last 2 dc. then thro the the next 2 loops still on hook, then thro 2 more on hook, wind thread over hook twice, go under the upper loose thread between the 4 dc. draw thro and work off 2 loops, four times.
17. Mile A Minute Lace: Chain 12, 1 dc. in 7th st. from hook. Ch. 2, 1 dc. in same st. Ch. 3, 1 dc. in next st. ch. 2, 1 dc. in same, ch. 6 turn, then 4 times, 1 dc. with 2 ch. between each over 3 ch., ch 6, turn.
18. Knot Stitch (kn.st) or the Lovers Knot: Form chain. Make a stitch, draw out the loop on hook one quarter to one third inch. Make a ch., that is take up thread and draw through this loop to fasten. Then take up thread and draw with another long loop thro stitch on hook. Fasten again with one stitch and with another one in long chain, skip 5. Take one st on hook, long loop, fasten, then 2 st. between the two doubles, on knots in last row. Make 2 Knot st.. and repeat.
19. Open Mesh (o.m.): Form ch. on the turn take 1 dc. in 6th st. from hook. Then ch. 2, and a dc. in 3rd. ch below. Repeating.
19A. Solid Mesh (s.m.): 4 treble crochets in 4 chains. Where they alternate - open and solid meshes, note there are only 2 chains untouched. When two solid meshes adjoin, use 7 t.c. the center one counting for each side of it. Three together, use 10 t.c.; adjoining meshes always adding only 3.
20. A Simple Edging for the beginner. 1st Row: 1 dc. in ch. 2nd Row: ch. 5, 1 sl. st., skip 3. 3rd Row: 2 sl. st. 1 p:, 2 sl. st: in loop:

These instructions are taken from Priscilla Crochet Book, 1913.

EXPLANATION OF STITCHES: Chain (ch): Make a slip knot on needle, draw thread through this loop. Again draw thread through this second loop and continue till ch is of length required.
Slip Stitch (sl st): Put hook through work at st indicated in directions; draw thread through work and loop on needle at same time.
Double (d): Put hook through work, thread over hook and draw through, making two loops on needle; thread over again and draw through both loops.
Half Treble (h t): Thread over needle, hook through work, thread over and draw through, giving three sts on needle, thread over and draw through the three sts at once.
Treble (t): Thread over the needle, hook through work, thread over and draw through, giving three sts on needle; thread over, draw through two, over again and draw through remaining two.
Double Treble (d t): Thread over twice, hook through work, thread over and draw through, giving four sts on needle, * thread over and draw through two; repeat from * twice.
Long Treble (l t): Thread over three times, hook through work, thread over and draw through, giving five sts on needle, thread over and work all off by twos.
Picot (p): A p is formed on a ch by joining the last four sts (or any given number) in a ring by working a d in the fourth st, counting from the hook. In making p on d around the edge of motifs, the d is worked in the top of the last d.

These instructions are taken from Anne Orr, 1939.

j-stands for join sk-stands for skip r-stands for ring st-stands for stitch



1. Chain Stitch (ch)-Is the foundation of all crochet work. Begin by twisting the thread around the needle once, to form a loop, then * throw the thread around the needle and draw through the loop. This forms one chain and is repeated from * for the count or length desired.
2. Slip Stitch (sl st)-Is most frequently used to join rows, or to slip invisibly from one part of the work to another. Having one loop on the needle insert the needle in the stitch directed, draw the working thread through this stitch and the loop on the needle with one motion, thus making a flat, close stitch. Also abbreviated sl.
3. Single Stitch (s st)-Having one loop on the needle, insert the needle in the stitch directed, draw the working thread through this stitch, making two on the needle, then draw the working thread through these two loops. Also called sc.
4. Treble Crochet (tr)-Having one loop on the needle, throw thread around the needle, insert the needle in the stitch directed, draw working thread through this stitch, making three loops on needle, draw working thread through two loops and then through the remaining two loops. Three chains equal one treble in measure and in count.
5. Double Treble Crochet (d tr)-Is made similarly to the treble, the difference being that the thread is thrown around the needle twice and the loops are worked off two at a time for three repeats.
6. Triple Treble Crochet (tr tr)-Has the thread thrown around the needle three times and the loops are worked off two at a time for four repeats.
7. Half Treble Crochet (h tr)-Is sometimes called "group stitch." Having a loop on the needle, throw thread over, insert needle in stitch directed, draw working thread through, draw through two loops, leaving two loops on needle, * thread over, needle in next stitch, draw thread through, draw through two loops, leaving three loops on needle, repeat from *, leaving four loops on needle, then draw thread through all four loops.
8. Half Double Treble (h d tr) -is made in the same manner, leaving the last operation of each double treble until the required number has been made and then taking off all the stitches at once. Also called cluster.
9. Picots (p)-Are usually made by a chain of three or five, then a slip stitch in the first chain. When there is a variation of the above, it is specifically given in the directions.
10. Spaces (sp)-Are the open meshes of filet crochet. To form a space, make one treble, then chain two, skip two stitches of previous row and make another treble. This should result in a perfect square, but perfection requires persistent practice as well as the correct sizes of needle and thread. For a space at the beginning of a row, chain five, which allows three for the treble on the edge and two for the usual chain two at top of space.
11. Blocks (bl)-Are formed by working trebles in adjoining stitches for the required number. Where blocks are consecutive, there are four trebles in the first block and three trebles in each following block. Therefore, to find the number of trebles in a row of blocks, multiply the number of blocks by three and add one; in two blocks there are seven three blocks, ten trebles, etc.
12. Clones Knot-Make a ch as directed, thread over, then pass hook downward under the ch and catch up a loop, bring it forward and up and thread over again as if for a tr. Continue to catch up loops from over and under the ch the number of times specified - usually for fine thread about 16 loops. Draw threads through all loops on needle at once, thread over and draw through loop on needle, and finally, make a s st around ch at base of knot drawing tightly. Make the knot evenly and rather loosely. If coarse thread is used, then fewer loops are needed on the hook, and if finer thread, then 20 loops may be used.
13. Knot Stitch (k st)-Variously known as Hail Stone or True Lovers Knot is made thus: Having one loop on the needle, draw it out to the length Of 3 chs, thread over the needle and draw through, making an ordinary chain stitch, drawn out to three times its normal length. Then put the needle under that one of the 3 threads of the long loop which seems to lie by itself, draw the thread through, and make a single stitch. This is the knot stitch. It is usually worked by making two, then fastening to the previous row by a single stitch unless the row was knot stitch, in which case, work one single stitch each side of the single stitch between the two long loops or knot stitches.