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Day and Night Shell Stitch Rug (vintage American Thread): vintage crochet pattern
A two-colour rug of single crochet and double crochet shells, alternating black and white every row. Originally published as "Day and Night" 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 | Beginner |
| Yarn weight | Bulky (#5) |
| Yardage | 882–980 yd (807–896 m) |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Gauge | Not printed. Suggested from the printed width: 20 shells across 24 in, or about 3⅓ shells = 4 in (10 cm). |
| Finished size | 24 × 40 in (61 × 102 cm) |
| Time | about 2 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 14 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 980 yd (896 m) — check the current label before buying.
- Colours: 7 skeins black, 7 skeins white.
- Original hook: aluminum crochet hook size H.
- Hook: Start with 5 mm (US H-8) and change size to match the gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms)
Notes before you start
- Source: "Day and Night", 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; 7 skeins each Black and White or colors 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: "Same space" is written as "same ch" or "same st"; "skip 3 sts of ch" as "sk 3 ch".
- Modernisation note: The printed count "(20 shells)" is kept.
- Modernisation note: "Cut yarn" and "break off" are written as "fasten off"; "attach" is written as "join".
- Modernisation note: "Weave in all ends" 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.
Rug
- Row 1: With black, ch 82, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 2, 2 dc in same ch, *sk 3 ch, sc in next ch, ch 2, 2 dc in same ch (shell); rep from * across, ending with sc in last ch. (20 shells) Fasten off, turn.
- Row 2: Join white in 1st sc, ch 3, 2 dc in same st, *sc in next sc, ch 2, 2 dc in same st (shell); rep from * across, ending with sc in last ch of ch-3. Fasten off, turn.
- Row 3: Join black in 1st sc and work the same as row 2.
- Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the rug measures 40 in (102 cm). Fasten off.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Day and Night Shell Stitch Rug (vintage American Thread) pattern is in the Retro Crochet Rugs
Still to come in the full pattern:
- 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 Day and Night pattern from?
It was published as "Day and Night" 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 Day and Night?
bulky (#5) yarn. Original: 14 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: 20 shells across 24 in, or about 3⅓ shells = 4 in (10 cm).
