Kentucky Rug Yarns Vol. 5: Rugs: Easy to follow instructions and diagrams for colorful rugs, hats, pillows and other items

In Short

This volume serves as a practical manual for crafting home textiles using Kentucky Soft Spun Rug Yarn. It offers a collection of patterns for rugs, pillows, hats, and accessories, relying on a system of "visual crochet" that uses charted grids to guide the color changes and stitch placement. By prioritizing clear, numbered instructions and simple stitch combinations, the book demystifies the process of creating durable, colorful decor. It remains a fascinating artifact for fiber artists, preserving the mid-century aesthetic of bold, geometric home design and the specific techniques used to achieve it.

The Story

The journey of the maker begins with a single chain and a commitment to the "visual" method. The text introduces the reader to the foundational language of the craft: the chain stitch, the single crochet, and the specific way of managing multiple strands of yarn. The progression starts with the Balanced Rug, a 22-by-35-inch piece that teaches the essential skill of "carrying" yarn—holding a non-working color along the edge of the stitches so it remains available for intricate, multi-colored designs. Once the reader masters this, the scope of the projects expands, moving from simple, monochromatic textures to complex, multi-row color patterns.

As the reader advances, the narrative of the patterns grows more sophisticated. Projects like the Checkerboard Inlay Rug and the Reversible Rug demonstrate how to manipulate color to create depth, using techniques like working in the back loops or alternating colors to produce distinct visual effects. The book then pivots to functional accessories, such as the Curler Bag and the Puppet Pot Holder, which introduce three-dimensional shaping. Here, the maker learns to increase and decrease stitches in rounds, building forms that are not just flat surfaces but objects with volume.

The middle section of the book focuses on the "Shell" garment and various pillows, pushing the maker to combine disparate techniques into a single, cohesive item. The instructions for the Shell stitch cover, for instance, transition from basic shell sequences to a finished piece that suggests broader applications, such as an afghan. By the time the reader reaches the "Autumn Rug" and "Mod Rug," the instructions become highly detailed, requiring the maker to follow elaborate charts where every square represents a single stitch and every row changes the composition of the pattern.

The final arc of the manual shifts toward refinement. The reader encounters specific finishing techniques, such as creating tassels, pom-poms, and intricate fringe. These are not mere decorative add-ons but essential structural elements that define the character of the finished piece. The manual concludes with a broader philosophy of design, offering lists of "suggested color combinations" and advice on how to adapt these crochet patterns for knitting needles. It leaves the reader with a toolkit that goes beyond the specific items listed, providing the foundational knowledge necessary to experiment with new color palettes and structural forms.

How It Unfolds

The foundation is laid The reader is introduced to the "visual" method, where charts replace complex written prose. Clear diagrams define the basic stitches—chain, single, and double crochet—ensuring the maker is prepared for the patterns that follow.

The rug as a canvas Patterns like the Balanced Rug teach the reader to manage multiple yarns simultaneously. By "carrying" colors across rows, the maker creates intricate geometric designs that emerge row by row from the chart.

Form and function emerge The book transitions from flat floor coverings to three-dimensional objects. Patterns for the Curler Bag and Puppet Pot Holder introduce shaping techniques through rounds, increases, and specialized stitches like the "puff."

Refining the aesthetic The final chapters focus on the finishing touches that elevate a handmade object. Detailed instructions for fringe, pom-poms, and zippers provide the necessary polish to move the projects from "homemade" to professional-looking home decor.

The People

The book addresses a dual identity: the "maker" and the "company." The maker is an individual, perhaps an amateur, looking to bring warmth and color into their living space. They are characterized by their need for clarity; they want to be told exactly how many skeins to buy and which row to turn. They are the ones holding the size J hook, carefully counting stitches to ensure the "Checkered Border Inlay" matches the dimensions provided. Their primary obstacle is human error—the potential for a dropped stitch or a misread chart—which the text acknowledges with a gentle warning about individual variance.

Opposite them is the January & Wood Company. The company acts as a guide and a manufacturer, providing the specific raw materials—Kentucky Soft Spun Rug Yarn—required for success. They are authoritative but encouraging, framing the act of crafting not as a chore but as a fashion-forward, inexpensive way to update a home. They represent the era’s enthusiasm for mass-produced craft, where a company could provide both the "style number" of the yarn and the exact visual roadmap to transform it into a "Mod Rug." The company doesn't just want the reader to finish a project; they want them to succeed so that they might gain the confidence to create their own color combinations, ultimately becoming an independent designer in their own right.

In Its Own Voice

The instructions emphasize the simplicity of the grid-based approach to color work, making daunting patterns feel like a logical progression.

"A new idea in crochet. All you have to do is follow the squares on the chart."

The manual is equally precise about the structural challenges of the craft, such as keeping the yarn tension consistent when working with multiple strands.

"Keep the yarn you are working over just tight enough not to pull your work."

What It's Really About

At its heart, this book is an argument for the accessibility of beauty in the home. It suggests that a room's character is not dictated by luxury goods but by the purposeful application of color and texture. The core questions it addresses are structural: how can a flat, singular strand of yarn be manipulated to create a durable floor covering, a soft pillow, or a structural garment? The book argues that by breaking down complex visual designs into small, repetitive, and manageable units—the grid square, the single stitch—the artisan can achieve a degree of complexity that appears effortless. It is a testament to the belief that with the right system, anyone can synthesize color and structure into a functional art form.

Why Read It Today

Readers will love this book if they enjoy the tactile, rhythmic nature of fiber arts. It offers a nostalgic look at mid-century domesticity, where the aesthetic of the 1960s and 70s—defined by "vivid colors" like avocado, spice, and copper—is presented with unpretentious, straightforward charm. Reading it feels like sitting down with a patient teacher who understands that the best way to learn is to simply "watch your chart" and keep your hands moving.

However, readers should be aware that the book assumes a basic comfort with crochet terminology. The lack of photography for every pattern means the reader must rely on their own interpretation of the grids and stitch counts. Furthermore, the reliance on discontinued "dye lots" and specific yarn styles from the manufacturer means that a modern reader will need to adapt these patterns to contemporary materials. Despite these hurdles, the book remains a classic resource for those who value the "useful way" of working. The instructions are stripped of marketing fluff, focusing entirely on the craft itself. What stays with you is the quiet satisfaction of the process—the way a simple hook and yarn, managed with patience, eventually turns into a "Balanced Rug" or a "T.V. Stack Pillow." It is a charming, practical document of a time when the home was a place to be actively crafted.