Rusticana Luncheon Set Pattern #7433

Informal? If you're just going to toss up a salad, here's your ticket! Three threads, crocheted as one, give a smart straw-like texture. Shellac them … you'll bless their practicality.

MATERIALS:
J. & P. COATS KNIT-CRO-SHEEN, 5 balls each of Yellow, Brown and Green (any 5 colors may be substituted).
Milward's Steel Crochet Hook No. 2/0 (double zero).

This amount is sufficient for a set, consisting of a centerpiece, about 15 inches in diameter; 4 place mats, about 11½ inches in diameter; 4 bread and butter plate mats, about 7½ inches in diameter; and 4 glass mats, about 5 inches in diameter.

CENTERPIECE … Using 1 strand each of the 3 colors as one, ch 2. 1st rnd: 8 s c in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st to 1st s c made. 2nd rnd: Ch 4, insert hook in 2nd ch from hook and draw loop through, (insert hook in next ch and draw loop through) twice; insert hook in same place as sl st and draw loop through, thread over and draw through all loops on hook, ch 1 loosely to fasten (a star st made). * Insert hook in fastening ch just made and draw loop through, insert hook in last loop of previous star st and draw loop through, insert hook in st where last loop of previous star st was drawn through, and draw loop through, insert hook in next s c and draw loop through, thread over and draw through all loops on hook. Ch 1 loosely to fasten (another star st made). Repeat from * around (8 star sts in rnd). Do not join rnds, but work as follows:
   3rd rnd: * Draw up first 3 loops of next star st as before, draw up last loop in top of next star st (not in fastening ch); complete star st as before (an increase made). Make another star st, drawing up last loop through fastening ch (star st made over star st). Repeat from * around (8 increases made—16 star sts in rnd). Continue to work in rnds, making star st over star st and increasing as necessary to keep work flat, until piece measures about 15 inches in diameter—when NOT INCREASING, work into the fastening ch's only; when INCREASING, work into the top of the star sts as well as into fastening ch's. Sl st in fastening ch of next star st of last rnd. Fasten off.

PLACE MATS (Make 4) … Work as for Centerpiece until piece measures about 11½ inches in diameter. Fasten off.

BREAD and BUTTER PLATE MATS (Make 4) … Work as for Centerpiece until piece measures about 7½ inches in diameter. Fasten off.

GLASS MATS (Make 4) … Work as for Centerpiece until piece measures about 5 inches in diameter. Fasten off.