From crochet.about.com - Venetian Crochet: Patterns For 1915 Motif, Collar and Lace Edging
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This Venetian pattern derives it's look of lace from a series of stitches in mesh, picot and simple chains. From this basic square, you can create straight lace edgings, insertions, collar and cuffs. This crochet style looks more complicated than it really is, so why not give it a try? Extra photos showing how to do portions of the pattern can be viewed starting at http://crochet.about.com/od/bytype/ss/VenetianMotif.htm |
[Edging Pattern]
[Collar Pattern]
Venetian Square
from Handbook of Needlecraft, Number 2
Needlecraft Publishing Co., Published 1915
Note: I have rewritten these instructions in today's crochet terms. --Sandi Marshall
Abbreviations used: sc - single crochet, dc - double crochet, st(s) - stitch (stitches), sl st - slip stitch, ch - chain, sp(s) - space (spaces)
picot = chain 3, slip stitch in same stitch just made
No size of thread given in original pattern. I made a sample with size 20 thread, using a size 10 steel crochet hook, which resulted in a square that's 2 inches; just to give you an idea of finished size. Use whatever size thread you desire.
Venetian Square - Chain 14.
Row 1: Dc in 6th ch from hook. (ch 1, skip 1 ch, dc in next ch) 4 times.
Rows 2 - 5: Ch 4 (counts as first dc and a chain-1), turn, dc in first dc,
(ch 1, dc in next dc) 3 times, ch 1, skip next ch, dc in next ch.
At end of row 5, you should have a square of 5 spaces each way.
Pattern now changes to being worked in rounds, working around all edges of
the square.
Rnd 6: Ch 1, turn. [(sc in dc, sc in ch-1 sp) 3 times, sc in dc, ch 9,
turn, skip next sc, sl st in next sc, ch 1, turn, 3 sc in ch-9 sp (ch 3, sl st in same sc
just made for picot, 2 sc in same ch-9 sp) 4 times, ch 3, sl st in same sc
just made for picot, 3 sc in same ch-9 sp,
(sc in ch-1 sp of mesh square, sc in next dc) twice, another sc in same dc as last sc made,
then working along next side: sc around post of edge dc, (sc in dc,
sc around post of next dc on edge) twice, sc in dc, ch 9,
turn, skip next sc, sl st in next sc, ch 1, turn, 3 sc in ch-9 sp (ch 3, sl st in same sc
just made for picot, 2 sc in same ch-9 sp) 4 times, ch 3, sl st in same sc
just made for picot, 3 sc in same ch-9 sp,
(sc around post of next dc on edge of mesh square, sc in next dc) twice,], repeat [ to ]
1 more time. Note that you will have 2 sc in each corner stitch by following
these instructions. At end of round, sl st in first sc to join.
 Illustrating Rnd 6 instructions ch 9, turn, skip next sc, |
 sl st in next sc |
Rnd 7: * ch 7, sl st in 2nd picot of the first ch-9 loop; ch 8,
sl st in 4th picot of same ch-9 loop; ch 7, sl st in next corner st **, repeat
the directions between * and ** 3 more times.
Rnd 8: ch 1 * (3 sc, picot, 2 sc, picot, 3 sc) all made in ch-7 sp;
(2 sc, picot, 2 sc, picot, 2 sc, picot, 2 sc) all made in ch-8 sp;
(3 sc, picot, 2 sc, picot, 3 sc) all made in ch-7 sp **, repeat the directions
between * and ** 3 more times, then sl st in first sc of this round.
Fasten off.
 | This close-up of one side of the square shows what stitches look like after completing rnd 8. |
As you are doing more squares, you can join-as-you-go when making squares to be used in the Edging or Collar patterns below. Refer to those patterns for where to join.
Making these squares into a straight lace edging:
Using pattern above, make number of basic squares needed for length of edging desired.
Join the squares in the middle picot of 8-chain loop (corner loop), either by working a slip stitch in this picot as you are doing round 8 of the next square (join-as-you-go method) or by sewing together with needle and thread.
mesh space = (chain 1, dc in next dc)
When all the squares have been joined, fill in between them with mesh, like this:
To start, fasten the thread in the first picot of the ch-7 at the
right, counting up from where the first and second squares are joined;
chain 3, dc in picot of ch-8, with both sides of the joining worked together.
Chain 3, sl st in first picot of ch-7 in 2nd square, sl st in next picot of
same ch-7, turn; ch 1, dc in center of ch-3, ch 1, dc in dc, ch 1, dc in
center of ch-3, ch 1, sl st in next picot of ch-7 in first square, sl st
in next square above, turn.
Proceed as before, making 6 mesh spaces instead of 4. Work back
with 8 mesh spaces, and again with 10.
Fill in between each two squares in this manner. When doing the outside
square at each end of the edging, you will turn with a chain 4 at the outside edge, instead of
catching in picots, as when filling between two squares.
To make as a straight lace edging, fill in between the squares, in the manner above, on one side only.
To make as an insertion, fill in between the squares on both sides.
Making these squares into a collar:
Note: No finished size given in original pattern. Make it bigger or smaller by adjusting the thread and hook size used or by adding additional squares to the pattern, as needed.
Using basic square pattern above, make 7 squares.
Join the squares in the middle picot of 8-chain loop (corner loop), either by working a slip stitch in this picot as you are doing round 8 of the next square (join-as-you-go method) or by sewing together with needle and thread.
When all the squares have been joined, fill in between them with mesh, like this:
To start, fasten the thread in the first picot of the ch-7 at the
right, counting up from where the first and second squares are joined;
chain 3, dc in picot of ch-8, with both sides of the joining worked together.
Chain 3, sl st in first picot of ch-7 in 2nd square, sl st in next picot of
same ch-7, turn; ch 1, dc in center of ch-3, ch 1, dc in dc, ch 1, dc in
center of ch-3, ch 1, sl st in next picot of ch-7 in first square, sl st
in next square above, turn.
Proceed as before, making 6 mesh spaces instead of 4. Work back
with 8 mesh spaces, and again with 10.
Fill in between each two squares in this manner. When doing the outside
square, you will turn with a chain 4 at the outside edge, instead of
catching in picots, as when filling between two squares.
Next, make 3 rows of mesh across the top.
1915 instructions say: "If you find the collar will be too full, which is not likely, or you desire it of more circular form, you have simply to draw the upper points nearer together by making 1 less space in each row between; that is, in the second row make 3 spaces, in the third row make 5 spaces, and so on." Where it says make 3 spaces, this means to work 3 mesh spaces by (chain 1, dc in next dc) 3 times.
Across the upper edge work as follows:
1. Join thread at top edge. * Chain 6, skip ch-1, skip next dc, skip ch-1; sl st in next dc * , repeat * to * across.
2. (4 sc, picot, 4 sc) in each ch-6 across, end with sl st in edge.
1915 instructions say "Cuffs to match are made in the same way, save that in finishing them you leave them straight, putting in more spaces between the motifs to avoid a curve.The collar, omitting the upper edge, makes a very handsome border for round centerpiece.
The motif will be found an extremely useful and pretty one for many purposes."
My rewritten instructions for these Venetian Crochet Patterns not to be redistributed ("shared"), with or without charge. Free for your own personal use only. If someone else wants the instructions, please give them the URL to the main page for these patterns or the URL for this printing page, so that they can come here and explore everything this site has to offer, for themselves. I appreciate it. Thank you. URL of the main page for these patterns is http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa061999.htm and URL of this printing page is http://crochet.about.com/library/n061999.htm
Collar photo is from 1915 Handbook of Needlecraft
Copyright: All other pattern photos by Sandi Marshall, copyright 
1999 by Sandi Marshall, licensed to About.com, Inc. Per copyright law, do not put on your own web site or blog or otherwise redistribute or reprint these photos in any form (even for free).
How long does copyright last? See US Government Copyright Office web site at http://www.loc.gov/copyright. Under "Publications" heading, click on "Information Circulars": Circular 15 (Renewal of Copyrights), Circular 15a (Duration of Copyrights) and Circular 15t (Extension of Copyright Terms) will be helpful.
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