Vintage Crocheted Shell Fan

By: Cylinda Mathews at Crochet Memories

 

 
Pattern - Here is a blast from the past. Make this fan for the bride or to decorate the isles.                       
Thank you Dot (3rd image) and Jewel (4th image) for sharing their projects. Both fans turned out beautifully! Thank you.

Wedding Shell Fan
Designed by: Cylinda Mathews
 
Materials:
150-yd ball 100% cotton thread, size #10
Steel crochet hook, size 8 USA (1.50 mm)
 
Molding Materials:
Commercial fabric stiffener
Plastic wrap
Rust proof pins
Ironing board, cardboard or styrofoam base
 
Finishing Materials:
3 Silk flowers w/runners and beads
1/2 yd (3/8" W) ribbon
Glue
 
Finished Size: 11" W x 6" T
 
Gauge: 2 rows of shells = 5/8"
 
Skill Level: Medium
 
Special Stitches:
Shell: work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in indicated st.
Dc Dec: (yo, insert hook in indicated st, pull up a lp, yo, draw through 2 lps on hook) as many times as stated, yo, draw through last lps on hook to complete the dec.

---

Fan:

Row 1) Ch 4; 8 dc in 4th ch from hook (first 3 ch skipped count as first dc): 9 dc.

Row 2) Ch 3, turn work; sk next dc, shell in next dc see special sts, sk next dc; * shell in next dc, sk next dc; rep from * once; dc in last dc: 3 shells.

Row 3) Ch 3, turn work; (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in first st (counts as a beg shell); (shell in next shell sp) 3 times, shell in last ch 3 turning ch: 5 shells.

Row 4) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 1, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last dc of last shell: 5 shells.

Row 5) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 3, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 5 shells/4 ch 3-sps.

Row 6) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * shell in 2nd ch of next ch 3 sp (center ch), shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells.

Row 7) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 1, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells.

Row 8) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 2, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells/8 ch 2-sps.

Row 9) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 3, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells/8 ch 3-sps.

Row 10) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 2, sc in next sp, ch 2, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells/16 ch 2 sps.

Row 11) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 4, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells/8 ch 4-sps.

Row 12) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 3, sc in next sp, ch 3, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells/16 ch 3-sps.

Row 13) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * ch 5, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells/8 ch 5-sps.

Row 14) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * (ch 2, sc, ch 3, sc, ch 2) in next ch 5 sp, shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells/8 ch 3-sps/16 ch 2-sps.

Row 15) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; * skip next sp, (dc, ch 5, dc) in 2nd ch of next ch 3 sp (center sp), shell in next shell sp; rep from * across; dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 9 shells/8 ch 5-sps.

Row 16) Ch 3, turn work; shell in next shell sp; (9 dc) in next ch 5 sp (fan made); * (dc, ch 3, dc) in next shell sp, (9 dc) in next ch 5 sp; rep from * 6 times; shell in last shell sp, dc in last ch 3 turning ch: 2 shells/8 fans.

Row 17) Ch 1, turn work, sc in same st, ch 2, sc in next shell sp, dc in next dc of fan, (ch 2, sk next dc, dc in next dc) 4 times; * sc in next ch 3 sp, dc in next dc of fan, (ch 2, sk next dc, dc in next dc) 4 times; rep from * 6 times; sc in last shell sp, ch 2, sc in ch 3 turning ch.

Row 18) Ch 3, turn work; dc in next dc; * (ch 3, dc in next dc) 3 times, ch 3, dc dec over last dc of group and next dc of next group see special sts; rep from * 6 times; (ch 3, dc in next dc) 4 times, dc in last sc: 7 dec.

Row 19) Ch 3, turn work; (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in first st (counts as a beg shell), dc in next dc, (ch 3, dc in next dc) twice; * shell in top of next dec, dc in next dc, (ch 3, dc in next dc) twice; rep from * 6 times; dc in next dc, (ch 3, dc in next dc) twice, shell in last dc: 2 shells.

Row 20) Ch 3, turn work; (dc, ch 1) 4 times in next shell sp, dc in same sp, sc in next dc, (dc, ch 1) 4 times in next dc, dc in same st, sc in next dc; * (dc, ch 1) 4 times in next shell sp, dc in same sp, sc in next dc, (dc, ch 1) 4 times in next dc, dc in same st, sc in next dc; rep from * 7 times; (dc, ch 1,) 4 times in next shell sp, dc in same sp, dc in last dc of shell. Fasten off, secure ends.

Finishing:

Cover preferred work surface with plastic wrap. Dip fan in stiffening solution and gently squeeze out excess being careful not to twist or wring the piece. Shape on prepared surface and pin in place if needed. Let dry. Remove from surface. Decorate as desired or as shown in photo.

Copyright June 2000. All rights reserved.