Meticulously handwoven by a bride’s female relatives, a Moroccan wedding blanket is mindfully crafted with wishes of good luck for the new couple. Inspired by the rich designs exquisite details found in a classic handira, this Moroccan Wedding Rug will create a traditional keepsake for any home.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 47″ / [119 cm] Width x 69” / [175 cm] Length
Gauge: 6 sts and 7 rows = 4” [10 cm] in sc.
Materials
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (80% Acrylic, 20% Wool; 106 yards [97 meters]/170 grams): Barley (A, 7 ball), Fisherman (B, 4 ball), Oatmeal (C, 6 ball)
Hook: US size N/15 (10mm)
Notions: Tapestry needle
Special Stitches
Back Loop Single Crochet (blsc)
Insert hook into the next st (but only in the back loop). YO, pull back through that st (2 loops on hook), YO, pull through all 2 loops on hook.
Front Loop Single Crochet (flsc)
Insert hook into the next st (but only in the front loop). YO, pull back through that st (2 loops on hook), YO, pull through all 2 loops on hook.
Front Loop Stitch (flst)
Create a 4”/10cm loop at the front of your work. Insert hook into the next st. YO, pull back through that st (2 loops on hook), YO, pull through all 2 loops on hook.
Back Loop Stitch (blst)
Insert hook into the next st. Create a 4”10cm loop at the back of your work, YO, pull back through that st (2 loops on hook), YO, pull through all 2 loops on hook.
Popcorn Stitch (pc)
5 dc in next st, drop working loop from hook, insert hook through top of 1st dc made, pick-up the dropped loop on hook, pull through 1st dc, ch1.
Pattern Notes
This rug is worked in the row from side to side. It is imperative to check gauge and maintain an even tension throughout to ensure the rug doesn’t ruffle or pucker.
Pattern
With A, ch 79.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 77 sts. Turn work. (78 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, *blsc in next st, flsc in next st; rep from * 37 more times, sc in next st. Turn work. (78 sts)
Row 3: Change to C, sl st in the back loop of each sc across. Turn work.
Row 4: Sl st in the front loop of each sl st across. Turn work.
Row 5: Sl st in the back loop of each sl st across. Turn work.
Rows 6-9: Repeat Rows 4-5.
Row 10: Rep Row 4.
Row 11: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Row 12: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 35 sts, change to B, flst in next 41 sts, sc in next st. Turn work.
Row 13: Ch 1, sc in same st, blst in next 41 sts, change to A, *flsc in next st, blsc in next st; rep from * 16 more times, flsc in next st, sc in next st. Turn work.
Row 14: Ch 1, sc in same st, blsc in next st, *pc in next 2 sts in B, (flsc in next st in A, blsc in next st in A) twice; rep from * 4 more times, pc in next 2 sts in B, change to A, flsc in next st, blsc in next st, sc in next 42 sts. Turn work.
Row 15: Ch 1, sc in same st, *blsc in next st, flsc in next st; rep from * 37 more times (working 1 sc in the top of every pc), sc in next st. Turn work.
Row 16: Ch 1, sc in same st, blsc in next st, flsc in next st, blsc in next st, flsc in next st, *pc in next 2 sts in B, (blsc in next st in A, flsc in next st in A) twice; rep from * 10 more times, pc in next 2 sts in B, change to A, blsc in next st, flsc in next st, blsc in next st, flsc in next st, sc in next st. Turn work.
Row 17: Rep Row 15.
Row 18: Ch 1, sc in same st, blsc in next st, *pc in next 2 sts in B, (flsc in next st in A, blsc in next st in A) twice; rep from * 11 more times, pc in next 2 sts in B, change to A, flsc in next st, sc in next st. Turn work.
Row 19: Rep Row 15.
Row 20: Rep Row 2.
Row 21: Change to C, rep Row 3.
Rows 22-27: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 28: Rep Row 4.
Row 29: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Rows 30-31: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 32: Rep Row 4.
Row 33: Change to C, rep Row 5.
Rows 34-35: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 36: Rep Row 4.
Row 37: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Row 38: Change to B, ch 1, sc in same st, flst in next 35 sts, change to A, sc in next 42 sts. Turn work.
Row 39: Ch 1, sc in same st, *blsc in next st, flsc in next st; rep from * 19 more times, blsc in next st, change to B, blst in next 35 sts, sc in next st. Turn work.
Row 40: Change to A, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 35 sts, flsc in next st, blsc in next st, *pc in next 2 sts in B, (flsc in next st in A, blsc in next st in A) twice; rep from * 5 more times, pc in next 2 sts in B, change to A, flsc in next st, blsc in next st. Turn work.
Row 41: Rep Row 15.
Row 42: Rep Row 16.
Row 43: Rep Row 15.
Row 44: Rep Row 2.
Row 45: Change to C, rep Row 3.
Row 46 – 55: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 56: Rep Row 4.
Row 57: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Row 58: Rep Row 12.
Row 59: Rep Row 13.
Row 60: Rep Row 14.
Row 61: Rep Row 15.
Row 62: Rep Row 16.
Row 63: Rep Row 15.
Row 64: Rep Row 18.
Row 65: Rep Row 15.
Row 66: Rep Row 2.
Row 67: Change to C, rep Row 3.
Rows 68-71: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 72: Rep Row 4.
Row 73: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Rows 74-79: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 80: Rep Row 4.
Row 81: Change to C, rep Row 5.
Rows 82-85: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 86: Rep Row 4.
Row 87: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Row 88: Rep Row 38.
Row 89: Rep Row 39.
Row 90: Rep Row 40.
Row 91: Rep Row 15.
Row 92: Rep Row 16.
Row 93: Rep Row 15.
Row 94: Rep Row 2.
Row 95: Change to C, rep Row 3.
Rows 96-105: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 105: Rep Row 4.
Row 106: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Row 107: Rep Row 12.
Row 108: Rep Row 13.
Row 109: Rep Row 14.
Row 110: Rep Row 15.
Row 111: Rep Row 16.
Row 112: Rep Row 15.
Row 113: Rep Row 18.
Row 114: Rep Row 15.
Row 115: Rep Row 2.
Row 116: Change to C, rep Row 3.
Rows 117-122: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 123: Rep Row 4.
Row 124: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Rows 125-126: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 127: Rep Row 4.
Row 128: Change to C, rep Row 5.
Rows 129-130: Rep Rows 4-5.
Row 131: Rep Row 4.
Row 132: Change to A, rep Row 5.
Row 133: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 77 sts. Turn work. (78 sts)
Row 134: Rep Row 2.
Fasten off. Weave in loose ends.
Tassels
Cut 32 strands of A, 14” / [36 cm] in length and set aside.
Cut 80 strands of A and 80 strands of C, 13” / [33 cm] in length (160 strands in total). Divide into 16 groups of 10 strands each (5 strands of each color)
Tie each group of yarn at the middle point with one of the 14” / [36 cm] strands. Fold each group in half, then tie another 14” / [36 cm] strand around each folded bundle about 1.5” / [4 cm] from the top. Continue wrapping the tails of the strand around the group 3-4 times.
Make 16 tassels. Tie the tops of the tassels along the ends of the rug (8 tassels on each end), making sure to weave the loose ends inside the middle of each tassel.
Trim tassels to 6” / [15 cm] in length.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Block rug to size and shape.