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Biarritz Embroidered Block Rug (vintage American Thread): vintage crochet pattern
A light brown rug in a textured long single crochet pattern with inset white blocks worked in intarsia. Each white block is embroidered with a brown cross-stitch motif from a chart. Originally published as "Biarritz" in Crocheted Rugs (Star Rug Book No. 106) by The American Thread Company, it is now in the public domain.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Reviewed · Editorial policy
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Reviewed September 14, 2026 under our editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Bulky (#5) |
| Yardage | 819–910 yd (749–832 m) |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Gauge | Not printed. Suggested from the printed width: about 13 sts = 4 in (10 cm) — 71 sc across 22 in. Work firmly. |
| Finished size | Approximately 22 × 33 in (56 × 84 cm) |
| Time | about 6 hours |
Materials
- Aunt Lydia's Heavy Rug Yarn (Coats & Clark) is still sold. It is a bulky (#5)-class rug yarn; substitute any bulky rug yarn that matches the gauge.
- Yardage: the original lists 13 skeins but does not print the skein size. Other American Thread books of the period list this yarn in 70 yd skeins, which would be about 910 yd (832 m) — check the current label before buying.
- Colours: 9 skeins light brown, 4 skeins white.
- Original hook: aluminum crochet hook size H.
- Safety pins to hold small balls of yarn; tapestry needle for embroidery.
- Hook: Start with 5 mm (US H-8) and change size to match the gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms)
Notes before you start
- Source: "Biarritz", Crocheted Rugs (Star Rug Book No. 106), The American Thread Company. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY "AUNT LYDIA'S" HEAVY RUG YARN, Article 235; 9 skeins Lt. Brown.; 4 skeins White or color desired.; Aluminum crochet hook size H.. Gauge: Not given.
- Modernisation note: The original is written in US terms; abbreviations were updated to modern style (s c → sc, d c → dc, s d c → hdc).
- Modernisation note: "Long s c" is written as long sc (lsc): a single crochet worked into the base of the stitch below.
- Modernisation note: "Repeat the last 2 rows 3 times" is written as rows 5–10, and "repeat the last 2 rows 6 times, then repeat the 12th row once" as rows 14–25 and row 26. These numbers are our arithmetic and match the original's own numbering of rows 11 and 27.
- Modernisation note: The printed stitch count (71 sc) is kept from the original.
- Modernisation note: Row 11 is kept as one long entry because it is a single row in the original.
- Modernisation note: Check: the embroidery chart is in the original illustrations; it is reproduced as an image, not redrawn.
- Modernisation note: "Weave in all ends securely" was added as a finishing step; it is not in the original.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions and the suggested gauge were added; they are not in the original.
- Modernisation note: Hook letters from this period were not standardised to millimetres; the starting size given is a modern equivalent, and the gauge is what matters.
Border rows
- Row 1: With brown, ch 72, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch, ch 1, turn. Work firmly throughout.
- Row 2: Sc in each sc, ch 1, turn. (71 sc)
- Row 3: Sc in 1st sc, long sc in base of next sc, *sc in top of next sc, long sc in base of next sc; rep from * across, ending with sc in top of last sc, ch 1, turn.
- Row 4: Long sc in 1st sc, *sc in top of next long sc, long sc in base of next sc; rep from * across, ch 1, turn. The last 2 rows form the pattern.
- Rows 5–10: Repeat rows 3 and 4 three times.
- Measure about 16 yd (15 m) of white for each of the 3 white blocks and roll each into a ball, held with a safety pin so it does not tangle. Measure about 16 yd (15 m) of brown for each brown stripe and roll into a ball in the same way. Continue working with the original skeins for the border stripe.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Biarritz Embroidered Block Rug (vintage American Thread) pattern is in the Retro Crochet Rugs
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Block rows
- Completing the rug
- Embroidery
- Finishing
Included with 15 patterns for $12 — $0.80 per pattern.
Errata
No corrections have been published for this pattern. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will log the fix here with a date.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Biarritz pattern from?
It was published as "Biarritz" in Crocheted Rugs (Star Rug Book No. 106) by The American Thread Company. The publication is in the public domain in the United States; this version is transcribed and modernised by crochetpatterns.io.
What yarn or thread do I need for the Biarritz?
bulky (#5) yarn. Original: 13 skeins; skein size not printed (likely 70 yd each — check the label).
What hook should I use?
Start with 5 mm (US H-8) and change size to match the gauge. Gauge: Not printed. Suggested from the printed width: about 13 sts = 4 in (10 cm) — 71 sc across 22 in. Work firmly.
