Checkered Motif Place Mat Pattern

COATS & CLARK'S O.N.T. "Speed-Cro-Sheen" MER­CERIZED COTTON, Art. C.44: 2 balls each of No. 61-D Nu-Ecru and No. 131 Fudge Brown.
Milwards Steel Crochet Hook No. 2/0 (double zero).
A hairpin lace staple, ½ inch wide.

MOTIF (Make 17 Fudge Brown and 18 Nu-Ecru) …Starting at center, make a strip of Basic Hairpin Lace, see patternbook page, having 12 loops on each side of staple. Break off. Sew short ends together at center. Draw a thread through all loops at inner edge and pull up tightly (motif center). Fasten ends securely. Make another strip of hairpin lace, having 28 loops on each side of staple. Break off. Sew short ends together at center.

To Join Pieces: Attach thread to any loop on first piece, sc in same place, * sc in next loop on inner edge of second piece, sc in next loop on first piece, make an sc through next 5 loops on second piece, sc in next loop on first piece. Repeat from * around. Join and break off.

To Join Motifs: Mark 4 corners with pins, having 7 loops on each side. With wrong sides of an Ecru and Brown motif facing and working through both thick­nesses. attach Fudge Brown to corner loop, sc in same place, sc in next 6 loops, do not break off. Reversing colors, continue joining motifs in checkerboard fashion until 7 sets (14 motifs) have been joined—this forms a ridge. Join 3 more rows of 7 motifs to preceding rows the same way. Attach Brown at narrow side to first free loop on motifs of first and second rows and sc across, forming ridge as before. Complete all short rows in same manner.

EDGING … 1st rnd: Attach Brown to free corner loop on any motif, sc in each loop around. Join. Break off and turn. 2nd rnd: Attach Brown to any 2 loops on last rnd of hairpin lace and make a sl st in same place, * make a sl st through next 2 loops. Repeat from * around. Join and break off. Block to measurements.