Oooh, a puzzle.

You mean what looks like round 4 of the first motif photo? Here's a guess. Round 3 looks to be dc, ch 5 around. Round 4 - sl st to middle of ch 5 loop, ch 3, 4 dc into loop, *sl st into middle of next loop, ch 3, 4 dc into loop, repeat from * around.

I'm guessing how many chains are in each loop on round 3. It could be 3 or 4 or 5 or...

You said 5 dc's in each group on round 4. I replaced the first dc with a ch 3.

The sl st into the loop between each group may not be needed.

I hope some of my guesses help. Good luck to you.

I left some comments at the tablecloth's blog. Hope this helps. It looks like a lovely piece.

Thank you for your reply needles, you can see why it has its own blog, it is huge! I have not attempted to count the motifs, just trying to do the first one, if all else fails I'll do another motif in its place :P

I have started the centre of the table cloth and also attempted the two motifs, photo's can be found at the table cloth's blog.

Thanks for your help. pauline3, the sl st was needed :)
Those stitches are also used throughout the tablecloth as well, so thank you again!

Let me know if you have trouble with motif 2. That one I have in a book at home. Or at least something very very similiar.

I have attempted both of the motifs in wool, and also started the centre of the table cloth (in cotton). Photos of both can be found at the tablecloth's blog:

http://afecay-crochetstuff.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for your help, I'll post again if I get stuck .... ummm like how I am going to join them all :P

Slip stitches! You join the motifs on their last round to the center circle and to each other with slip stitches. Once in a while, the pattern might use some sc's to join. You'll have to look closely - as you have been. Google 'joining thread crochet motifs' and you'll find lots of help.

I've been trying to figure out why the cloth is coming apart where it does. Hah! It's been on a round table, and I'll bet that's where people rested their arms. It must have been out, used, and someone's prize for years.

The tablcloth was bought by my husband's Grandparents in Fiji over 20 years ago, so yep it has been living on their table most of that time, there are a few marks on it but I am not game enough to put it in the washing machine considering the number of holes in it!

When I told my husband I was going to copy it as a challenge I was not kidding :P

In some ways I am actually finding it fun to do, in others it is very frustrating.

I have at least started the centre now :) and my husband seems to think that the thread I bought is finer than the one used to make it in the first place. That'd be right! Considering I bought 20 x 100 gram lots of it, I am not about to change thread size :P

Thanks for your replies Pauline ... I'll let you know when I get up to adding in the motifs.

I think you work them on as you go around, working the last round of the motif and connecting the chains from the previous row.