Free preview · full pattern in the Retro Crochet Rugs
Garden Gay Rug, No. 26 (1970): vintage crochet pattern
A 24 × 40-inch rug in cotton rug yarn: 144 small square crocheted bases in light blue, each with a two-loop daisy made on a daisy winder (flower loom) tacked on top, sewn together in diagonal color bands of cream, peach, salmon rose and blue daisies and finished with a single crochet border.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Easy |
| Yarn weight | Bulky (#5) |
| Yardage | 1224–1360 yd (1119–1244 m) |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Gauge | Not printed. From the printed size, each block is about 2½ in (6.5 cm) square. |
| Finished size | 24 × 40 in (61 × 102 cm); 144 blocks. |
| Time | about 12 hours |
Materials
- A daisy winder or flower loom that makes daisies of the printed size (e.g. 2 in / 5 cm)
- Cotton rug yarn (about bulky #5) in 80 yd (73 m) skeins: 13 light blue, 2 peach, 1 salmon pink and 1 cream.
- 5 mm (US H-8) crochet hook.
- Carpet warp (or strong cotton cord) for tacking the peach, salmon rose and cream daisies.
- Large needle.
- Hook: Start with 5 mm (US H-8); change size to match the printed size.
Smart Yarn Matcher
Compare all yarns →Yarn Kit & Substitution Options
This pattern calls for 1360 yards of weight #5 yarn. Select a suggested yarn to see required skeins and estimated cost:
Premier Basics Chunky · 100% Acrylic
218 yds per skein · Fast make, dense pill-resistant body
7 skeins required
approx. $$34.93 total
Abbreviations (US terms)
- chain
- slip stitch
- single crochet
- half double crochet
- double crochet
- stitch
- stitches
- together
- row
Notes before you start
- Source: "Rug "Garden Gay"" (No. 26), Designs for Crazy Daisy Winder: Crochet Time Cut in Half, Hero Manufacturing Company, 1970. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: Lily Rug Yarn Art. 241 (80-yd. skeins):—13-sks. Lt. Blue, 2-sks. Peach and 1-sk. each Salmon Rose and Cream.; Crochet hook size H-6.; CRAZY DAISY WINDER.. Gauge: Not given.
- Modernisation note: The first section is the book's general "To Make Daisies" directions, printed once on page 2 and referenced by each design as "following instructions on page 2"; it is repeated here so the pattern stands alone. "Ill." is written as "Illustration".
- Modernisation note: The book was written for its maker's 12-spoke daisy winder. Any daisy winder or flower loom with 12 spokes that makes daisies of the same size will work; the book does not print the daisy diameter, so make and edge one daisy first and compare it with the printed block or article size.
- Modernisation note: The original is already in US terms. Abbreviations were modernised: "lp/lps" → loop(s), "p" → picot, "2d/3d" → 2nd/3rd, "thru" → through, "tog." → tog, "bal. of" → rest of, "thread over" → yo, "ch st" → ch, "Cluster" → cluster. Run-on paragraphs were split into one row or step per line; no stitches were added, removed or reordered.
- Modernisation note: Corrected an obvious printing error in the base: "s1 st in 1st st" (numeral 1) is written as "sl st in 1st ch".
- Modernisation note: The color layout paragraph was split one diagonal row per line; no counts were changed.
- Modernisation note: Check: the hook is printed as "size H-6"; the nearest modern hook is taken to be US H-8 (5 mm). Match the printed rug size.
- Modernisation note: Check: carpet warp is used for tacking but is not listed in the original materials.
- Modernisation note: Check: 144 blocks = 2 corner sections of 45 blocks (1 + 2 + … + 9) + 6 rows of 9; the block size in the modern gauge is our arithmetic from the printed rug size.
- Modernisation note: "Lily Rug Yarn" is mapped to a cotton rug yarn of about bulky (#5) weight; check the printed rug size with one block.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions and modern yarn/thread suggestions were added; they are not in the original.
Smart Pattern Companion
Row progress: 0 of 16 done (0%)
To make daisies (the book's general directions)
0 of 16 done- Illustration A — back view with spokes released: Hold winder in left hand with flat side toward you. Holding knob between thumb and forefinger of right hand with thumb at bottom, push thumb to left to turn knob and release spokes.Mark row complete
- Illustration B — single petal daisy wrapped over 1 spoke: With left thumb, hold yarn across center of winder leaving end extended about 1 in beyond center.Mark row complete
- With right hand, pass yarn from left to right around spoke at top (No. 1); across center of winder from right to left around spoke directly opposite (No. 2); across center of winder from left to right around spoke No. 3 at right of 1st spoke wrapped; across center, from right to left around spoke No. 4 at left of 2nd spoke wrapped; across center, from left to right around spoke No. 5; across center, from right to left around spoke No. 6.Mark row complete
- Continue in this way wrapping each spoke once, always passing across center to wrap spoke opposite, until the 12th spoke is wrapped. Bring yarn across center and cut end about 1 in beyond center. Make center before removing daisy from winder (see Illustration E).Mark row complete
- Illustration C — double petal daisy wrapped over 1 spoke: With left thumb hold yarn at center leaving end to extend about 1 in; with right hand, pass yarn from left to right around spoke No. 1 at top; across center; from right to left around spoke No. 2 directly opposite; wrap around these 2 spokes once more in same way.Mark row complete
- Across center, from left to right around spoke No. 3 at right of spoke 1st wrapped; across center, from right to left around spoke No. 4 at left of 2nd spoke wrapped; wrap these 2 spokes once more; across center, from left to right around spoke No. 5; from right to left around spoke No. 6; around these 2 once more.Mark row complete
- Continue in this way wrapping twice around 2 spokes exactly opposite then passing on to the next 2, until all spokes are wrapped twice ending with No. 12; bring yarn across center and cut end about 1 in beyond center.Mark row complete
- If a daisy of more layers of petals is desired, wrap as many times as you desire layers of petals. Make center before removing daisy from winder (see Illustration E).Mark row complete
- Illustration D — single petal daisy wrapped over 2 spokes: With left thumb, hold yarn at center allowing end to extend about 1 in. With right hand, pass yarn from left to right around spokes Nos. 1 and 2; across center, from right to left around Nos. 3 and 4; across center, around 5 and 6; across center, around 7 and 8; across center, around 9 and 10; across center, around 11 and 1; across center, around 12 and 3; across center, around 2 and 5; across center, around 4 and 7; across center, around 6 and 9; across center, around 8 and 11; across center, around 10 and 12; across center, cut end about 1 in beyond center. Make center before removing daisy from winder (see Illustration E).Mark row complete
- To make double petal daisy wrapped over 2 spokes: Make same as single petal over 2 spokes, then continue to wrap in same way as many times as desired.Mark row complete
- Illustration E — center: Thread needle with yarn for center. Fasten at center of wrong side of daisy as for embroidery. The side of daisy toward you is the wrong side.Mark row complete
- Insert needle under 4 petals, draw yarn through tightly; bring yarn back over the last 3 of these 4 petals, insert needle under these 3 petals and 1 more making 4 petals in all; draw yarn through.Mark row complete
- Continue to bring yarn back over 3 petals and draw it under 4 petals each time until you have made 13 sts. Be sure there are 13, otherwise your center will not be complete.Mark row complete
- As the weaving sts are worked, be careful to carry around the starting yarn end of daisy, taking each weaving st over this end for at least 10 sts so as to fasten it securely. This is particularly necessary with all the cotton threads. Fasten yarn on wrong side. Cut off all ends close to center.Mark row complete
- Turn knob in opposite direction to draw in spokes and release daisy.Mark row complete
- Illustration F: right side of complete daisy.Mark row complete
Working on:
Illustration A — back view with spokes released: Hold winder in left hand with flat side toward you. Holding knob between thumb and forefinger of right hand with thumb at bottom, push thumb to left to turn knob and release spokes.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Garden Gay Rug, No. 26 (1970) pattern is in the Retro Crochet Rugs
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Block
- Color layout
- Border
- Finishing
Included with 25 patterns for $12 — $0.48 per pattern.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the Rug "Garden Gay" pattern from?
It was published as "Rug "Garden Gay"" in Designs for Crazy Daisy Winder: Crochet Time Cut in Half by Hero Manufacturing Company in 1970. 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 Rug "Garden Gay"?
bulky (#5) yarn. Printed: 17 skeins × 80 yd = 1,360 yd (1,244 m): 13 skeins Lt. Blue (1,040 yd / 951 m), 2 Peach (160 yd / 146 m), 1 Salmon Rose and 1 Cream (80 yd / 73 m each).
What hook should I use?
Start with 5 mm (US H-8); change size to match the printed size. Gauge: Not printed. From the printed size, each block is about 2½ in (6.5 cm) square.
