Crochet a throw rug from scrap yarn

Here's a pattern for throw rugs I came up with several years ago. It's a good use for yarn that isn't in the best shape. I had bought a bunch of Ebay boxlots of scrap yarn for cat toys that turned out to be unraveled, dirty, and not so nice synthetic yarns. Not wanting to throw it away, I used a lot of it up crocheting these rugs. After a trip through the washer and dryer, they looked great! (I made some oblong rugs too. I have to write that pattern up yet.)

There are no carpet in my house. We have laminate floors and throw rugs. It's much easier to take care of with the cats and is much better for my allergies than carpet. I run the rugs through the washer and dryer when they get dirty. The cats think it's fun to "rug ski" on them. They get a running start, sink their claws into a rug, and s-l-i-d-e!

TEN SIDED THROW RUG to crochet

This a fast and easy rug to crochet using up odd balls of acrylic worsted weight yarn. It is crocheted with a big hook with two strands of yarn held together.

Use a strand of two different colors and change colors when one runs out. Don’t change both colors at the same time. Tie on a new ball and work over the ends to hide them.

A neutral and a darker (or brighter) color held together will give you a good contrast and a heathered effect. Use any colors you like or choose colors that go together. I sorted my yarn into neutrals (white, cream, beige, gray, and black) and what was left by individual colors.

Size N hook
worsted weight synthetic yarn
(11 ounces made a rug 26" across.)

Do not crochet too tightly. You want the rug to lay flat and not curl.

Holding two strands of yarn together:

Row 1: Chain 3, work 9 dc in ch farthest from hook, join with a slip stitch to the top of the starting chain 3.
Row 2: Chain 3, work 1 dc in the same stitch, then 2 dc in each stitch around, join. (20 dc)
Row 3: Chain 3, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next* repeating from * to * around, ending with 1 dc in last stitch, join.
Row 4: Chain 3, work 1 dc in the first stitch, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 2 stitches,* repeating from * to * around, ending with 1 dc in last stitch, join.

Continue in this fashion adding one more dc between the 2 dc until the rug is big enough. Cut yarn and fasten off.

Option:
1) You can make a rug with one strand of yarn using a size H or I hook.
2) Use wool yarn and felt the rug when you’re done. Use a bigger hook and crochet loosely so it has room to draw up when it felts.

Tip: When joining the round with a slip stitch, insert your crochet hook through the bottom (not the top) of the chain for a more invisible join.

I also worked up a more open pattern for the increases. I crocheted a sample with one strand to just make sure it works. Here it is with a picture.

For a more open patterned rug (gray sample in picture):
Row 1 & 2: Work as directed above. (20 dc)
Row 3: Chain 3, *(1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) in next stitch, 1 dc in next stitch* repeating from * to * around, ending with (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) in last stitch, join.
Row 4: Chain 3, work 1 dc in the first stitch, *(1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) over ch 2 of previous row, skip 1 stitch, 1 dc in next 2 stitches* repeating from * to * around, ending with 1 dc in last stitch, join.

Continue in this fashion, working (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) over ch 2 in previous row and adding one more dc between them until the rug is big enough.
Cut yarn and fasten off.

Vicki Mikulak
© January 2003 (updated March 2008)