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Highly original and very lovely — this checkerboard of filet squares alternating with squares of Irish Crochet motifs — smart in modern or period settings.

MATERIALS: Use one of the following threads:
Clark's O.N.T. Lustersheen, 39 skeins of White or Ecru, or 52 skeins of any color for single size spread; 47 skeins of White or Ecru, or 62 skeins of any color for double size spread.
J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 52 balls of White or Ecru, or 63 balls of any color for single size spread; 62 balls of White or Ecru, or 74 balls of any color for double size spread.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 8.

GAUGE: Each completed flower block or filet block measures 7 inches square. For a single size spread, about 77 x 105 inches, make 83 flower blocks, and 82 filet blocks. For a double size spread, about 91 x 105 inches, make 98 flower blocks and 97 filet blocks.

FLOWER BLOCK. First Motif … Ch 12, join. 1st rnd: 16 s c in ring. Join. 2nd rnd: Ch 5 (to count as s c and ch-4), * skip 1 s c, s c in next s c, ch 4. Repeat from * around, joining last ch-4 to 1st ch of ch-5. 3rd rnd: Ch 4, sl st in s c following loop on previous row. Continue thus around, join. 4th rnd: In each loop of 2nd rnd make s c, half d c, 3 d c, half d c and s c. Join to 1st s c made (8 petals). Sl st in 1st loop of 3rd rnd (at back of petal), sl st in 2nd ch of loop. 5th rnd: S c in loop, * ch 5, s c in next loop. Repeat from * around, joining last loop to 1st s c made. Sl st to 3rd ch of 1st loop. 6th rnd: Ch 5 (to count as d tr); make 2 d tr in ch at base of ch-5, holding back on hook the last loop of each st; thread over and draw through all loops, ch 1 tightly (a beginning cluster); make 3 more ch; make 3 d tr in same ch as previous cluster, holding back last loop of each st; complete cluster. * Ch 3 more; in 3rd ch of next ch-5 make 2 clusters separated by ch-3. Repeat from *, joining last ch-3 to tip of 1st cluster made. Fasten off securely.

Second Motif … Work as for 1st motif to 5th rnd incl. 6th rnd: Ch 5 and complete a beginning cluster, ch 1 more, drop loop from hook, insert it in a loop between 2-cluster group on 1st motif and draw loop through; ch 2, make a cluster in same ch as previous cluster, ch 3, cluster in 3rd ch of next ch-5, ch 1, drop loop from hook and join as before to corresponding loop of 1st motif, ch 2, cluster in same ch as previous cluster, ch 3. Complete as for 6th rnd of 1st motif (no more joinings).

   Make a block consisting of 3 x 3 motifs (9 motifs in all), joining 2 cluster-groups at each corresponding side (see illustration).

   Attach thread at ch-3 of 1st cluster-group on 1st motif at upper right. 1st rnd: * 2 s c in ch-3 sp, s c at tip of cluster, 4 s c in ch-3 between groups, s c at tip of next cluster, 2 s c in next sp, ch 5, tr in center ch of next ch-3, ch 2, tr in 1st ch of ch-3 on next motif (this is ch following ch-1 belonging to cluster), ch 5. Repeat from * along this side, ending with 2 s c to correspond with beginning, ch 5; in center ch of ch-3 at corner make tr, ch 5, tr; ch 5. Repeat from beginning of rnd, joining last ch-5 to 1st s c made. 2nd rnd: Ch 5 (to count as d c and ch-2), * skip 2 sts, d c in next st, ch 2. Repeat from * to 1st tr at corner; in center ch of corner ch-5 make d c, ch 5 and d c; ch 2, d c in next tr. Continue to make sps around; join last ch-2 to 3rd st of beginning ch-5 (27 sps along each side, counting corner sps). Fasten off securely.

FILET BLOCK … Starting at bottom, ch 86. 1st row: D c in 8th ch from hook, * ch 2, skip 2 ch, d c in next ch. Repeat from * across (27 sps). Ch 5, turn. 2nd row: D c in next d c, 2 d c in sp, d c in next d c (bl); make another bl, ch 2, d c in next d c; 2 more sps, 5 bls, 2 sps, 1 bl, 2 sps, 5 bls, 3 sps, 2 bls, 1 sp. Ch 5, turn. Now follow chart to top. Fasten off.

   Make necessary number of blocks. Sew together neatly on wrong side, alternating blocks as in illustration, and having flower blocks at corners (for double size, 13 x 15 blocks; for single size, 11 x 15 blocks). Be sure rows of all filet blocks run in same direction.