Checkmate Tray Mat Pattern #7019

Materials:
Choose one of the following threads in White or Ecru:
Clark's O.N.T. Mercerized Crochet, size 20, 5 balls.
J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, size 20, 4 balls.
J. & P. Coats Big Ball, size 20, 3 balls.
Clark's Big Ball, size 20, 3 balls.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 9.

When completed, mat measures about 18 x 13 inches.

To begin, ch 233, turn. 1st row: Tr in 7th ch from hook, * ch 1, skip 1 ch, 1 tr in next ch, repeat from * to end of row (114 sps). Ch 5, turn. 2nd row: 1 tr in next tr, * ch 1, 1 tr in next tr, repeat from * working last tr into 5th st of ch-6. Ch 5, turn. 3rd row: Same as 2nd row working last tr in 4th st of ch-5. Ch 5, turn. 4th and 5th rows: Repeat 3rd row. 6th row: 1 tr in next tr, * ch 1, 1 tr in next tr, re­peat from * 7 times more, 1 tr in each st to within 9 sps of end of row. Work to correspond with be­ginning of row, working last tr in 4th st of ch-5. Ch 5, turn. 7th row: 9 sps, 1 tr in each tr to within 9 sps, work 9 sps. Ch 5, turn. 8th row: 9 sps, 1 tr in each of the next 8 tr, ** work half of a tr in next tr leaving 3 loops on hook, thread over hook, skip 1 tr, draw loop through next tr and work off the 5 loops on hook 2 at a time, ch 1, work 1 d c in center of tr (this forms a cross), * ch 1, skip 1 tr, work a cross same as before. Repeat from * twice more (4 crosses in all), 1 tr in each of the next 5 tr, * ch 3, skip 3 tr, 1 tr in next tr, repeat from last * 3 times more, 1 tr in each of the next 4 tr, repeat from ** 3 times more. Work 4 more crosses, work 1 tr in each of the next 9 tr, 9 sps. Ch 5, turn. Work 3 more rows in same manner as last row, working crosses and spaces exactly on top of one another. 12th row: 9 sps, 1 tr in each st to within 9 sps, work 9 sps. Ch 5, turn. Continue working last 5 rows, working squares al­ternately (having square of spaces on top of square of crosses) until there are 7 rows of squares. The mat is now worked to correspond with border at be­ginning of mat. Edging. Work 3 s c in each sp on shorter sides of mat and 2 s c in each sp on longer sides of mat, working 5 s c in sp at corners. Work 2 rows more of s c, working 1 s c in each s c of previous row. Fasten off. Press with a damp cloth.