Irish Crochet and Popcorn Bedspread Pattern #60

   The combination of Irish Crochet with the tufted popcorn stitch in this bedspread is very effective, especially when it is made in soft gleaming Knit-Cro-Sheen. Twisted strands of the Knit-Cro-Sheen form the fringe of the bedspread.

Materials: J. &. P Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, for double size spread, 17 x 20 blocks (finished size about 89 x 104 inches including fringe border), 66 balls of White or Ecru; for single size spread, 14 x 20 blocks (finished size about 74 x 104 inches including fringe border), 55 balls. Or Clark's O.N.T. Cronita, 74 balls for double size spread and 62 balls for single size spread. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 3 to 6.

Gauge: Blocks are 5 inches square. (Each block requires 57 yards of thread. Each 5 inches of border takes 9 yards for two-inch fringe.)

   To begin, ch 8, join with sl st to form a ring. 1st row: Ch 1, 12 s c in ring. Join with sl st in 1st s c. 2nd row: * ch 5, skip 1 s c, 1 s c in next s c. Repeat from * until there are 6 loops. Join the last ch 5 in the s c of the first loop. 3rd row: Over each ch-5 work 1 s c, 1 half d c, 5 d c, 1 half d c, 1 s c. 4th row: Ch 5, fasten with s c on back of preceding row between two petals, ch 5, fasten as before. Repeat around 6 petals. 5th row: Over each ch-5 work 1 s c, 1 half d c, 1 d c, 5 tr, 1 d c, 1 half d c, 1 s c.

6th row: Sl st in each of first 3 sts of 1st petal made in this row, 1 s c in 1st tr, * ch 9, 1 s c in 5th tr, ch 4, 1 s c in same st forming a p, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in 1st tr of next petal, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in 5th tr, ch 9, 1 s c and 1 p in 1st tr of next petal, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in 5th tr of same petal, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in 1st tr of next petal, and repeat from * once. 7th row: Sl st to middle of ch-9 loop, * ch 7, 1 s c in same st from which ch-7 started, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in center of next ch-7 loop of preceding row, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in center of next ch-7 loop, ch 7, 1 s c in center of ch-9 and repeat from * 3 times.

8th row: Sl st to middle of 1st ch-7 loop, ch 8, 1 d c in same st from which ch-8 started, * ch 6, 1 s c and 1 p in center of ch of preceding row, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in center of next ch-7, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in center of next ch-7, ch 6, 1 d c in center of next ch 7 loop, ch 5, 1 d c in same st as last d c and repeat from * 3 times, ending row with sl st (instead of d c) in 3rd st of ch-8. 9th row: Ch 3, * 1 d c in each of the next 2 sts, ch 5, 1 d c in same st as previous d c, 1 d c in each of the next 2 sts, 1 popcorn st in next st as follows: ch 1, 5 d c in next d c, drop st from hook, insert hook back in ch-1 and draw dropped loop through the one on hook. 1 d c in each of the next 3 sts, ch 6, 1 s c and p in center of ch loop of preceding row, ch 7, 1 s c and 1 p in center of next ch loop, ch 6, 1 d c in each of last 3 sts of next ch-6, 1 popcorn st in next d c, 1 d c in next st. Repeat from * 3 times, ending row with a popcorn st and sl st in 3rd st of ch-3 first made.

10th row: Ch 3, * 1 d c in next d c, 1 popcorn st, 1 d c in each of the next 3 sts, ch 5, 1 d c in same st for corner. Work in next 12 sts as follows: 2 d c, 1 popcorn st, 5 d c, 1 popcorn st, 3 d c (catching hook in backloop only throughout block) ch 6, 1 s c and 1 p in center of next ch loop, ch 6, 1 d c in center of next ch loop, 2 d c, 1 popcorn st, 5 d c, 1 popcorn st, 4 d c. Repeat from * 3 times, ending row by sl st in 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 11th row: Ch 3, * 4 d c, 1 popcorn st, 3 d c, ch 5, 1 d c in same st for corner. Work in next 18 sts—2 d c, 1 popcorn st, 5 d c, 1 popcorn st, 5 d c, 1 popcorn st, 3 d c. Ch 5, 1 d c in center of next ch loop, 2 d c, 1 popcorn st, 5 d c, 1 popcorn st, 1 d c and repeat from * 3 times, ending row with popcorn st and sl st in 3rd st of ch-3 first made.

12th row: Ch 3, 1 d c in each st to corner, ch 5, 1 d c in same st for corner, then 1 d c in each st making corners as before. Join with sl st in 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 13th row: Ch 3, skip 2 sts, 1 s c in next st. Continue around entire block with ch 3 and s c so that there are 18 loops on each side and an additional loop at each corner.

To join, catch with s c on ch-3 nearest the edge, ch 3, catch with s c in same position on 2nd block, ch 3, 1 s c on next ch-3 of 1st block, ch 3, catch on 2nd block and so on along one side.

Outer edge—1st row: Ch 7 and s c in alternate ch-3's. 2nd row: Ch 7 and 1 p in each loop.

Fringe: For fringe knot 6 strands of cotton into each loop all around bedspread.