Pillow Cover in Filet-Crochet

This crochet project is from the cover page of the January, 1912 issue.  If you make it, I would love to see a picture!  The directions are not as complete as modern instructions, but should be doable if you are an experienced crocheter.  Enjoy!

Pillow  Cover in Filet-Crochet

  Filet-crochet is the “fad” of the day, and because the work is so easy to do, serviceable, and pretty, its popularity is sure to be permanent.  It is used for all purposes to whic  the real filet – darned netting – is applied, and when evenly and snugly done, imitates the latter very closely.  Any pattern in cross-stitch or filet may be copied in filet-crochet, and laces, insertions, curtains, counterpanes, and a large variety of articles are thus fashioned.
  The pillow-cover shown consists of a square with border – the latter, either straight or with corner turned, as required, being suitable for any trimming.
  For the square, choose a thread which will make it of the proper size for your pillow.  It is impossible to suggest the correct number, because, for one thing, people work so differently – some much more loosely than others – and again the size of square required is to be taken into consideration.  A good way to do is, count first the number of spaces across your pattern – in the present case there are eighty-nine.  As each space requires three stitches after the first you will multiply the spaces by three and add five stitches to turn forming the first space.  Having thus arrived at the number of stitches required for the pattern, crochet a chain one inch long, counting the stitches in it, and you can readily determine the number of stitches needed for a square the size of your pillow, and can judge whether your thread is exactly right or should be coarser or finer.  No, 50 linen thread, with good work, should make a square of the right size for the pillow of ordinary size; and the ecru or unbleached thread is especially attractive.  The natural- or flax-color linen thread is also very effective over a pillow of rich color.

Making, then, a chain of 272 stitches, turn.
1.        Miss 7 stitches, a treble in next, then (chain 2, miss 2, 1 treble in next, forming a space) 88 times, turn.
2.       Chain 5, treble in treble (the 1^st space is always formed in this way), 261 trebles, 1 space, turn.
3.       One space, 4 trebles (always counting all, including that which helps form the previous space), 85 spaces; * 4trebles, 1 space, turn.
4.       One space, 4 trebles, * 8 spaces, 4 trebles, 33 spaces, 4 trebles, 27 spaces, (4trebles, 1 space) twice, 7 trebles, (4 spaces, 4 trebles) twice, 1 space, turn.
5.       Edge (like 4^th row to *), 4 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 1 space, 10 trebles) 3 times, 5 spaces, edge (like 3d row from *.)
6.       Edge; 4 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 2 spaces, 13 trebles, 24 spaces, 13 trebles, (1 space, 7 trebles) twice, 1 space, 4 trebles, 5 spaces, edge.
7.       Edge; 3 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 3 spaces, 7 trebles, 17 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 3 spaces 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 20 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 13 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 1 space, edge.
8.       Edge, 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 4 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 17 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 5 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 17 spaces, 10 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 4 trebles 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 13 trebles, 2 spaces, edge.
9.       Edge; 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 7 spaces, 13 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 16 paces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 10 trebles, 5 spaces, 10 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 17 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 9 spaces, 4 trebles, 4 spaces; edge.
10.   Edge, 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 3 spaces, 85 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 5 spaces, 13 trebles, 1 space, 37 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, (7 trebles, 1 space) twice, 16 trebles, 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 3 spaces, edge.
11.   Edge; 1 space, 7 trebles, 4 spaces, 4 trebles, 6 spaces, 13 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 14 spaces, 10 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 5 spaces, 4 trebles 1 space, 10 trebles, 16 spaces, 4 trebles, 10 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 2 spaces; edge.
12.   Edge; (1 space, 7 trebles) twice, 1 space, 4 trebles, 1 space, 85 trebles, 3 spaces, (4 trebles, 3 spaces) twice, 40 trebles, 1 space, 16 trebles, 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 4 spaces, 4 trebles, 2 spaces; edge.
13.   Edge; 3 spaces, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 16 trebles, (2 spaces, 7 trebles) twice, 1 space, 40 trebles, 5 paces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 5 spaces, 82 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 2 spaces, 13 trebles, 1 space; edge.
14.   Edge; 3 spaces, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 8 spaces, 4 trebles, 22 spaces, 4 trebles, 22 spaces, 13 trebles, 5 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 2 spaces; edge.
15.   Edge; 2 spaces, 7 trebles, (1 space, 4 trebles) twice, 1 space, 7 trebles, 4 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 43 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 8 spaces, 7 trebles, 3 spaces, 4 trebles, 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space; edge.
16.   Edge; 2 spaces, 10 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 6 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 42 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 4 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 2 spaces; edge.
17.   Edge; 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 2 spaces, 10 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 6 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space,4 trebles, 44 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 6 spaces, (13 trebles, 1 space) twice; edge.
18.   Edge; (1 space, 4 trebles) twice, (1 space, 7 trebles) twice, 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 13 trebles, 43 spaces, 4 trebles, 4 spaces, 4 trebles, 5 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 4 spaces; edge.
19.   Edge; 4 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 3 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 44 spaces, (7 trebles, 1 space) twice, 4 trebles, (1 space, 13 trebles) twice, 1 space, 4 trebles, 3 spaces; edge.
20.   Edge; 7 spaces (7 trebles, 1 space) 3 times, 4 trebles, 48 spaces, (7 trebles, 1 space) twice, 4 trebles, 2 spaces, 7trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 6 spaces; edge.
21.   Edge; 5 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 2 spaces, 13 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 47 spaces, 10 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 2 spaces, 10 trebles, 4 spaces; edge.
22.   Edge; 3 spaces, 10 trebles, 2 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 4 spaces, 4 trebles, 24 spaces, 4 trebles, 26 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 13 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 7 spaces; edge.
23.   Edge; 7 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, (2 spaces, 4 trebles) twice, 23 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 27 spaces, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 13 trebles, (1 space, 4 trebles) twice, 3 spaces; edge.
24.   Edge; 7 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 17 spaces, 4 trebles 8 spaces, 10 trebles, 23 spaces, 4 trebles, 3 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 7 spaces; edge.
25.   Edge; 7 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 16 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 3 spaces, 4 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 4 spaces, 10 trebles, 5 space, 4 trebles, 1 spaces, 4 trebles, 23 spaces, 4 trebles, 9 spaces; edge.
  This row completes the lower part of square, with the corner wreaths.  It seems unnecessary to follow the work further in detail, since, having reached this point, one will be able to continue it from the engraving easily.  As will be noted, the lower right and upper left wreath are the same, as are the lower left and upper right.
   If an oblong chair-protector is desired, instead of a square, one has but to continue the border, omitting the central design and filling in between with plain spaces, until a sufficient length is attained; than (sic) put in the design and again fill in the plain spaces above.
  The cover, as shown, may be used to lay over a pillow, fastening at the corners’ or a lining may be made of plain spaces and the pillow slipped between the front and back.

Border
Chain 50, turn.
1.       Miss 7, a treble in next, 10 spaces, *chain, 3, miss 2, 1 double, chain 3, miss 2, 1 treble, 1 space, turn.
2.       Chain 5, treble in treble, chain 5, miss 2 loops of 3 chain, a treble in following treble, * 11 spaces, turn.
3.       To increase the point, chain 10, turn, miss 7, a treble in next, chain 2, miss 2 next stitches of chain and make a treble in treble of last row, * 1 space, 4 trebles, 3 spaces, 4 trebles, 5 spaces; edge (like 1^st row from *).
4.       Edge (like 2d row to *); 5 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 2 spaces, turn.
5.       Like 3d row to *; 3 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 5 spaces; edge.
6.       Edge; 2 spaces, 10 trebles, (1 space, 4 trebles) twice, 1 space, 10 trebles, 2 spaces, turn.
7.       Like 3d to *; (3 spaces, 10 trebles) twice, 3 spaces; edge.
8.       Edge; 7 spaces, 4 trebles, 9 spaces; turn.
9.       Five spaces, (10 trebles, 3 spaces) twice; edge.
10.   Like 6th row.
11.   Chain 5, treble in 1^st following treble (forming 1^st space, the point now decreasing), 4 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 5 spaces; edge.
12.   Same as 4^th row.
13.   Chain 5, treble in treble, 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 3 spaces, 4 trebles, 5 spaces; turn.
14.   Chain 5, treble in following treble, 10 spaces; turn.
15.   Chain 5, treble in next treble, 9 spaces; turn.
16.   Slip-stitch back over last 2 chain to top of preceding treble. *chain 5, treble in next treble, 8 spaces.
17.   Like 3d row, ending with 2 spaces.
18.   Like 16^th to *; chain 5, miss 2, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, 3 spaces; turn.
19.   Like 5^th, ending with the 2d group of 7 trebles, turn.
20.   Slip-stitch over 4 trebles, chain 3, 3 trebles in next 3 trebles, 1 space, 4 trebles, 1 space, 10 trebles, 2 spaces; turn.
21.   Same as 3d row to *; 3 spaces, 10 trebles, 2 spaces; turn.
22.   Chain 3, 3 trebles in next 3 stitches, 9 spaces; turn.
23.   Chain 5, treble in next treble, 4 spaces, 10 trebles; turn.
24.   Slip-stitch over 4 trebles, chain 3, 9 trebles in next 9 stitches, 2 spaces; turn.
25.   Chain 5, treble in next treble, 4 spaces; turn.
26.   Chain 5, treble in treble, 1 space; turn.
27.   Chain 5, treble in treble, 1 space, turn the work so that you will be crossing in the opposite direction, work same as 3d row to *, increasing the point, make 2 more spaces, chain 2, fasten at top of group of 10 trebles, slip-stitch to top of next group; turn.
28.   Make 1 space (chain 3, treble in top of lower group), 9 more trebles, 2 spaces; turn.
29.   Like 3d row to *; 3 spaces, 10 trebles, chain 2, join at end of next row, slip-stitch up 1 row, turn.
30.   Chain 2, treble in treble, 8 spaces; turn.
31.   Chain 5, treble in treble, 4 spaces, 10 trebles, 2 spaces, chain 2, join, slip-stitch up one row; turn.
32.   Chain 2, (4 trebles, 1 space) twice, 10 trebles, 2 spaces; turn.
33.   Chain 5, treble in treble, 4 spaces, 7 trebles, 1 space, 7 trebles, chain 2, join, slip-stitch up one row; turn.
34.   Chain 2, 1 treble, (1 space, 7 trebles) twice, 3 spaces; turn.
35.   Chain 5, treble in treble, 2 spaces, 4 trebles, 3 spaces, 4 trebles, 2 spaces, chain 2, join, slip-stitch up 1 row; turn.
36.   Chain 3, and make 10 spaces; turn.
37.   Chain 5, make 11 spaces, joining to top of next row, slip-stitch up 1 row; turn.
38.   Chain 2, catch in center of 5 chain at beginning of 12^th row, chain 2, make 12 spaces; turn.
39.   Like 3d row; after last 5 spaces chain 3, fasten in center of 5 chain at beginning of 12^th row, chain 2, make 12 spaces; turn. 
40.   Chain 5, finish like 4^th row from edge.

  The straight lace now repeats from the 5^th row.  Seven points are required from corner to corner.  Finish the edge with a scallop of 12 trebles in a space, fastened between spaces, making a scallop between points, two up side of point, two at tip and two down opposite side, with three across corner.
  Join the border neatly to the square, running ribbon in the wide spaces at upper edge, under the chains which are caught together, and over the single chain.  If desired, this space may be increased in size to admit much wider ribbon – instead of 5 chain-stitches, use chains of 7, 9 or 11, making the short chain, which is fastened in center of the long one, just a stitch longer than half the length of the latter.  Thus, if the long chain is of 7 stitches, make the short chain 4 stitches in length, and others in same proportion.
  If preferred, and many find it easier, the diagonal may be omitted in working the corner of the border, the straight pattern being repeated, increasing and decreasing the corner points as required, and then the work commenced again on the side to carry across to next corner.  The diagonal is very simple, however, if you remember that there is one space dropped off each row; then when you turn and work up the other side you join to complete the rows left incomplete until the corner is filled out.
  An insertion to match the border is made by working both edges alike; and the combination of lace and insertion will be found very desirable for trimming curtains, table covers, and other articles.