This is not actually my original design, I copied it from a rug that was in the back of someone's car … they did not have the pattern because the rug was in the car when they bought it! (so if you know where this pattern comes from/who wrote it - feel free to tell me - then I can acknowledge it or whatever).

I have written out this pattern in Australian (because I am Australian) and also in American terminology (because most of the squares I have seen online seem to be in American terminology). If you are English (or used to using English patterns), use the Australian version (I think we both use the same).

Australian version …

This pattern produces a small square, approximately 4" square … but to make a bigger square (like the 7" ones for the Australiacrochet mailing list's "mystery quilt" ) , You can leave out that last row of dc (or leave it there if you want to ) and work 3 (or however many rows you need) of tr (or htr if you like it better … or whatever you want if you feel like being creative ) working 2tr, 2ch, 2tr in corner spaces, and then finish with a row of dc (working 3dc in corner spaces).

Uses small amounts of yarn in 3 or 4 colours , and whatever size hook suits the size yarn (I used 8 ply and a size 4 hook).

4ch, slst to form a ring.

Round 1. Working in ring, 2ch 3tr, 3ch, (4tr, 3ch) 3 times. Join with slst to top of beg 3 ch. Finish off A (or if using same color for next round - slst to next 3ch space)

Round 2. Using color B, Join in any 2ch space. (2ch, 3tr, 2ch, 4tr) all in same 3ch space. * skip 2tr, tr in next tr (middle of 4tr group), skip next tr. (4tr, 2ch, 4tr) in 2ch space. * rpt from * to * 2 more times. Skip 2tr, tr in next tr (middle of 4tr group), skip next tr. Join with slst to top of beg 2ch. Finish off B.

Round 3. Using color C, do not join to work … make 4 ch, tr in the single tr in the middle of any side of square. 4ch, (tr, 4ch, tr) in corner space, * 4ch, skip 4tr, tr in next tr (the single one in the middle ), 4ch, (tr, 4ch, tr) in corner space * . Rpt from * to * twice more. Join with a slst to the first of the beginning 4 ch.

Round 4. ch1, * dc into next 4ch, dc in next tr, rpt from * around, join with slst in first dc. Finish off C.

Round 5. Using colour D (or colour A again looks good too), Join with a slst in any dc. Work 1 dc in each dc around, working 3dc in each corner. Finish off D.

Several (or several dozen ) of these squares can then be joined (using whatever method you prefer) to make a rug.

American version …

This pattern produces a small square, approximately 4" square … but to make a bigger square (like the 7" ones for the Australiacrochet mailing list's "mystery quilt" ) , You can leave out that last row of sc (or leave it there if you want to ) and work 3 (or however many rows you need) of dc (or hdc if you like it better … or whatever you want if you feel like being creative ) working 2dc, 2ch, 2dc in corner spaces, and then finish with a row of sc (working 3sc in corner spaces).

Uses small amounts of yarn in 3 or 4 colours , and whatever size hook suits the size yarn (Worsted weight yarn, and probably a size H should work fine)

4ch, slst to form a ring.

Round 1. Working in ring, 2ch, 3dc, 3ch, (4dc, 3ch) 3 times. Join with slst to top of beg 3 ch. Finish off A (or if using same color for next round - slst to next 3ch space)

Round 2. Using color B, Join in any 2ch space. (2ch, 3dc, 2ch, 4dc) all in same 3ch space. * skip 2dc, dc in next dc (middle of 4dc group), skip next dc. (4dc, 2ch, 4dc) in 2ch space. * rpt from * to * 2 more times. Skip 2dc, dc in next dc (middle of 4dc group), skip next dc. Join with slst to top of beg 2ch. Finish off B.

Round 3. Using color C, do not join to work … make 4 ch, dc in the single dc in the middle of any side of square. 4ch, (dc, 4ch, dc) in corner space, * 4ch, skip 4dc, dc in next dc (the single one in the middle ), 4ch, (dc, 4ch, dc) in corner space * . Rpt from * to * twice more. Join with a slst to the first of the beginning 4 ch.

Round 4. ch1, * sc into next 4ch, sc in next dc, rpt from * around, join with slst in first sc. Finish off C.

Round 5. Using colour D (or colour A again looks good too), Join with a slst in any sc. Work sc in each sc around, working 3sc in each corner. Finish off D.

Several (or several dozen ) of these squares can then be joined (using whatever method you prefer) to make a rug.

Email: aykayem@reocities.com

This is the larger version (approx 7") of the square ...