Tray for Three Placemat Pattern #7149

MATERIALS … Choose one of the following threads in size 50:
Clark's O.N.T. Mercerized Crochet, 4 balls of White or Ecru, or 6 balls of any color.
J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, 3 balls of White or Ecru, or 4 balls of any color.
J. & P. Coats Big Ball Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, 2 balls of White or Ecru.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 12.

GAUGE: Each motif measures about 1¼ inches square. When completed, tray cloth measures about 11½ x 17½ inches.

FIRST STRIP. First Motif … Starting at center, ch 8. Join with sl st to form ring. 1st rnd: Ch 3, 4 d c in ring, * ch 5, 5 d c in ring. Repeat from * 2 more times, ch 5. Join with sl st to 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 2nd rnd: Sl st in each of next 4 d c, sl st in ch-5 loop, ch 3, 2 d c in same loop, ch 3, 3 d c in same loop (corner); * ch 3, skip next 2 d c, s c in next d c, ch 3; in next ch-5 loop make 3 d c, ch 3, 3 d c. Repeat from * around, ending with ch 3, sl st in 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 3rd rnd: Sl st in each of next 2 d c, sl st in ch-3 sp, ch 3, 2 d c in same sp, ch 3, 3 d c in same sp, * ch 3, s c in next ch-3 loop, ch 3, s c in next ch-3 loop, ch 3; in corner ch-3 make 3 d c, ch 3, 3 d c. Repeat from * around, ending with ch 3. Join with sl st to 3rd st of ch-3 first made. 4th rnd: Sl st in each of next 2 d c, sl st in corner ch-3 sp, ch 3, 2 d c in same sp, ch 3, 3 d c in same sp, * ch 3, s c in next ch-3 loop, ch 2, 2 half d c in next ch-3 loop, ch 2, s c in next ch-3 loop, ch 3; in corner ch-3 make 3 d c, ch 3, 3 d c. Repeat from * around, ending with ch 3. Join with sl st to 3rd st of ch-3 first made. Fasten and break off. This completes one motif.

Second Motif … Work as for first motif to 3rd rnd incl. 4th rnd: Sl st in each of next 2 d c, sl st in ch-3 sp, ch 3, 2 d c in same sp, ch 1, s c in corner ch-3 of first motif, ch 1, 3 d c back in corner ch-3 of second motif, ch 3, s c in next loop, ch 2, half d c in next loop, s c between 2 half d c of first motif, half d c back in same loop of second motif, ch 2, s c in next loop, ch 3, 3 d c in corner ch-3 sp, ch 1, s c back in corner loop of first motif, ch 1, 3 d c back in corner loop of second motif (thus second motif is joined to first). Complete rnd as for first motif.

Make 7 more motifs, joining to previous one as second was joined to first.

SECOND STRIP. First Motif … Work as for second motif of first strip, joining on last rnd to lower edge of first motif of first strip.

Second Motif … Join on last rnd to lower edge of second motif of first strip, and to adjacent side of first motif of second strip.

Continue in this manner until there are 14 strips of 9 motifs. Attach thread to outer edge, and work a rnd of s c closely together all around outer edges, keeping work flat.