Empire Runner Pattern #7117

aterials: Choose one of the following threads in Ecru or White: Clark's O.N.T. Mercerized Crochet, size 50, 9 balls. J. & P. Coats Mercerized Crochet, size 50, 7 balls. J, & P. Coats Big Ball Best Six Cord Mercerized Crochet, size 50, 4 balls. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 12.

Gauge: 7 sps make linch; 7 rows make Linch.

Starting at "A" on chart, ch 33. Ist row: Dcin 4thch from hook, dc in each ch across (31 dc, counting turning chas ldc).Ch3, turn.

2nd row: Dcineachdcacross. Ch23, turn.

3rd row: Dc in 4thch from hook, dc ineachch across, dcindc(/ bls made); ch2, skip 2dc,dcinnextd c(1sp made). Make 9 more sps. Theninc. 7 bls as follows: Thread over hook, insert hook in 3rd st of turning ch, thread over hook and draw through | loop, thus forming a ch-1, and complete remaining loops as foradc. Makea ch-landdcinch-1at base of previous dc and continue in this manner until 21 dc in all are made, but omit the ch-]1 of lastdc. Ch3, turn.

4th row: Dcineachdc across, | sp, 8 bls, ]sp, 7 bls. Ch 8, turn.

5th row: Dcin 4th ch from hook, dcineachchacross,dcindc,8sps,1bl,6sps,1bl, 8 sps; theninc.6dcas before (2 bls). Ch 3, turn.

Hereafter follow chart from "B" until design is completed. Then continue the bl, sop and bl along outer edges and make sp over sp until piece measures 23 inches. Then reverse the design and work to correspond with opposite edge, making decreases where increases were made before (to decrease, sl stin each st across 2 bls, or 7 bls, as the case may be).

This free pattern originally published in Spool Cotton #118, Doilies, Luncheon Sets and Table Runners