Victoria Regina Bedspread Pattern #683

Reminiscent of the days when Victoria was Queen is this enchanting revival  — the "petticoat" muslin spread with its flower border of inserted crochet.

MATERIALS: J. & P. Coats Big Ball Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, size 30, 12 balls of Green for background and 6 balls of another color for flowers. If desired, use only White or Ecru, 13 balls.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 10 or 11.
12¼ yds. of dotted Swiss, 36 inches wide; or 8½ yds. of organdie or muslin, 44 inches wide.

GAUGE: 6 sps make 1 inch; 6 rows make 1 inch.

INSERTION … Starting at bottom of chart, with Green ch 138 (18 ch sts to 1 inch). 1st row: D c in 4th ch from hook, d c in next 2 ch; (ch 2, skip 2 ch, d c in next ch) 5 times—5 sps made. D c in next 9 ch—3 bls made; make 12 sps, 2 bls, 21 sps, 1 bl. Ch 3, turn. 2nd row: Skip 1st d c, d c in next 3 d c—bl over bl; ch 2, d c in next d c—sp over sp; 11 more sps, ch 2; drop Green, attach 2nd color; holding Green at top of previous row and working over it to conceal it, make d c in next d c; (d c in next 2 ch, d c in next d c) 5 times, leaving the last 2 loops of last d c on hook. Drop 2nd color, pick up Green and draw through the 2 loops. Continuing with Green, make 2 sps, 3 bls, 10 sps, 5 bls, 5 sps, 1 bl. Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: With Green make 1 bl, 6 sps, 5 bls, 10 sps, 1 bl, ch 2. Drop Green, pick up 2nd color; holding Green at top of previous row to conceal it, make 1 sp, d c in next 2 ch, d c in next d c, d c in next 2 ch, d c in next d c, taking care to insert hook under the 2nd-color thread in order to conceal the carried strand. Continue to make d c over d c until 7 bls are made; make 2 more bls, leaving the last 2 loops of last d c on hook. Drop 2nd color, pick up Green and draw through the 2 loops on hook; make 11 Green sps, 1 bl. Ch 3, turn. 4th row: 1 bl, 9 sps, ch 2; drop Green, pick up 2nd color and make d c in next d c. Holding Green at top of previous row and working over it, make 11 bls, leaving the last 2 loops of last d c on hook. Drop 2nd color, pick up Green and draw through remaining 2 loops; make 2 Green sps, ch 2. Drop Green, attach another ball of 2nd color and, working over Green, make d c in next d c, 5 bls, leaving the last 2 loops on hook. Drop 2nd color, pick up Green and draw through 2 loops on hook; make 4 Green sps, 4 bls, 6 sps, 1 bl. Ch 3, turn. Starting at 5th row, follow chart to top (rose design is worked in 2nd color), always concealing unused color as before and carrying it only so far as necessary (never carry unused color over sps). When rose design is completed, fasten off 2nd color securely and continue to follow chart, working with Green only. Then repeat entire design 6 more times. Piece should measure 83½ inches. Fasten off. Make another piece like this. Then make another piece 42 inches long, but start this piece at the 37th row on chart (instead of 1st row); then repeat entire design for required length, ending to correspond with beginning.

   For top of spread, cut a piece of material 28 x 84½ inches. Make a ½-inch hem around all edges. With neat over-and-over stitches, sew a long strip of lace to each long edge. Sew short strip of lace to short edge (this is bottom of spread). Cut 2 strips of material, each 7 x 98 inches, and make a ½-inch hem along 1 short and 2 long edges. Placing unfinished side of strip at bottom, sew a strip neatly to each long edge of lace. Cut another strip 7 x 55 inches; hem both long edges and sew to bottom of spread, mitering corners to fit corners of lace. Cut 2 strips of material, 20 x 135 inches; make a 1-inch hem along 1 long edge and a ¼-inch hem along 2 short edges. Sew the unfinished long edge to long side of spread, easing in the extra fullness evenly to 97 inches. Finish other long side in the same way. Cut another piece of material, 20 x 82 inches; make a 1-inch hem along one long edge and a 14-inch hem along 2 short edges. Sew the unfinished long edge to bottom of spread, easing in the extra fullness evenly to 54 inches.