Half-Moon Pool Rug Free Crochet Pattern (Tunisian Simple Stitch)

Introduction

This half-moon pool rug is the perfect welcome for bare feet stepping out of the water or onto a sunny deck. Worked in Tunisian simple stitch from the straight edge outward, it builds a dense, cushioned fabric that lies beautifully flat on tile, stone, or wood. The six bold stripes alternate crisp white and warm butter yellow, like a poolside sunset fading across the water. It is a wonderfully beginner-friendly introduction to Tunisian crochet, because the whole rug is one gentle, repeating stitch with a little clever short-row shaping to create that soft curved silhouette.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Bulky (weight 5) wool, approximately 1000 yd total. White (A): 550 yd; Butter Yellow (B): 450 yd.
• Main hook: 8.0 mm (US L-11) Tunisian crochet hook with cable, 100 cm/40 in minimum.
• Edging hook: 7.0 mm (US K-10.5) standard crochet hook.
• Notions: Stitch markers, tape measure, yarn needle, scissors, rustproof pins, steamer or steam iron, and optional non-slip rug backing.
• Finished size: Half-circle 120 cm (47 in) wide across the straight edge x 60 cm (24 in) deep at center; straight edge 120 cm (47 in) long.

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sc – single crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• yo – yarn over
• Tss – Tunisian simple stitch (insert hook under the front vertical bar, yo, pull up a loop)
• FP – forward pass (the row of loops pulled onto the hook)
• RP – return pass (ch 1, then [yo, pull through 2 loops] to the end)
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side

Gauge

12 sts x 11 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in) in Tunisian simple stitch, worked with relaxed tension and measured after light steaming. To check it, work a small swatch, steam it lightly, and count your stitches and rows across 10 cm before beginning the rug.

Tips Before You Start

• Keep your tension relaxed. Tunisian simple stitch curls naturally, and a loose hand makes the rug easier to flatten later.
• Count your loops at the end of every forward pass. The rug only works if you keep 144 loops on full rows and 132 on shaping rows.
• Change colors at the end of the return pass so the new stripe begins cleanly on the next forward pass.
• Place a stitch marker at each short-row turn so you can find the turn points again when you work the edging.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes on Construction

Work flat in Tss with short rows to shape the half-circle. Each row is one forward pass (FP) plus one return pass (RP). RP: ch 1, [yo, pull through 2 loops] to end. Counts are given as loops on the hook at the end of the FP. The straight edge is 144 sts (120 cm at 12 sts/10 cm) and the depth is 66 rows (60 cm at 11 rows/10 cm). Short rows draw the ends inward about 2 sts per row on average (144/66 ≈ 2.2), creating the curve.

Foundation and Main Body

Foundation (A): ch 144. FP: pull up a loop in each ch (144 loops). RP (144 sts).

Stripe sequence: A rows 1-11, B rows 12-22, A rows 23-33, B rows 34-44, A rows 45-55, B rows 56-66.

Row 1 (A): Tss across (144). RP.

Rows 2-11 (A): Tss across (144). RP. Change to B at end of row 11 RP.

Rows 12-22 (B): Tss across (144). RP. Change to A at end of row 22 RP.

Rows 23-33 (A): Tss across (144). RP. Change to B at end of row 33 RP.

Rows 34-44 (B): Tss across (144). RP. Change to A at end of row 44 RP.

Rows 45-55 (A): Tss across (144). RP. Change to B at end of row 55 RP.

Rows 56-66 (B): Tss across (144). RP. Do not fasten off; proceed to edging.

Short-Row Shaping

Work the following shaping rows within the stripe rows above, at both ends of the rug. At rows 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, and 66: work Tss across only 132 sts, turn, RP back (132). On the next row, resume the full 144 sts. This pulls each end inward 1 st per shaping row, producing the curved half-moon silhouette. Ten shaping rows per side draw in 10 sts per side (20 sts total), leaving 124 sts at the outer edge and giving 60 cm depth at center.

Edging

Switch to the 7.0 mm (US K-10.5) hook and work with A.

R1: With RS facing, join A at the right corner of the straight edge. Sc evenly along the straight edge (144 sc), turn the corner, sc along the curved edge (approx. 160 sc, working 1 sc per row end plus 1 sc per short-row turn), turn the corner, sc along the straight edge back to the start (144 sc), sl st to first sc.

R2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all ends on the wrong side, working them along the stripe edges so they stay hidden. Block lightly with steam to flatten the curl; do not press the fabric flat with the iron. Lay the rug flat and pin the curved edge to the 60 cm depth, then let it dry completely before removing the pins. If you like, apply non-slip rug backing to the wrong side only so it stays put on smooth tile or decking.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the butter yellow for coral or aqua to match your poolside palette while keeping the same stripe rhythm.
• Add a third edging round in B for a bolder border that frames the half-circle.
• Work the rug in a wool-blend or cotton-blend bulky yarn for a lighter mat that is easier to shake out and spot clean.