A graceful vintage tablecloth made of small round motifs joined edge to edge, each built up from clusters and picot-style loops into a delicate, lacy medallion. Worked in fine crochet cotton, the joined motifs form an openwork fabric finished with a scalloped edge - a classic project for anyone who enjoys motif-based crochet.

CLARK'S BIG BALL MERCERIZED CROCHET, Size 30:

20 balls of White or Ecru; or 25 balls of any color.

Steel Crochet Hook No. 10 or 11.

GAUGE: Each motif measures about 3 1/4 inches in diameter.

For a tablecloth about 62 x 81 inches, make 19 x 25 motifs.

FIRST MOTIF: Ch 9, join with sl st to form ring.

1st rnd: Ch 1, 24 sc in ring. Join with sl st in 1st sc made.

2nd rnd: Ch 4 (to count as 1 tr), holding back the last loop of each tr on hook make tr in each of next 2 sc, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (3-tr cluster made), * ch 7, make a 3-tr cluster over the next 3 sc. Repeat from * around, joining last ch-7 with sl st in top of 1st cluster.

3rd rnd: Sl st in 3 ch, ch 1, sc in same loop, * ch 8, sc in next loop. Repeat from * around, joining last ch-8 with sl st in 1st sc.

4th rnd: Sl st in loop, ch 4, in same loop make three 4-tr clusters with ch 5 between, * ch 5, in next loop make three 4-tr clusters with ch 5 between. Repeat from * around. Join.

5th rnd: Sl st in 2 ch, ch 1, sc in same loop, * ch 5, sc in next loop. Repeat from * around. Join.

6th rnd: Ch 1, * 7 sc in next loop, 3 sc in next loop, ch 7, turn, sl st in center sc of last loop, turn; in ch-7 loop make 5 sc, ch 5 and 5 sc, 3 sc in remainder of loop. Repeat from * around. Join and fasten off.

SECOND MOTIF: Work as for 1st motif until 5th rnd is complete.

6th rnd: Ch 1, * 7 sc in next loop, 3 sc in next loop, ch 7, turn, sl st in center sc of last loop, turn; 5 sc in ch-7 loop, ch 2, sc in corresponding ch-5 loop on 1st motif, ch 2, 5 sc in same loop on 2nd motif, 3 sc in remainder of loop. Repeat from * once more. Complete rnd as for 1st motif (no more joinings).

JOINING MOTIFS: Make necessary number of motifs and join 2 loops of each motif to 2 loops of adjacent motifs, leaving 1 loop free on each motif between joinings.

FILL-IN MOTIF: Ch 9 and work 1st and 2nd rnds of 1st motif.

3rd rnd: Ch 1, * 3 sc in next loop, ch 9, sc in joining of motifs, ch 9, 3 sc in same loop on fill-in motif, 3 sc in next loop, ch 2, sc in next free ch-5 loop on motif, ch 2, 3 sc in same loop on Fill-in motif. Repeat from * around. Join and fasten off.

FINISHING: Work fill-in motifs in this manner in all sps between joinings.