The Gray and White Oval Rug Pattern

Materials Required: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY
"AUNT LYDIA'S" HEAVY RUG YARN, Article 235
9 skeins Gray
2 skeins White or colors desired.

Aluminum crochet hook size H.

Rug measures 23 inches x 37 inches without fringe. With Gray, ch 40, 3 s c in 2nd st from hook, 1 s c in each of the next 37 sts of ch, 3 s c in last st, working on other side of ch, 1 s c in each of the next 37 sts, do not join this or the following rounds, place a marker at beginning of each round.

2nd Round. Work 1 s c in each s c on sides and 2 s c in each of the 3 center s c at each end.

3rd and 4th Rounds. Work 1 s c in each s c on sides and 2 s c in each of the 6 s c at each end (110 s c).

5th Round. Start to carry yarn in back of work, * with Gray 1 s c in each of the next 5 s c, with White 1 s c in each of the next 5 s c, carry the Gray yarn under the White sts and the White yarn under the Gray sts, repeat from * all around, drop White. When changing colors always complete last half of st with next color. Yarn is carried underneath in pattern rounds only.

6th Round. With Gray 1 s c in each s c on sides, increasing in every other s c of the 12 sts at each end.

7th Round (Pattern Round). 1 s c in each s c working 5 White s c in center 5 sts between the White groups of previous pattern round.

8th Round. With Gray 1 s c in each s c on sides and increasing in every 3rd st of the 21 sts at each end (7 increases at each end).

9th Round. Same as 7th round, cut White.

Next 6 Rounds. With Gray 1 s c in each s c on sides and increasing a sufficient number of times on each end to keep work flat and having a number of s c divisible by 10 on last round.

16th Round. Work in same manner as 5th round but reverse the order of colors.

17th Round. With Gray work 1 s c in each s c on sides and increasing a sufficient number of times at each end to keep work flat.

18th Round. Same as 7th round.

19th Round. Same as 17th round.

20th Round. Same as 18th round.

Next 6 Rounds. Same as 17th round but having a number of s c divisible by 10 in last round. Repeat the last 11 rounds once, then work 2 more rounds in Gray, sl st in each of the next 3 s c to even round, cut yarn.

FRINGE: Wind yarn over a 4-inch cardboard, cut one end. Using 1 strand, double in half, loop through s c, draw ends through loop tightly. Repeat in each s c having 2 strands Gray, 1 strand White all around.