The photo above shows three rounds completed of this motif.

The pattern was named Crocheted Wheel For Tidy in the 1893 book (titled Fancy Work Manual). When I looked at the picture of the pattern in that book, I noticed the center part especially and thought that center could be a motif by itself, useful for items such as a coaster (if made with cotton worsted weight yarn), a small doily or a motif to sew on clothing when crocheted with thread. I reworked the crochet directions for the center part of that pattern, modifying it somewhat from the antique pattern and writing the directions in modern crochet terms.

Materials used in the example: Regular worsted weight yarn, with a U.S. size H hook. The finished size will vary according to the materials you use and your individual crochet tension/gauge but with worsted weight yarn and an H hook, mine turned out to be about 5 inches in diameter, when made with these materials.

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
ea = each
rnd = round
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch

To begin: Chain 6, join with a sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc), 19 dc in ring, join with sl st in top of first ch-3. (20 dc total for this round)

Rnd 2: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next dc, * ch 2, dc in ea of next 2 dc **, repeat the directions between * and ** around, then ch 2, sl st in top of first ch-3 of this rnd.

Note: The 1893 pattern had 1 chain between the dc groups for round 2, but I found that it worked out nicer with 2 chains between. In the era that this pattern was first written, crocheters often made looser stitches (instead of increasing the number of stitches) to keep circular pieces from curling. These days, we prefer to use increases for that purpose.

This photo shows round 3 in progress. In looking at this photo, you can see how the stitches of round 3 are worked into the chain-2 spaces of round 2.

Rnd 3: sl st in next dc (to reach starting point for this rnd), sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same ch-2 sp, * skip next 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp **, repeat the directions between * and ** around, then sl st in top of first ch-3 of this rnd.

Crocheting just three rounds of this pattern can result in a motif that is useful for various purposes. So there may be times when you want to stop at three rounds. But if you want to make an item such as a coaster, you may want to continue with the pattern and add round four.

The photo at the top of this page shows round 3 completed. The following photo shows the very beginning of round 4 so you can see the look of the first chain-3 with 6 double crochet following and then a single crochet made in the same chain-2 space as the double crochets just made.

Rnd 4: sl st in next dc (to reach starting point for this rnd), sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (6 dc, sc) in same ch-2 sp, * (7 dc, sc) in next ch-2 sp **, repeat the directions between * and ** around, then sl st in top of first ch-3 of this rnd. Note: The 1893 pattern used 10 dc in each scallop group of round 4. I changed it to 7 dc in each scallop group for my version of the pattern.

End off. Weave in ends.

Following is a photo showing the look of the crocheted piece with round 4 completed.

About the copyright status of this pattern: Since it was first published in the United States before the year 1923, the 1893 Fancy Work Manual statutory copyright has expired, placing that book in the public domain. However, copyright applies to this page for my photos and my reworking/modifying/rewriting/modernizing the center part of the directions of the public domain year 1893 pattern originally named Crocheted Wheel For Tidy in 1893.

Terms Note / Social Media: You may share the images of this page on social media such as on Pinterest with a link back to this page so other crocheters can find this free pattern here for themselves. You are welcome to link to this page from anywhere but please do not republish the actual content of the page (my pattern directions) elsewhere, in print or on the Internet. Instead, please give out the url (link) of the page for others to come to this site for themselves to get the free pattern. Thank you. I appreciate it.

Of course, you may print out or save this pattern for your own personal use and crochet enjoyment.

Pattern directions written by Sandi Marshall, photos are by Sandi Marshall – October 2014