Birdies Crochet and Craft: JUST ANOTHER IDEA FOR USING UP SCRAPS IN A RUG

I had all this yarn just hanging around, so this year I am trying to use some of it up. Here's one way and I am almost done with an Afghan using Caron Heather, laying around since 1985 (showing my stash age!). Hope this pattern comes in handy.

SCRAP SQUARES RUG

By Berta Gilholm

Finished Rug Size 24” x 34”

Square size 101/2” x 101/2”

Materials:

(A) claret : 2 skeins of Caron One Pound – acrylic (16 oz. /453.6 gms, 812 yards)

(B) blues : 2 skeins of Premier Parade – self patterning acrylic (3.5 oz./100 gms, 179 yards)

Crochet Hook size K, yarn needle

Stitches & Abbreviations:

Chain (Ch), Single Crochet (Sc), Slip Stitch (slst), Half Double Crochet (Hdc),

Double Crochet (Dc), Treble Crochet (Trc),

Chunk Stitch (CS): Work 1 long DC plus 1 Sc in same st or sp as follows: Yo hook once, put hook through next stitch, yo, draw up a loop, yo, pull yarn through first loop, yo, pull yarn through next 3 loops loosely, do a tight Sc in same stitch (chunk stitch created on front side).

Pu (Pick up), Yo (yarn over), Stitch (st)

* Note: Materials in this project were picked from leftover stash materials. (Use any colors you want to make squares; the borders are best using a dark color) Use 2 strands throughout.

Directions for Squares: Make 6

With (A) make a loop around fingers to form a ring, draw a loop through to form a slip knot

Rnd 1: Ch 3 around ring (counts as first Dc now and throughout), do 11 Dc in ring, join with a slst. at top of Ch 3. (12 Dc) Fasten off (A), join (B)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, Dc in same st. as joining. 2 Dc in each st. around. Join with slst.to top of beginning Ch 3. ( 24 Dc)

Rnd 3: Ch 3 in same st as joining, 2 Dc in next st. (1 Dc in next st; 2 Dc in next st ) 11 times. Join with a slst at top of Ch 3. ( 36 Dc) Fasten off (B), join (C)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, CS in same st. as joining. CS in each st. around. Join with slst.to top of beginning CS. ( 36 CS)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, Sc in top of CS st, Sc in next CS., 2 Sc in next CS, * (Sc in next 2 CS, 2 Sc in next CS) Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st in first CS (48 Sc) Fasten off (C), join (A)

Rnd 6: Ch 4 ( counts as first Trc ) make 2 Trc in same st, Dc in next st, Hdc in next 9 sts, Dc in next st. * 3 TR in next st ( to form corner ); Dc in next st, Hdc in next 9 sts, Dc in next st. * Repeat between * 2 more times ( for a total of 3 times ). Join with a sl st to top of ch 4

Rnd 7: Slst to center of corner ( group of 3 TR stitches ) Ch 3 (counts as a Dc), then ( 1 Dc, ch 2, 2 Dc) in same st., Dc in next 13 sts, *( 2 Dc , ch 2, 2 Dc ) in next st; Dc in next 13 sts.* Repeat between * 2 more times ( for a total of 3 times ) Join with a slst to top of ch 3.

Rnd 8: Slst to first of the Ch 2 spaces in corner and Ch 3, Dc in same st, Ch 2, 2 Dc in second ch 2 space of corner. Dc in next 16 sts. *2 Dc in first of the Ch 2 spaces, Ch 2, 2 Dc in second ch 2 space, DC in next 16 sts.* Repeat between * 2 more times. Join with a slst to top of ch 3. Fasten off (A), join (C) in corner chain.

Rnd 9: Ch 2, (Hdc, ch 2, 2 Hdc) in same chain 2 space. Sc in next 19 sts. *(2 Hdc, ch 2, 2 Hdc ) in corner chain 2 space, Sc in next 19 sts.* Repeat between * 2 more times. Join with a slst. In first ch 2. Fasten off and weave in loose ends.

Take a yarn needle threaded with black yarn and sew a single line through the bottom of the black CS row and the bottom of the black Sc row (rows 5 & 6) all the way around (this makes the CS stand up for texture). Fasten off, weave in ends.

Sew 3 squares together using black yarn, in a row as in diagram. Repeat for 2^nd 3 square set. Then proceed with Border.

Outside and Inside Border Rows:

(Use double strand and repeat for both 3 square sets)

Join (C) in corner st, on 1 of the 3 square sets, “see star”

Rnd 1: Ch 3, Dc in same st, Ch 1, 2 Dc in second ch 2 space of corner. Dc in each st of long side of squares across and add 3 dc in each joining between squares for 49 dc across. *(2 Dc, Ch 1, 2 Dc in ch 2 space of corner), Dc in each st across end of square(22 dc). Repeat *, Dc in each st of long side of squares across and add 3 dc in each joining between squares for 49 dc across, Repeat *, Dc in each st across end of square (22), Join with a slst to top of ch 3.

Rnd 2 and 3: Repeat round 1. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Finishing:

Use a double strand of (C) and yarn needle, sew the 2 sections of 3 squares together down the center as in following diagram. Weave in ends, trim. I glued a Rubber Coating on the back for traction or buy rubber dots from a craft store and place them intermittently across back, they will serve the same purpose.