Experience Level: Advanced

Note: For best results fasten off after each round and start each new round in a new place. However, if you wish to work the rounds continuously the alternative instructions on how to end the round (if any are needed) will get you into position to start the new round.

The linen had a narrow hem over which 1008 double crochet were worked as a base to work the edging on to. If you wish to do this you will need to make a swatch so you can work out the finished diameter of the linen circle required.

Alternatively you could make the entire edging on a base of 1008 chain and block it into a circle so you are certain of the exact diameter of the linen required. Then stitch the finished edging to the hemmed piece of linen around which you have worked 1008 double crochet.

Abbreviations (This pattern is written in British terminology, the US equivalent is given in parentheses.)

bcl	beginning cluster
ch	chain
cl	cluster
dc	double crochet (US single crochet)
ecl	ending cluster
dtr	double treble (US treble)
p	picot
sp	space
ss	slip stitch
st	stitch
tr	treble (US double crochet)
trtr	triple treble (US double treble)
yoh	yarn over hook

Special Stitches

Beginning Cluster: 1 dc, 3 ch, into the same sp work 2 dtr without working off the last 2 loops of each st, yoh and draw through all loops on hook.

Cluster: Into the same sp work 3 dtr without working off the last 2 loops of each st, yoh and draw through all loops on hook.

Ending Cluster: Into the same sp work 2 dtr without working off the last 2 loops of each st, yoh and draw through all loops on hook, 3 ch, 1 dc into the same space the 2 dtr were worked into.

Picot: 1 very tight ch, 3 more ch, 1dc into third ch from hook, 1 ch.

Materials

Thread and hook of your choice provided the stitches are dense and not too sloppy. I used Coats and Clark mercerised crochet cotton in size 60 and a 0.75 mm hook.

Size

My edging was 4 cm wide and made a circle 49 cm in diameter.

Instructions

Round 1: Onto a base of 1008 dc or 1008 chain (see General Notes above) work *1 tr, 2 ch, skip 2 sts. Repeat from * all around and join to first tr.

You should now have 336 meshes.

Round 2: Starting in any 2-ch sp *Bcl, 7 ch, skip two 2-ch sps, 1 dc in next 2-ch sp, 9 ch, skip two 2-ch sps. Repeat from * all around and join to base of first bcl of the round.

You should now have 56 bcls separated by 7 ch, 1 dc, 9 ch.

Alternatively, you can finish by substituting the last 9-ch for 3 ch, 1 trtr into the base of the first bcl of the round.

Round 3: 1 dc into any 9-ch loop (or over the trtr if you used the alternative ending for Round 2), *8 ch, 1 dc into first ch of following 7-ch loop, 8 ch, 1 dc into following 9-ch loop. Repeat from * all around joining the last 8-ch to the first dc of the round.

You should now have 112 8-ch loops separated by 1 dc.

Round 4: If you used the alternative ending for Round 3 start Round 4 by doing (1 dc, 4 ch) in the next ch to substitute for the first (1 tr, 2 ch) of Round 4 and then follow the general sequence given.

*(1 tr in next st, 2 ch, skip 1 st, 1 tr in the next st, 2 ch, skip 2 sts, 1 tr in the next st, 2 ch, skip 2 sts, 1 tr in the next st, 2 ch, skip 1 st, 1 tr in the next st, 2 ch, skip 2 sts, 1 tr in the next st, 2 ch, skip 2 sts, 1 tr in the next ch, 2 ch, skip 1 st, 1 tr in the next st, 2 ch, skip 2 sts)**.

The easy way to remember the number of sts to skip before doing the next (tr, 2-ch) is to follow this sequence: skip (1,2,2,1,2,2,1,2).

Repeat from * to ** all around ending with 2 ch, join to top of the first tr of the round.

Alternatively end with 2 ch, ss into second ch after first dc of Round 4.

You should now have 384 meshes. (12 meshes for each scallop)

Round 5: *Bcl in next 2-ch sp, skip the next 2-ch sp, ecl in next 2-ch sp, 7 ch, skip next 2 2-ch sps, ss into next 2 ch, 10 ch, skip next 2 2-ch sps, ss into next ch, turn. 16 dc over 10-ch loop, skip first ss, ss into next ss, turn. 1 dc into the next 8 dc, 5 ch, 1 dc into the next 8 dc, skip ss, ss into next ch, ch 7, skip next 2 2-ch sps. Repeat from * all around ending with ch 7, ss into the base of the first bcl of the round.

Alternatively end with ch 3, 1 tr into the base of the first bcl of the round.

Round 6: If you did the alternative ending for Round 5, 1 dc into the space created by the tr just worked, ch 5 and continue.

Otherwise: *(Cl, ch 3) 4 times in a 5-ch loop from Round 5, cl in the same loop, ch 5, dc in next 7-ch loop, ch 5, (cl, ch 3, cl) into where the next 2 cls join at the top, ch 5, dc in next 7-ch loop, ch 5. Repeat from * all around ending with ch 5, ss into the top of the first cl of the round.

Alternatively, end with a dtr into the top of the first dc of the round immediately after working the (cl, ch 3, cl) into where the last 2 cls join at the top.

Round 7: If you did the alternative ending for Round 6, turn and ss to the last 3-ch loop made, turn and continue.

Otherwise: 1 dc into the right-hand side of the 3-ch loop between the a of cls (not the group of 5 cls), *10 ch, 1 tr into next 3-ch sp, (3 ch, 1 tr into next 3-ch sp) 3 times, ch 10, 3 dc into the next 3-ch sp (between a pair of cls). Repeat all around from * ending with 2 dc into the last 3-ch sp, ss into the top of the first dc of the round.

Round 8: *13 dc over next 10-ch loop, (1 dc in next st, 3 dc over next 3-ch loop) 3 times, dc in next st, 13 dc over next 10-ch loop, ss into each of next 3 dc. Repeat from * all around ending with a ss into the last 2 dc of the round.

Alternatively, end with a ss into the last 2 dc of the round, ss into the next 2 stitches.

Round 9: If you did the alternative ending for Round 8 substitute the first tr of the round in the following directions with (1 dc, 2 ch) in the st indicated.

Starting in the second dc of a 13-dc loop before the 5-cl group work *1 tr, 2ch, skip 2 sts. Repeat from * all around ending with 2 ch, ss into the top of the first tr of the round.

Round 10: If you want to work continuously start with a bcl in the next 2-ch sp to substitute for the first cl in the following directions.

Otherwise: There are 14 meshes per scallop. Starting in the second mesh of a scallop work *(1 cl, p) in each of the next 11 meshes, 1 cl in the next mesh, 1 very tight ch, skip 2 meshes. Repeat from * all around ending with a ss into the top of the first cl of the round.