Past and Present Bedspread Pattern #670

This design delves into the mellow Colonial past to endow modern rooms of old fashioned charm with the authentic zigzag popcorn pattern.

MATERIALS: J. & P. Coats Bedspread Cotton, White or Ecru, 25 balls for single size spread, about 72 x 108 inches; 31 balls for double size spread, about 89 x 108 inches.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 5.

GAUGE: 9 d c make 1 inch; 3 rows make 1 inch.

FIRST STRIP … Starting at one side, ch 688 (9 ch sts to 1 inch) for single size, or ch 884 for double size. 1st row: D c in 4th and 5th chains from hook, leaving the last loop of each d c on hook; thread over and draw through all loops on hook (a decrease); d c in next 2 ch, leaving the last loop of each d c on hook; thread over and draw through all loops on hook (another decrease); d c in next 44 ch, ch 4, d c in next 47 ch. * Skip 4 ch, d c in next 47 ch, ch 4, d c in next 47 ch. Repeat from * across, ending with d c in 45 ch (d c in next 2 ch, leaving the last loop of each d c on hook; thread over and draw through all loops on hook) twice—2 d c decreased. Fasten off. Hereafter pick up only the back loop of each st throughout spread. 2nd row: Attach thread to 3rd st of turning ch at beginning of previous row, ch 3, (make a d c in each of next 2 sts, leaving the last loop of each d c on hook; thread over and draw through all loops on hook) twice. * Pc st in next st—to make a pc st, ch 1, make 5 d c in st, remove hook, insert hook back in ch-1 and draw dropped loop through. ** D c in next 3 d c. Repeat from * until 11 pc sts are made. D c in next d c, d c in next 2 ch, ch 4, d c in next 2 ch, d c in next d c; (pc st in next d c, d c in next 3 d c) 11 times; skip 4 d c. Repeat from ** across, decreasing 2 d c at end of row as before. Fasten off. 3rd row: Attach thread to 3rd st of ch-3 at beginning of previous row, ch 3, dec. 2 sts as before, d c in next 44 sts, ch 4, d c in next 47 sts, * skip 4 sts, d c in next 47 sts, ch 4, d c in next 47 sts. Repeat from * across, decreasing 2 sts at end of row as before. Fasten off. Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately until piece measures 21 inches, ending with a pc-st row. This completes one strip. Make 3 more strips like this and sew each strip to previous one with neat over-and-over stitches on wrong side (if desired, bedspread may be made in one piece by continuing to work first strip until piece measures 84 inches. Then follow directions for "FILL-IN BETWEEN SCALLOPS" and "BORDER").

   Now make another strip, ending with a d c-row. Fasten off. Attach thread to 3rd st of ch-3 of previous row, ch 3, dec. 2 sts as before, d c in each st across to within 4 sts of ch-4, dec. 2 sts. Fasten off. Next row: Attach thread to 3rd st of ch-3 of previous row, ch 3, dec. 2 sts; (pc st in next st, d c in next 3 sts) 9 times; pc st in next st, d c in next 2 sts, dec. 2 sts. Fasten off. Alternate the last 2 rows, always decreasing 2 sts at both ends of each row, until piece graduates into a point (2 pc sts less in each pc-st row).

FILL-IN BETWEEN SCALLOPS … 1st row: Skip the ch-4 of point, attach thread to 1st d c, ch 3, dec. 3 sts, d c in next 2 d c; (pc st in next d c, d c in next 3 d c) 9 times, skip 4 sts; (d c in next 3 d c, pc st in next d c) 9 times; d c in next 2 d c, dec. 3 sts. Fasten off. 2nd row: Attach thread to ch-3 of previous row, ch 3, dec. 3 sts, d c in each st to within center 4 d c, skip these 4 d c, d c in each st to within last 6 sts, dec. 3 sts and fasten off. Continue in this manner until 2 pc sts remain in the last pc-st row. Next row: Repeat 2nd row. Following row: Attach thread to ch-3 of previous row, ch 3, dec. 2 sts, d c in next st, skip 4 sts, d c in next st, dec. 2 sts. Ch 1, turn. Sl st in 1st st. Fasten off. Fill in all spaces between scallops in this manner (this is lower edge of spread).

BORDER … 1st row: Attach thread to 1st st of one side, ch 3, d c in next 2 sts, * pc st in next st, d c in next 3 sts. Repeat from * across. Fasten off. 2nd row: Attach thread to 3rd st of ch-3 of previous row and make d c in each st across. Fasten off. Alternate these 2 rows until border measures 6 inches, ending with a pc-st row. Work other border in same way.