Vintage Crochet Patterns – How to Read Them
Do you have a vintage crochet pattern you’d like to try but don’t know how to read it or know what thread to use. I’ve found a couple of sources that might help with reading vintage crochet patterns and identifying threads.
I’ve got to say, I was surprised there wasn’t more information online about this, since there are so many public domain vintage crochet patterns available. I’ll add more links as I find them and please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section below.
Deciphering Old Patterns
This site — Crochet Spot has a lot of information on crocheting and welcomes questions about deciphering old patterns. Here’s a post on the same site called How to Read Crochet Patterns with Basic Crochet Abbreviations and some examples. Plus she has an amazing crochet archive of crochet patterns and information going all the way back to 2009.
Abbreviations You Don’t Recognize
Sometimes you’ll run into a vintage abbreviation you don’t recognize, the Roving Crafters blog has a post on Vintage Crochet Terms Translated.
Here is the complete Encyclopedia of Needlework by Terese de Dillmont published in 1884 online. This is a classic needlework reference book even for today. I’ve linked to Chapter 9 on Crochet Work.
I’ve added this link because of the many crochet stitches presented and how to do them, which could give some insight into how vintage patterns were written. Also there’s a pattern for a Crochet Star that has some similarities to the Lace Valentine motif crochet pattern post on my blog.
There’s Always a YouTube Video
I found an interesting YouTube video from Long Thread Media, Translating Vintage Crochet Patterns with Karen Brock. Karen is managing editor of PieceWork magazine.
The video does a good job of explaining how to translate the terminology of yarn, hook sizes, and basic crochet stitches in vintage crochet patterns.
Links for Information on Discontinued Yarns and Threads
YarnSub is run by Wendy Peterson who is a life long knitter. I found this site easy to use. First of all, there is a lot of information about the discontinued yarn which helps in finding a substitute. All you have to do is type in the search box the name of the discontinued yarn and a multitude of substitutes comes up. Each substitute match is rated as a percentage. Wendy also has a newsletter, Facebook page and Twitter account.
This link on Vashti’s Crochet Pattern Companion discusses Cotton Crochet Sizes and Equivalents. Especially check out the comments on this post. Included are good questions and answers about vintage crochet pattern threads.
Another great discussion of Old Thread Ball Sizes is on the Crochetville website.
Purple Kitty has a Discontinued Yarn Chart. The chart doesn’t include The American Thread Company cotton, but it’s still a great reference for vintage projects. Some of the name brands are Bear, Brunswick, Columbia Minerva, Coats and Clark’s, Spinnerin and more.
You’ll find another chart that includes Historical Needle Size vs Modern Size, Expected Gauge, Yarn Names and Substitutes. There is also a good Q&A on the String-Or-Nothing website.
Vintage Crochet Pattern Book Pages About Thread
Pulling information about threads from vintage crochet pattern books is a good way to help find a suitable substitute for discontinued threads.
American Thread Company Mercerized Cottons
American Thread Company
Puritan Crochet Cotton
Puritan Star Spangled Crochet Cotton
J&P Coats and Clark’s ONT
Lily Mills Crochet Cotton
Lily Mills Rug Yarn
Gem Crochet Cotton
Kentucky Yarns
Botany Brand No-Dye Lot Yarns
Included in a Virginia Snow Afghans booklet:
Information on Collingbourne’s All Wool 4 Fold Germantown Zephyr and Afghan-I-Tex Yarn, Lustrous Wool Rayon. In addition, a numbered yarn color chart.
Brunswick Mills
Thule Garn
Brunswick Mills Interchangeable Yarn Chart
Bear Brand
Hey there. Got a pattern that starts like this and I really don’t get it. I’ve searched and searched…. I don’t get it…..
R 3 d, 4 p sep by 3 d, 3 d, cl r.
You think that means start with a magic circle? Like that’s literally the first step, and I’m smart.. but I’m not that smart.
I’m not sure….maybe ask in a crochet group on Facebook. The Crochet Spot has an ask a question page, plus lots of info on reading crochet patterns. Crochetville also has a forum for crochet help. If it’s a vintage pattern, it can be hard to follow.
Thanks!
Debra
This is instruction for tatting, not crochet. Ring 3ds, 4 picots separated by 3 ds, 3 ds, close ring.
*ds is for double stitches
So you will have a ring with 3 ds, picot, 3ds, picot, 3ds, picot, 3ds, picot, 3ds then close the ring.
Do you know what the abbreviation” l.tr.” in a vintage pattern means ? Is this the same as the vintage term “long stitch”?
I’m not exactly sure but on this Vintage Crochet Abbreviations page on Free Vintage Crochet it says it’s a “long treble crochet (thread over hook 4 times)”
Hope that helps.
Debra
Long treble from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book 1. 1912. Means thread over twice, hook through work, thread over, draw through, giving four stitches on needle. Thread over draw through two, thread over draw through two.
I have been crocheting for over 40 yrs, mostly granny square afghans & baby blankets. I have finished a vintage jacket & wish to do a chunky coat. I have the pattern. My difficulty is that there seems to be insufficient info (or I am unable to translate ) on making the body of the coat. The pattern is in a set of books called: Stitch by Stitch by Torstar Books Inc. 1986. ISBN O-920269-04-4. I found the exact picture of the coat on Etsy which offers a pattern for sale but I am unsure that it isn’t just the same pattern I already have from the original book. What I am searching for is assistance in translating the pattern directions which appear incomplete. Is this a service you could do ?
Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. Just saw your comment. No I don’t offer a service for that. My best suggestion would be to post the question on a crochet blog forum such as Crochet Spot or Crochetville that has a forum where you can ask questions. Once your question is posted, other crocheter’s will answer. You may find someone familiar with the pattern you’re using.
This is probably different than the one you’re working on but she has a video tutorial to go with it. It’s a large granny square cardigan. https://www.fiberfluxblog.com/2021/10/art-class-cardi-free-crochet-pattern.html
Also I’d do a search on “granny square cardigan pattern” — many free patterns and tutorials came up that may help.
Thanks for your comment.
Debra
Size 16
1 Pr. No. 3 Steel Needles
Scale: 8 sts. to 1 inch; 10 rows to 1 inch
1 No. 2 Steel Crochet Hook
MINERVA MIRVENA
Nomad Brown No. 1825 … 12 Balls
I have been attempting to find a modern equivalent to the above yarn.
I am not even sure what type of yarn it is. The pattern is Century 2 Piece Mirvena Suit Pattern. I would like to recreate the skirt ( I love midi to maxis) but this has stumped me. I have trolled though every discontinued yarn chart I could find but was unable to find it by name or even its weight.
If perchance you know of this yarn and/or a site to guide me to just for the weight/texture to transition to I would greatly appreciate it. I am on Raverly as mamawitch666, have trolled the yarns there also without much to go on.
Thanking you in advance for your knowledgeable assistance!
I didn’t come up with anything either, but it looks like it was a yarn by Minerva alone before it was Columbia-Minerva. I found a couple vintage Minerva skeins and an ad for the Minerva yarn on sale on Ebay, but the photos weren’t clear enough to read. I assume it is probably 100% wool.
Have you checked out this chart of Minerva yarns — https://www.vintageknits.com/minervayarn.html I didn’t see this yarn on it but lots of info. The booklet may have an ad in it that would explain the make up of the yarn. I don’t have this particular booklet. A lot of mine are later, but I’ll keep an eye out. You may need to try to match the gauge with some different yarns you might like.
Sorry I can’t be of more help.
The Ravelry crochet/knitting website lists MINERVA MIRVENA as a light fingering yarn. I found the yarn information on this Ravelry page:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/century-2-piece-suit
Hi Debra, what a great blog post! I’l tell my newsletter readers about it in the next issue. And thank you for linking to one of mine.
Pardon me, a person in a boat, surrounded by ice.
Nothing comes to mind this evening. But it does sound a little familiar. I’ll check and reply again in the morning.
Thanks for the question.
Debra
Can you tell me anything about Thule Garn, Brunswick Worsted mill inc. The wrapper has a Eskimo in boat.
First things first. “Thule” means an island in the extreme North, a distant land and the original name of Iceland. The name “Thule Garn” was trademarked by Brunswick Mills in 1964.
I found one skein for sale on Ebay. The wrapper will give us some information. The skeins weigh 100 Grams. It’s 100% Wool (ULD). Sonderborg Garn, Sonderborg is a region of Southern Denmark. Garn is an old Norse word meaning, twisted fibers for weaving. The seller states this is a 4-Medium/Worsted yarn. The wrapper also states it’s waterproof.
Something else that may help is a chart I found in one of my vintage Brunswick pattern booklets. It is a Brunswick Interchangeable Yarns chart and Thulegarn is listed in Group E. One of the yarns you can interchange with is Sonderborg Pin Up. I saw several of these vintage skeins for sale while researching Sonderborg.
Hope this helps. I’ve also added this information to the Discontinued Yarns page on the blog.
Thanks for your question.
Debra
I’d like to see the pattern / tablecloth’s picture too if you please? What I have is incomplete made of Variety in squares and outlining crochet strips and worked in ecru. Thank you so much!
Hi, I don’t have a photo of the completed tablecloth of the crochet star on this page. Only the motif is displayed in the book. If it’s another pattern, please let me know and I’ll see if I have it.
Thanks!
I am looking for a crochet pattern or the name of the motif so I can make a tablecloth. I have a picture of the tablecloth. Hoping I can send to you and you will be able to help me. My Mom is 80 and wants to make one more tablecloth! Thanks so much
Sure, that would be fine. I’ll take a look and see what I can find.
Thank you so much. I’ve looked everywhere
You’re welcome.