Original reconstruction inspired by the visible crochet design; not the original creator’s exact written pattern.
A long oval crochet table runner built around a cream centre panel, six raised purple flowers and a dramatic layered border in cream, lilac and pink. The outer edge uses repeated zigzag points, shell sections and small picot-like bumps, which gives the runner the rich ornamental look visible in the photograph.
The easiest way to reproduce this style is to treat the runner as three parts: the oval centre, the raised flower motifs and the decorative border. Once the centre is finished, the border grows outward in rounds and the flowers are sewn on last.
Finished size is approximately 95 to 110 cm long and 36 to 42 cm wide, depending on yarn and tension.
What you’ll need
DK or light worsted cotton in warm cream, medium lilac, dusty pink, bright pink and olive green.
A 3 to 3.5 mm crochet hook, tapestry needle, scissors and six pearl-style beads or crocheted centres for the flowers.
Abbreviations are US terms. ch is chain, sl st is slip stitch, sc is single crochet, hdc is half double crochet, dc is double crochet, tr is treble crochet, MR is magic ring.
The oval centre
With cream, ch 75.
Round 1. Dc in fourth chain from hook and in each chain to the last. Work 6 dc in the final chain. Continue along the opposite side of the foundation chain, working dc in each chain. Work 5 dc in the first chain and join.
Round 2. Ch 3. Dc around, increasing evenly across each rounded end by working 2 dc into each of the six turning stitches.
Rounds 3 to 12. Continue in dc, keeping the long sides straight and placing 6 evenly spaced increases around each curved end on every round.
The centre should lie flat and form a smooth elongated oval.
Decorative inner stripes
Work one round in pink, one round in cream and one round in lilac around the oval.
Use sc or hdc for these narrow stripes so they stay crisp and do not add too much width.
Lilac textured border
Join lilac.
Round 1. Work dc around, increasing as needed at both rounded ends.
Round 2. *Skip 2 stitches, 5 dc in next stitch, skip 2 stitches, sc in next stitch.* Repeat around, adjusting slightly at the curves.
Round 3. Work sc around, placing 3 sc into the centre stitch of each shell.
This creates the visible lilac band underneath the cream zigzag layer.
Cream zigzag border
Join cream.
Work repeated points around the runner:
*Sc in next 5 stitches, hdc in next 2, dc in next 2, tr in next 2, ch 2, tr in next 2, dc in next 2, hdc in next 2, sc in next 5.*
Repeat around, adjusting the spacing so the peaks remain regular.
At each ch-2 peak, work a small pink picot on the following round: join pink, *sl st to peak, ch 3, sl st in first chain*.
Pink outer edging
Join dusty pink or bright pink.
Work one round of sc around the outer edge, adding 3 sc into each point and one decrease in each inner valley.
Final round: *sl st, ch 3, sl st in same stitch, skip 2 stitches.* Repeat around to make the small knotted or picot-like finish seen in the photograph.
Raised purple flower
Make six.
Centre:
Round 1. 12 sc in MR. Join.
Petals:
For each petal, work into the next stitch:
*ch 5, 3 tr together over the next 2 stitches, ch 5, sl st into the next stitch.*
Repeat until you have 8 to 10 rounded petals.
For a fuller look, work a second petal round behind the first using ch-5 spaces and the same petal sequence.
Sew or crochet a pearl-style bead into the centre.
Green leaf base under each flower
Make twelve small leaves, two per flower.
Ch 8.
Starting in second chain: sl st, sc, hdc, dc, 2 tr, dc.
Work 3 sc in final chain and mirror the stitches down the opposite side.
Fasten off and shape to a point.
Arranging the flowers
Place the six purple flowers in a straight vertical line down the centre of the oval.
Leave about 5 to 7 cm between flower centres.
Under each flower, place two small olive leaves diagonally so only their pointed ends show.
Sew the leaves first, then the flowers through the centre and several hidden points around the petal bases.
Finishing
Block the runner flat before attaching the flowers if possible.
After the flowers are sewn on, reshape the outer zigzag points by hand and make sure every picot sits outward rather than folding under.
Variations
For a softer version, use cream, sage and blush. For a bolder version, replace lilac with deep plum and use gold flower centres.
You can also make only four flowers for a shorter runner or eight flowers for a longer dining-table version.
Questions I get asked
Why is my oval cupping? Add more increases around the rounded ends. If it ripples, you have too many increases.
Do I need real pearls? No. Small crocheted bobbles or covered buttons work well.
Can the flowers be crocheted directly onto the runner? They can, but separate flowers create more height and are easier to position evenly.