Canasta or Bridge Place Mats Pattern #4

After the Canasta (or Bridge) game is over, surprise your guests by serving refreshments on knitted cotton mats decorated with the playing card symbols. If you like modern decorator colors, you will want to do them in these colors: Light Pink hearts and diamonds on Delft Blue and Maroon Mats, Dark Brown spades and clubs on Medium Green and Yellow mats, requiring 1 skein each color in Lily Rug Yarn, Art. 241, to make the set of 4 different colored place mats. If you prefer traditional color schemes, you will need 4 skeins of White Lily Rug Yarn, Art. 241, and 1 each of Red and Black in the same type yarn, to duplicate the color pattern of playing cards.

Gauge: 4 sts = 1 inch; 5 rows = 1 inch.

Using main color (White, Med. Green, Maroon, Delft Blue, or Yellow) and number 6 (standard size) steel knitting needles, cast on 66 sts. Work in following pattern for 6 rows:

ROW 1: * K 1, P 1; repeat from * across. ROW 2: * P 1, K 1; repeat from * across. This is the border pattern, to be used in first six rows and last six rows of each mat, and in the 4 sts at beg. and end of every row. ROW 7—K 1, P 1, K 1, P 1, Knit 58 sts, K 1, P 1, K 1, P 1. ROW 8—P 1, K 1, P 1, K 1, Purl 58 sts, P 1, K 1, P 1, K 1. Continue repeating these rows until work measures 6". Next row: K 41 sts, place marker, follow pattern as illustrated, using contrasting color (Red, Black, Pink or Brown) to form card symbols.

When changing from one color to another, always cross threads to avoid forming hole in work. When the main color is carried at back of work, every 3rd st the extra or "carried" color should be crossed over other working thread, being careful to leave enough slack in "carried" color to prevent pulling design out of focus.

After completing design, fasten off contrasting color and continue in main color for 2 more rows. Work 6 rows of border st as at beg. of work. Bind off sts. Using contrasting color, single crochet around edges. Work other 3 mats. Block all with damp cloth and warm iron.