The Marguerite Bloom tablecloth is a round lace topper with an old-fashioned feel. A 12-petal flower sits at the center. Rings of open mesh and a lattice studded with tiny picot flowers surround it, and a border of fanned scallops finishes the edge.
The whole cloth is worked in one shade of cream cotton thread, so the texture does the decorating. On a small round side table, the fan border drops over the edge and the center flower sits right on top.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished cloth measures 30 in (76.2 cm) in diameter after blocking. That covers a tabletop about 24 in (61.0 cm) across, with a 3 in (7.6 cm) border hanging over.
You work it as one piece in joined rounds from the center out. First the petal flower, then an inner mesh ring, then the flower lattice with planned increases, and finally the fan border. Nothing is sewn together.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 30 in (76.2 cm) diameter
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 crochet cotton thread (Lace, category 0)
- Hook: 2.75 mm (US C-2)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Single round, worked center-out in joined rounds
- Piece size: 30 in (76.2 cm) including border
- Size before border: 24 in (61.0 cm) after Rnd 28
- Border depth: 3 in (7.6 cm) each side
Materials
Use a mercerized cotton thread in size 3. It has crisp stitch definition, blocks well and holds picots firmly. Avoid fuzzy or very soft cottons, because the lattice will blur and the fans will droop.
- Cream/ivory size 3 cotton thread: about 500 g, roughly 1,650 m
Tools:
– 2.75 mm (US C-2) hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch marker
– Rustproof pins and a blocking surface at least 32 in (81.3 cm) wide
– Spray bottle and a measuring tape
The quantities include a safety margin of about 10 percent for gauge differences and swatching.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
- sp(s) – space(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- Rnd – round
Picot: ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.
Flower Knot (FK): In the indicated ch-loop, work (sc, [picot] 3 times, sc). Each knot makes a tiny picot flower at a lattice intersection.
Beginning dc2tog: ch 2, dc in next st (counts as dc2tog).
Ch 3 at the start of a round counts as 1 dc. Join every round with a sl st to the first stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge is 13 dc = 2 in (5.1 cm). One dc round adds about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) to the radius.
Work Rnds 1–4 first as your test. The flower should measure 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across, from petal edge to petal edge.
- More than 3.75 in (9.5 cm): change to a smaller hook.
- Less than 3.25 in (8.3 cm): change to a larger hook.
Checkpoints (measure lightly pressed flat, not stretched):
- After Rnd 4: 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- After Rnd 9: 7 in (17.8 cm)
- After Rnd 15: 12 in (30.5 cm)
- After Rnd 21: 18 in (45.7 cm)
- After Rnd 26: 23 in (58.4 cm)
- After Rnd 28: 24 in (61.0 cm)
- After border, blocked: 30 in (76.2 cm)
If the piece cups (curls up like a bowl), your chains are too tight; loosen them or go up half a hook size. If it ruffles, your chains are too loose. Small differences of 0.5 in (1.3 cm) are normal at the mesh stages and block out.
Part 1: Center Flower (Rnds 1–9)
Ch 6 and join with a sl st to form a ring. This leaves the small open hole at the center.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, 23 dc in ring, join. (24 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in next st, ch 2, dc in next 2 sts, ch 2; repeat from * 10 more times, join. (24 dc, 12 ch-2 sps; 12 petal bases of 2 dc each)
Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 2; repeat around, join. (48 dc, 4 per petal)
Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, ch 2; repeat around, join. (72 dc, 6 per petal)
You only increase at the outer edges of each petal, so the two center stitches stack straight up. That forms the faint center vein of each petal.
Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in next 5 sts, ch 3, dc in next 6 sts, ch 3; repeat around, join. (72 dc, 12 ch-3 sps)
Rnd 6: Beginning dc2tog, dc in next 2 sts, dc2tog, ch 5, dc2tog, dc in next 2 sts, dc2tog, ch 5; repeat around, join. (48 sts, 4 per petal, 12 ch-5 sps)
Rnd 7: Beginning dc2tog, dc2tog, ch 7, [dc2tog] twice, ch 7; repeat around, join. (24 sts, 2 per petal, 12 ch-7 sps)
Rnd 8: Beginning dc2tog, ch 9, dc2tog, ch 9; repeat around, join. (12 petal points, 12 ch-9 sps)
The petals now taper to sharp points, with open gaps between them.
Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in petal point, 11 sc in next ch-9 sp; repeat around, join. (144 sc, 12 per repeat)
Checkpoint: 7 in (17.8 cm).
Part 2: Inner Mesh Ring (Rnds 10–15)
Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 5, sk 3 sts, sc in next st; repeat around, ending ch 5, sk 3, join. (36 ch-5 loops)
Rnd 11: Sl st into the center of the first loop, ch 1, sc in same loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5; repeat around, join. (36 ch-5 loops)
Rnd 12 (increase): Sl st to the center of the first loop, ch 1, [sc in next loop, ch 5] twice, [sc, ch 5] twice in next loop; repeat 12 times total, join. (48 ch-5 loops, 4 per repeat)
Rnd 13: Sl st to the center of the loop, ch 1, sc in next loop, ch 6; repeat around, join. (48 ch-6 loops)
Rnd 14 (conversion round): Sl st into the first loop, ch 3, 4 dc in same loop, 5 dc in each remaining loop, join. (48 loops × 5 dc = 240 dc)
Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (240 sc, 1 per existing st + 0 added)
Checkpoint: 12 in (30.5 cm).
Part 3: Flower Lattice (Rnds 16–28)
The lattice uses ch-7 loops. FK rounds alternate with plain rounds, and the plain rounds carry the increases. Every increase round adds exactly 1 loop per repeat (12 per round), which keeps each loop about 0.8 in (2.0 cm) wide.
Rnd 16: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 7, sk 4 sts, sc in next st; repeat around, ending ch 7, sk 4, join. (240 ÷ 5 = 48 ch-7 loops)
Rnd 17 (FK): Sl st to the center of the first loop, FK in loop, ch 7; repeat around, join. (48 loops, 48 FK)
Rnd 18 (increase): Sl st to the center of the loop, ch 1, [sc in next loop, ch 7] 3 times, [sc, ch 7] twice in next loop; repeat 12 times total, join. (60 loops, 5 per repeat)
Rnd 19 (FK): As Rnd 17. (60 loops)
Rnd 20 (increase): [sc in next loop, ch 7] 4 times, [sc, ch 7] twice in next loop; repeat 12 times total, join. (72 loops, 6 per repeat)
Rnd 21 (FK): As Rnd 17. (72 loops) Checkpoint: 18 in (45.7 cm).
Rnd 22 (increase): [sc in next loop, ch 7] 5 times, [sc, ch 7] twice in next loop; repeat 12 times total, join. (84 loops, 7 per repeat)
Rnd 23 (FK): As Rnd 17. (84 loops)
Rnd 24 (increase): [sc in next loop, ch 7] 6 times, [sc, ch 7] twice in next loop; repeat 12 times total, join. (96 loops, 8 per repeat)
Rnd 25 (FK): As Rnd 17. (96 loops)
Rnd 26: Sc in next loop, ch 7; repeat around, join. (96 loops) Checkpoint: 23 in (58.4 cm).
Rnd 27 (conversion round): Sl st into the first loop, ch 3, 4 dc in same loop, 5 dc in each remaining loop, join. (96 loops × 5 dc = 480 dc)
Rnd 28: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (480 sc, 1 per existing st + 0 added)
Checkpoint: 24 in (61.0 cm). This solid band is the third framing ring and the base for the border.
Border: Fan Scallops (Rnds 29–34)
Border gauge: The 6 border rounds add 3 in (7.6 cm) to each side. The 480 sts divide into 32 repeats of 15 sts, and each repeat becomes one fan plus one mesh V. Each repeat is about 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide at the base and spreads to about 2.9 in (7.4 cm) at the scalloped edge.
Rnd 29: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 5, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat around, ending ch 5, sk 2, join. (480 ÷ 3 = 160 ch-5 loops; 5 per repeat)
Rnd 30: Sl st into the first loop, ch 3 (counts as dc), [ch 1, dc] 4 times in same loop, ch 2, [sc in next loop, ch 5] 3 times, sc in next loop, ch 2. In next loop work (dc, ch 1) 4 times, dc; ch 2, [sc in next loop, ch 5] 3 times, sc in next loop, ch 2; repeat from * around, join.
Per repeat: 5 dc fan, 4 sc, 3 ch-5 loops. Total: 160 dc, 128 sc, 96 loops.
Rnd 31: Ch 3, [ch 2, dc in next dc] 4 times, ch 2, sk ch-2, sc in next loop, [ch 5, sc in next loop] twice, ch 2. Dc in next dc, [ch 2, dc in next dc] 4 times, ch 2, sc in next loop, [ch 5, sc in next loop] twice, ch 2; repeat around, join.
Per repeat: 5 dc, 3 sc, 2 loops. Total: 160 dc, 96 sc, 64 loops.
Rnd 32: Ch 3, ch 1, dc in same st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in each of next 4 dc, ch 2, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 2. (Dc, ch 1, dc) in each of next 5 dc, ch 2, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 2; repeat around, join.
Per repeat: 5 V-sts (10 dc), 2 sc, 1 loop. Total: 320 dc, 64 sc, 32 loops.
Rnd 33: Sl st into the first V-sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same sp, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in each of next 4 V-sps, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 3. (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in each of next 5 V-sps, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 3; repeat around, join.
Per repeat: 5 shells (20 dc), 1 sc. Total: 640 dc, 32 sc, 64 ch-3 sps.
The mesh between fans has now closed to a single point, which makes the V between scallops.
Rnd 34 (picot edge): Ch 1. [Sc in next 2 dc, (sc, picot, sc) in ch-1 sp, sc in next 2 dc] 5 times, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp, sl st in sc, 3 sc in next ch-3 sp; repeat around, join and fasten off.
Per repeat: 30 sc + 6 sc = 36 sc, 5 picots, 1 sl st. Total: 1,152 sc, 160 picots, 32 sl sts.
Why the math works: Everything comes back to 12 and 32. Rnd 28’s 480 sts equal 96 loops × 5 dc. The border’s 160 loops equal 32 repeats × 5 loops. The 4 non-fan loops in each repeat shrink by 1 per round (4 sc → 3 → 2 → 1), so each mesh V closes exactly on Rnd 33. At the same time the fan widens from 5 dc to 20 dc, which absorbs the extra circumference without ruffling.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along solid rounds, not through the mesh.
- Soak the cloth in cool water with a little wool wash for 15 minutes.
- Press the water out in a towel; do not wring.
- Lay it flat and mark a 30 in (76.2 cm) circle with the measuring tape.
- Pin the center flower first, opening each petal gap.
- Pin the three framing bands into true circles at 7 in (17.8 cm), 12 in (30.5 cm) and 24 in (61.0 cm).
- Pin the tip of each of the 32 scallops to the 30 in (76.2 cm) line, and the center picot of each fan just inside it.
- Open the FK picots with a pin tip, mist lightly, and let dry completely.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 12 petals with even pointed tips
- Rnd 9: 144 sc; Rnds 14–15: 240 sts; Rnds 27–28: 480 sts
- Lattice ends at 96 loops with no skipped loops
- 32 fans, each with 5 shells and 5 picots
- Diameter after blocking: 30 in (76.2 cm)
- Cloth lies flat with no cupping or rippling
- All ends hidden in solid rounds
Troubleshooting
Petals curl inward: Your Rnd 8 chains are too tight. Rework them with loose ch-9s.
Center cups like a bowl: Your mesh chains are too tight. Use a larger hook for the chains only.
Lattice ripples: Make sure each increase round adds exactly 12 loops. Recount by repeat.
Fans flare after blocking: Make the Rnd 33 shell stitches a little shorter, or switch to a smaller hook for the border.
Picots disappear: Check that the sl st goes into the 3rd ch from the hook, not the 2nd.
Lost your repeat count: Place a marker at the start of each repeat on Rnds 18–24 and 29–34.
Care
Hand wash cool, then reshape and dry flat. Occasionally re-block with mist and pins to sharpen the fan scallops.
Final Notes
The measurement chain runs:
- Test flower: 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- Full flower: 7 in (17.8 cm)
- Inner mesh band: 12 in (30.5 cm)
- Lattice: 18 in (45.7 cm), then 23 in (58.4 cm)
- Solid frame: 24 in (61.0 cm)
- Fan border adds 3 in (7.6 cm) per side, for a blocked 30 in (76.2 cm) tablecloth
If your checkpoints land on target, the border will land on target too.
Happy crocheting!