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Orange Quarter Quilt

Leaf and lace counterpane square knit from a Victorian era knitting pattern.
from “The Ladies’ Guide to Elegant Lace Patterns, Etc.”
Counterpane squares with embossed leaves were very popular in the 19th century and the combination of leaves and lace continues to be well loved today. A variation of the Orange Quarter Quilt appeared 7 years after this pattern was published in Home Work (1891), however the patterns differ slightly.

I’ve rewritten the original pattern from “The Ladies’ Guide” to balance the decreases and make it easier to understand.

From the original pattern:

Use Morse & Kaley’s No. 10 4-threaded knitting cotton, 5 mitten needles,
not too coarse.
Orange Leaf Lace, directions for which were given under Wide Laces,
is very pretty to edge the quilt. It takes 100 squares for the quilt. Four of these squares sewed together make a very pretty tidy, edged with the
Orange Leaf Lace.

In modern terms size 10 cotton is roughly equivalent to fingering-sportweight on 3.25mm needles but this bedspread can be made with any yarn and needles sized to suit. My sample was knit with perle cotton No. 5 and 3.25mm needles and measures 8 inches or 20 cm square.

Finish the bedspread with Orange Leaf Lace

This pattern is knit in the round.

In Words

Cast on 8 sts and divide between 4 double pointed needles (or place a marker after every 2nd stitch)

Work the directions for each round four times.

Round 1 (RS): (yo, k1) twice

Round 2: knit

Round 3: (yo, k1 )four times

Round 4: p1, k5, p1, k1

Round 5: (yo, k3, yo, k1) twice

Round 6: p2, k7, p2, k1

Round 7: (yo, k5, yo, k1) twice

Round 8: p3, k9, p3, k1

Round 9: (yo, k7, yo, k1) twice

Round 10: p4, k11, p4, k1

Round 11: (yo, k9, yo, k1) twice

Round 12: p5, k13, p5, k1

Round 13: (yo, k11, yo, k1) twice

Round 14: p6, k15, p6, k1

Round 15: (yo, k13, yo, k1) twice

Round 16: p7, k2tog, k13, ssk, p7, k1

Round 17: yo, k29, yo, k1

Round 18: p8, k2tog, k11, ssk, p8, k1

Round 19: yo, k29, yo, k1

Round 20: p9, k2tog, k9, ssk, p9, k1

Round 21: yo, k29, yo, k1

Round 22: p10, k2tog, k7, ssk, p10, k1

Round 23: yo, k29, yo, k1

Round 24: p11, k2tog, k5, ssk, p11, k1

Round 25: yo, k29, yo, k1

Round 26: p12, k2tog, k3, ssk, p12, k1

Round 27: yo, k29, yo, k1

Round 28: p13, k2tog, k1, ssk, p13, k1

Round 29: yo, k29, yo, k1

Round 30: p14, k3tog, p14, k1

Round 31: yo, k29, yo, k1

Round 32: knit

Round 33: (yo, k2tog) fifteen times, (yo, k1) twice

Round 34: knit

Round 35: yo, (ssk, yo, k4) five times, ssk, (yo, k1) twice

Round 36: knit

Round 37: yo, (ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1) five times, ssk, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k1

Round 38: knit

Round 39: yo, ssk, (yo, k3, yo, k3tog) five times, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k1

Round 40: knit

Round 41: yo, k2, (yo, k2tog, k1, ssk, yo, k1) five times, k1, yo, k1

Round 42: knit

Round 43: yo, k1, (k3, yo, k3tog, yo) five times, k4, yo, k1

Round 44: knit

Round 45: yo, k43, yo, k1

Round 46: knit

Round 47: (yo, k2tog) 22 times, (yo, k1) twice

Round 48: knit

Rounds 49, 50 and 51: purl

Cast off.

Chart

Click here if you would prefer a stitch map

Cast on 8 sts and divide between 4 double pointed needles (or place a marker after every 2nd stitch)

Work the directions for each round four times.

Note: The chart will print to the full width of your page.

Chart for knitting one section of the Orange Quarter Quilt from 1884


The original publication of this pattern is in the public domain. However, this modernised version, all charts and photographs are copyright Sarah Bradberry, August 17th 2014. All rights reserved.