Free preview · full pattern in the Retro Crochet Rugs
Pinwheel Round Rug (vintage American Thread): vintage crochet pattern
A black round rug in spiralling single crochet sections with chain-2 swirls, laced with coloured yarn through each swirl and finished with a multicoloured knotted fringe. Originally published as "Pinwheel" 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 | 567–630 yd (518–576 m) |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Gauge | Not printed. The rug should reach about 24 in (61 cm) across and lie flat; change hook size if it cups or ruffles. |
| Finished size | About 24 in (61 cm) in diameter without fringe |
| 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 9 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 630 yd (576 m) — check the current label before buying.
- Colours: 5 skeins black; 1 skein each light yellow, red, dark green and national blue.
- Original hook: aluminum crochet hook size H.
- Large-eyed tapestry needle for lacing; a piece of cardboard 4¼ in (11 cm) wide for fringe.
- Hook: Start with 5 mm (US H-8) and change size to match the gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms)
Notes before you start
- Source: "Pinwheel", 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; 5 skeins Black.; 1 skein each Lt. Yellow, Red, Dk. Green and National Blue 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: The original's "s d c" (short double crochet), defined in the pattern as yo, insert hook, pull up a loop, yo and pull through all loops, is the modern half double crochet (hdc).
- Modernisation note: The first round is unnumbered in the original; it is written as round 1.
- Modernisation note: "Next loop" is written as "next ch-3 sp" or "next ch-2 sp" according to the chain in the round below.
- Modernisation note: Check: "repeat the last round … until there are 15 s c in each section" leads to the original's 16th round; the number of repeats is not printed.
- Modernisation note: "Weave in all ends" was added as a finishing step; it is not in the original.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions 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
- Rnd 1: With black, ch 4, join to form a ring, ch 3, 7 dc in ring, join in 3rd ch of ch-3.
- Rnd 2: Ch 5, hdc in next dc (hdc: yo, insert hook in st, pull up a loop, yo and pull through all loops at one time), *ch 3, hdc in next dc; rep from * 5 times, ch 3.
- Rnd 3: Sc in 2nd ch of ch-5, 2 sc in next ch-3 sp, *ch 2, sc in next hdc, 2 sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * 6 times. Do not join rounds.
- Rnd 4: *Ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * 7 times.
- Rnd 5: *Ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * 7 times.
- Rnd 6: *Ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * 7 times.
- Rnd 7: *Ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in each sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * 7 times.
- Repeat the last round, always having 1 more sc in each sc section, until there are 15 sc in each section.
- Rnd 16: Ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in each of next 6 sc, decrease over next 2 sts (to decrease: *insert hook in next st and pull up a loop; rep from * once, yo and draw through all loops at one time), sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from beginning all around.
- Rnds 17–18: *Ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in each sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * all around.
- Repeat the last 3 rounds 4 times, always decreasing in the center of each sc section every 3rd round.
- Rnds 31–32: Same as rounds 17 and 18.
- Work 4 more rounds in the same way, working 1 round red, 1 round dark green, 1 round light yellow and 1 round national blue (when changing colour, always complete the last half of the last st with the next colour, then work the ch 2 in the new colour).
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Pinwheel Round Rug (vintage American Thread) pattern is in the Retro Crochet Rugs
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Lacing
- Fringe
- 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 Pinwheel pattern from?
It was published as "Pinwheel" 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 Pinwheel?
bulky (#5) yarn. Original: 9 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. The rug should reach about 24 in (61 cm) across and lie flat; change hook size if it cups or ruffles.
