Traditional Fair Isle Crochet Holiday Rug Free Pattern

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Something about this time of year makes my crafter's heart melt, and adding the Fair Isle Crochet Holiday Rug to your home takes decorating to the next level. I love going a bit overboard with all things holiday decor and feeling those cozy vibes. I have especially enjoyed adding this Fair Isle Crochet Holiday Rug to my home.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

After releasing a very popular Farmhouse Truck Pillow,  I wanted another beautiful holiday home decor piece. But this rug takes a twist on the stitches and mimics knit. It also has a trick for How to Get Bulky Yarn from 1 Skein.

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And if you can master this pattern with the Split Single Crochet with this project, then you can do any of the patterns in my Magical Crochet Stitches Course!

🌟Go Beyond the Split Single Crochet Stitch.

🌟Create Mock Knit-Look Cables in Crochet.

🌟Confidently Steek Your Fabric & Block.

🌟Transform Fabric To New Levels.

🌟Strategic & Intentional Increasing & Decreasing.

🌟Enjoy Learning On Your Own Time.

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If you haven’t seen it, I created a short video that went viral on how to create bulky yarn from a worsted weight yarn. Check out the video:

I felt it was about time I used this method in a pattern. I knew I wanted my rug to be thick and squishy, but let’s face it, bulky yarn can be costly and I love using up yarn already in my stash.

This is a fun colorwork project with a great method to prevent yarn tangles. No need to work from more than one skein color at a time.

Want more holiday crochet patterns?

If you love crocheting for Christmas like I do, then you are sure to enjoy these crochet patterns:

How to Crochet a Coaster / Mug Rug For Christmas
Prancing Deer Crochet Stocking Pattern
Amigurumi Crochet Deer Free Pattern
Deer Fair Isle Crochet Mitten Pattern

Are you ready to jump right in and crochet? Before you get started, take a moment to hop on over to this post. Learn about the different ways to do crochet color-work but also for a freebie!

The printable Sheep Yarn Bobbins are super helpful and also cute. You can even cut them out on a cutting machine!

Fair Isle Crochet Holiday Rug Supplies:

Fair Isle Crochet Holiday Rug Notes:

A helpful video with tips and row examples can be found here: https://youtu.be/-4V6NdNtTVE

Three strands of yarn are held together to crochet the rug. You can see how to use a trick to make this easier, working from only one ball of yarn, here: https://brianakdesigns.com/bulky-yarn-1-skein/

The yarn will be fastened off at the end of each row and rejoined on the next row. Enough yarn will be left at the beginning and end of each row for desired fringe, approximately 6 inches. Each row will be worked from right to left. To change color, work the last yarn over of the single crochet in the color of the next stitch.

Since there is a wrong side and a right side to the rug, I used a combination of intarsia and carrying yarn across the back for the color work. Experiment and see what works best for you. Please visit https://brianakdesigns.com/ways-to-colorwork-in-crochet/ for a full colorwork tutorial and a FREE Sheep Yarn Bobbin Printable to assist you with this project. No one loves tangles.

Special Stitch:

Split Single Crochet (scc): also known as the waistcoat stitch.
This stitch is worked as single crochet but where the hook is inserted is the only difference. The hook will be inserted between the ‘V’ of the stitch.

Insert hook between the legs of the stitch (on the back of the work, the hook should be under the horizontal bar and between the upside-down ‘V’ shape as well), yarn over, pull up a loop to the height of a single crochet, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook. Keep your hands loose and comfortable. If your hands start to hurt, then the tension of the stitch is too tight. When entering the stitch, pull up the loop a bit more than you normally would; it will give the ‘V’ more space for the next round and make working the ssc comfortable.

If you choose to work in a regular singe crochet stitch, I suggest working the in the back loop only.

How to read the colorwork instructions:

In the colorwork section, Color A will be abbreviated as (A), and Color B as (B).
Example: (B) x 9 = with Color B ssc the next 9 stitches
The chart will be worked from right to left for each Row and repeated until the end of the Row.

Color A= Green Yarn
Color B= Grey Yarn
Color C= Red Yarn

The color chart will be repeated 5 times for each row.
The chain-1 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch.

Traditional Fair Isle Holiday Crochet Rug Video Tutorial:

Chart for the Holiday Crochet Rug:

In the pattern for purchase, there is a larger chart available, split across two pages.

Fair Isle Crochet Holiday Rug Written Instructions:

Repeat each row instruction 5 times for a total of 100 sts on each row. Remember to always fasten off at the end of each row and join again on the next row, leaving tail ends for a fringe trim.

All the remaining sts will be worked in ssc.

At the beginning of each Row, attach the yarn to the first st and ch 1. The chain 1 does not count as a st, see video.

To begin: with Color A chain 101 and start the first row in the second chain from hook.

Row 1: (A) x 20

Row 2: (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 3, A1, B1, A1, (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 3, A1, B1, A1

Row 3: B1, (A) x 5, (B) x 2, A1, (B) x 2, (A) x 5, (B) x 2, A1, B1

Row 4: (A) x 7, (B) x 3, (A) x 7, (B) x 3

Row 5: (B) x 2, (A) x 3, (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 3, (A) x 3, (B) x 3, A1, B1

Row 6: B1, (A) x 5, B1, A1, B1, A1, B1, (A) x 5, B1, A1, B1, A1

Row 7: (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 4, A1, (B) x 4, A1, (B) x 4, A1, B1

Row 8: (B) x 2, (A) x 3, (B) x 7, (A) x 3, (B) x 5

Row 9: (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 4, A1, (B) x 4, A1, (B) x 4, A1, B1

Row 10: (B) x 7, A1, B1, A1, (B) x 7, A1, B1, A1

Row 11: (A) x 20

Row 12: (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1

Row 13: B1, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 2

Row 14: (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1

Row 15: B1, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 2

Row 16: (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1

Row 17: C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1

Row 18: B1, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 2

Row 19: (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1

Row 20: C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1

Row 21: (C) x 20

Row 22: B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1

Row 23: (B) x 6, C1, (B) x 7, C1, (B) x 5

Row 24: C1, (B) x 5, (C) x 2, (B) x 2, C1, (B) x 2, (C) x 2, (B) x 5

Row 25: (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 2, (C) x 3, (B) x 3, (C) x 3, (B) x 2, C1, (B) x 2

Row 26: (B) x 4, C1, B1, (C) x 4, B1, (C) x 4, B1, C1, (B) x 3

Row 27: (B) x 6, (C) x 4, B1, (C) x 4, (B) x 5

Row 28: B1, (C) x 5, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 5

Row 29: (B) x 2, (C) x 5, B1, (C) x 2, B1, (C) x 2, B1, (C) x 5, B1

Row 30: (B) x 3, (C) x 5, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, (C) x 5, (B) x 2

Row 31: C1, (B) x 3, (C) x 5, B1, C1, B1, (C) x 5, (B) x 3

Row 32: B1, C1, (B) x 7, C1, B1, C1, (B) x 7, C1

Row 33: C1, (B) x 3, (C) x 5, B1, C1, B1, (C) x 5, (B) x 3

Row 34: (B) x 3, (C) x 5, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, (C) x 5, (B) x 2

Row 35: (B) x 2, (C) x 5, B1, (C) x 2, B1, (C) x 2, B1, (C) x 5, B1

Row 36: B1, (C) x 5, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 5

Row 37: (B) x 6, (C) x 4, B1, (C) x 4, (B) x 5

Row 38: (B) x 4, C1, B1, (C) x 4, B1, (C) x 4, B1, C1, (B) x 3

Row 39: (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 2, (C) x 3, (B) x 3, (C) x 3, (B) x 2, C1, (B) x 2

Row 40: C1, (B) x 5, (C) x 2, (B) x 2, C1, (B) x 2, (C) x 2, (B) x 5

Row 41: (B) x 6, C1, (B) x 7, C1, (B) x 5

Row 42: B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1

Row 43: (C) x 20

Row 44: C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1

Row 45: (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1

Row 46: B1, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 2

Row 47: C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1, C1, B1

Row 48: (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1

Row 49: B1, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 2

Row 50: (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1, (C) x 3, B1

Row 51: B1, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 2

Row 52: (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1, (B) x 3, C1

Row 53: (A) x 20

Row 54: (B) x 7, A1, B1, A1, (B) x 7, A1, B1, A1

Row 55: (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 4, A1, (B) x 4, A1, (B) x 4, A1, B1

Row 56: (B) x 2, (A) x 3, (B) x 7, (A) x 3, (B) x 5

Row 57: (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 4, A1, (B) x 4, A1, (B) x 4, A1, B1

Row 58: B1, (A) x 5, B1, A1, B1, A1, B1, (A) x 5, B1, A1, B1, A1

Row 59: (B) x 2, (A) x 3, (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 3, (A) x 3, (B) x 3, A1, B1

Row 60: (A) x 7, (B) x 3, (A) x 7, (B) x 3

Row 61: B1, (A) x 5, (B) x 2, A1, (B) x 2, (A) x 5, (B) x 2, A1, B1

Row 62: (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 3, A1, B1, A1, (B) x 3, A1, (B) x 3, A1, B1, A1

Row 63: (A) x 20

Finishing the Fair Isle Holiday Crochet Rug:

Fasten off and tie end strands together for a fringe. About 6-9 strands of yarn at a time. Block and enjoy!

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This pattern was originally published in October of 2019, updated October 2022.