Size 10 crochet thread
Size 8 crochet hook
Special Stitches:
Chain/Dc Cluster (I think Victorian's called it Rice Stitch so I'll call it Rice Stitch):
Chain required amount mentioned in the pattern. Then, in 3rd chain from the hook - insert hook to where you have 2 strands of the chain on the left side of the hook and only 1 strand of the chain on the right side of the hook - it makes a firmer foundation/joining (if you pick up only one thread of the chain, to work into, the finished effect won't be as nice) - make 2 dc's into this chain, holding the last loop of each dc on the hook and not working it off. You should have 3 loops left on the hook. Yarn over and work all 3 loops off at one time.
"Slip Stitch in chain" on Round 1 - Position your hook in chain like for the Chain/Dc Cluster (Rice Stitch):
After chaining required amount mentioned in the pattern, insert hook in the correct chain - to where you have 2 strands of the chain on the left side of the hook and only 1 strand of the chain on the right side of the hook - it makes a firmer joining (if you pick up only one thread of the chain, to work into, the finished effect won't be as nice) - yarn over and pull through all loops.
Directions:
Round 1:
Bottom/Right of cross:
Chain 3, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook.
(Chain 4, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook) nine times.
Right arm of cross:
Chain 6, put gold safety pin in 5th chain from hook. Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook.
(Chain 4, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook) five times.
Slip stitch in chain between 4th and 5th Rice Stitches from hook.
Chain 3, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook.
Chain 4, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook, chain 1, slip stitch in chain marked with a gold pin.
Top of cross:
*(Chain 4, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook) six times.
Slip stitch in chain between 4th and 5th Rice Stitches from hook.
Chain 3, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook.
Chain 4, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook, chain 1, slip stitch in chain marked with a gold pin.*
Left arm of cross:
Repeat from * to * once.
Bottom/Left of cross:
(Chain 4, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook) two times.
Proceed to join with a slip stitch to the bottom/right section of cross by skipping the next 2 Rice Stitches, and slip stitching in next corresponding chain on the part of the bottom/right of cross that is already crocheted. See photo.
**Chain 3, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook.
Chain 4, Rice Stitch in 3rd chain from hook.
Skip next 2 Rice Stitches on bottom/right of cross, and join with a slip stitching in next corresponding chain on bottom/right of cross.**
Repeat from ** to ** 3 times, with very last slip stitch put into first chain at beginning of round.
Round 2: continuing around -
Bottom/Right of cross:
Chain 1, sc over the slip stitch joining you just made. Chain 4, slst in sc just made - equals beginning picot - (to do this type of slst into a single crochet - on this round, slip stitch in the top/front and the left/side strands of the single crochet, yarn over and pull through both strands - it makes a flat joining in the correct position for the next stitches).
Chain 4, sc in side of Rice Stitch (over the center of just one dc).
*Chain 4, sc over next ch 1 space. Chain 4, slst in sc just made (a picot).*
Repeat from * to * 4 times.
Right arm of cross:
Chain 3, sc over next ch 1 space, picot.
Chain 4, sc over next ch 1 space, picot, chain 4, sc in side of next Rice Stitch, chain 4, sc over next ch 1 space.
Chain 5, slst in 5th chain from hook, and mark this 5th chain with a gold pin. (chain 4, slst in 4th chain from hook) twice, then slst back in chain that's marked with a gold pin. Remove pin. Slip stitch in single crochet that's just below.
Chain4, slip stitch in side of next Rice Stitch.
(Chain 4, sc over next ch1 space, picot) 2 times.
Top of cross:
Repeat "Right arm of cross".
Left arm of cross:
Repeat "Right arm of cross".
Bottom/Left of cross:
Chain 3, sc over next ch 1 space, picot.
(Chain 4, sc over next ch 1 space, picot) 4 times.
Chain 4, sc in side of next Rice Stitch, chain 4, slip stitch in beginning sc.
Tassel:
Chain 1, 3 sc into first half of beginning picot loop of round 2.
Chain 35, turn.
Skip first 3 chains.
Put 4 dc into each of next 18 chains, crocheting under only one loop of each chain. (total of 72 dc).
Chain 1, 2 slip stitches into side of last dc, sl st into base of last dc, ch 1.
Slip stitch into next 14 chains (back to base of cross). Chain 1, 3 sc over second half of first picot on round 1. Slip stitch at base of last sc into picot and fasten off. Tie ends together in a square knot on back side of cross and hide the ends.
Finishing:
I spray starched just the cross, and steam pressed it while it was laying upside down on a terry towel, on my ironing board. Then I left it laying upside down on the ironing board to let it completely dry. If you do decide to steam press it, please be careful of the steam so you don't burn your fingers.
If you find any typos or errors in this pattern, please email me and let me know.
Thanks,
Cheri
Cross with tassel is 7 1/2" long.
I tried mine in my 5" x 7 1/2" Bible, with the cross angled. The top peaks out the top of the Bible, and the tassel is out the side of the Bible. It makes for easy opening.
