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Young Modern Waffle Stitch Rug (vintage American Thread): vintage crochet pattern
An evergreen waffle-stitch rug of front post double crochet, with single rows of orange, light yellow and white single crochet between the ridges, and short fringe on the ends. Originally published as "Young Modern" 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 | 1134–1260 yd (1037–1152 m) |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Gauge | Not printed. Suggested from the printed width: about 14 sts = 4 in (10 cm) — 82 dc across 24 in. |
| Finished size | 24 × 40 in (61 × 102 cm) without fringe |
| Time | about 4 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 18 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 1260 yd (1152 m) — check the current label before buying.
- Colours: 14 skeins evergreen (main), 2 skeins orange, 1 skein light yellow, 1 skein white.
- Original hook: aluminum crochet hook size H.
- A piece of cardboard 1½ in (4 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: "Young Modern", 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; 14 skeins Evergreen.; 2 skeins Orange.; 1 skein Lt. Yellow.; 1 skein White.; 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: "Front d c" is written as front post dc (fpdc); "front s c" is written as front post sc, which has no standard abbreviation, so it is spelled out.
- Modernisation note: "Attach Orange" is written as "join orange"; "cut yarn" as "fasten off".
- Modernisation note: The ** marker from the original is kept so the "repeat from ** 3 times" instruction still points to the same place (row 3).
- Modernisation note: "Weave in 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.
Pattern
- Row 1: With evergreen, ch 84, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each remaining ch, ch 3, turn.
- Row 2: Dc in next dc, *yo, insert hook from front to back and to front again around next dc, pull up a loop, yo and complete the dc (front post dc, fpdc); fpdc around next dc, dc in each of next 2 dc; rep from * across, ending with dc in 3rd ch of turning ch-3. Drop evergreen; do not turn.
- Row 3: **Join orange in 3rd ch of ch-3, sc in same st and in each st across. Fasten off orange, turn.
- Row 4: Pick up evergreen, ch 3, fpdc around next dc of the 2nd row below, *sk 2 sc, dc in each of next 2 sc, fpdc in each of next 2 dc of the 2nd row below; rep from * across, ending with the last dc around the end ch, ch 3, turn.
- Row 5: Same as row 2.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Young Modern Waffle Stitch Rug (vintage American Thread) pattern is in the Retro Crochet Rugs
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Colour sequence
- 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 Young Modern pattern from?
It was published as "Young Modern" 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 Young Modern?
bulky (#5) yarn. Original: 18 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 14 sts = 4 in (10 cm) — 82 dc across 24 in.
