Friendship Rug Pattern by Shawna Underwood: Your Complete Guide to This Beloved Crochet Design

There is something deeply satisfying about picking up a hook and a ball of yarn and creating something that will be walked on, curled up with, and loved for years. Rugs occupy a special place in the world of crochet — they are functional, they anchor a room, and they carry the warmth of handmade craft in every fiber. Among the many rug patterns that have captured the hearts of crochet enthusiasts, the Friendship Rug pattern by Shawna Underwood stands out as one of the most approachable, beautiful, and endlessly customizable designs available today.

Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for your next satisfying project or a newer maker who wants to try something a little more adventurous than a dishcloth, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Friendship Rug by Shawna Underwood — from materials and hook sizes to technique tips, color choices, and why this pattern has earned such a devoted following in the crochet community.

What Is the Friendship Rug Pattern?

The Friendship Rug is a crochet rug pattern designed by Shawna Underwood that has become a staple in many crafters’ project queues. The pattern earns its name through its spirit of generosity — it is the kind of design that makers want to share with friends, gift to family members, and recommend to beginners and experienced crocheters alike. It is accessible enough for someone who is comfortable with basic crochet stitches, yet the finished product looks polished and professionally made.

The design centers on a satisfying combination of stitches that creates a sturdy, textured fabric well suited to rug-making. Shawna Underwood has crafted a pattern that strikes a careful balance: clear enough to follow without frustration, flexible enough to make your own with color choices and sizing adjustments, and durable enough to withstand the everyday demands of life on the floor.

What makes the Friendship Rug particularly beloved is how it translates so naturally to different spaces in the home. Makers have used this pattern to create bath rugs, kitchen mats, entryway rugs, bedside rugs, and even decorative accent pieces for living rooms. The versatility of the design is part of what keeps it circulating in crochet communities, with makers sharing their finished objects in every color combination imaginable.

Materials You Will Need

Before casting on any project, gathering your materials is one of the most enjoyable parts of the process. For the Friendship Rug by Shawna Underwood, your material choices will significantly influence the look, feel, and durability of the finished piece.

Yarn: The most common recommendation for a crochet rug is a bulky or super bulky cotton or cotton-blend yarn. Cotton is popular for rug-making because it holds up well to foot traffic, washes easily, and does not pill the way acrylic can under repeated friction. Recycled cotton, cotton-polyester blends, and T-shirt yarn are all excellent choices that give the rug body and weight. Many makers also use Bernat Maker Home Dec, Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in the bulky weight, or Paintbox Cotton Aran, depending on the finished size and drape they prefer.

If you want an especially durable rug that will survive busy households or high-traffic areas, consider using nylon-cotton blends or even working with fabric strips cut from old T-shirts. T-shirt yarn rugs have a wonderfully chunky, artisan feel and are a fantastic way to upcycle fabric that might otherwise be discarded.

Hook Size: Shawna Underwood’s pattern specifies the hook size that pairs best with her recommended yarn, and following this recommendation at least for your initial gauge swatch will help you achieve the correct dimensions. For bulky cotton yarns, a hook in the 6mm to 9mm range is commonly used. Because rug fabric benefits from being slightly firm rather than drapey, you may even want to size down slightly from your default gauge hook to create a denser, tighter fabric that resists stretching underfoot.

Non-Slip Rug Backing: One accessory that is easy to overlook and very important once your rug is finished is a non-slip backing. Pre-cut rug gripper pads or a few lines of fabric glue applied to the back of the rug will keep it in place on hardwood or tile floors and prevent slipping hazards. Some makers also sew or glue a fabric lining to the back, which gives the rug a cleaner look when viewed from the side and adds longevity.

Scissors and Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends — and a rug worked in multiple colors will have quite a few of them — a large blunt tapestry needle is indispensable. Take your time weaving in ends securely, as a rug endures more stress than a garment or accessory.

Understanding the Stitch Pattern

One of the hallmarks of the Friendship Rug pattern is its stitch construction. While specific stitch sequences belong to Shawna Underwood’s written pattern, the general character of the design is one that many crocheters describe as beautifully textured without being overly complex.

Crochet rugs often use simple foundational stitches — single crochet, half double crochet, and slip stitch being the workhorses — because these create dense, compact fabric. The Friendship Rug leans into this principle while introducing enough variation to keep the crocheting experience interesting. The result is a fabric that lies flat, holds its shape, and develops a pleasing texture that looks intentional rather than utilitarian.

Many makers work the Friendship Rug in rows rather than in the round, which makes it a great project for those who find circular construction less intuitive. Straight-row construction also makes it simple to adjust the width by changing your starting chain, so you can easily resize the rug to fit a specific area in your home.

If you are planning a larger rug, working in rows also makes it easier to track your stitch count, especially when you are switching colors and need to keep your rows clean and even.

Choosing Your Colors

Color selection might be the most personal and creative part of making a Friendship Rug, and it is where this pattern truly becomes your own.

The name “Friendship” lends itself naturally to a cheerful, warm palette, and many makers work the rug in bright, contrasting stripes or complementary tonal combinations. A classic look uses two to three colors in alternating stripes — think navy and cream, terracotta and sand, sage and natural, or a rainbow progression that moves through the spectrum in even bands.

For a more subtle approach, makers who prefer a neutral aesthetic often select tones within the same color family — several shades of gray, or a progression from ivory to taupe to warm brown — creating a rug that feels calm and cohesive without being visually demanding.

If you are making the Friendship Rug as a gift, consider the recipient’s home décor. A quick look at their living space, whether in person or through photos on social media, can tell you a lot about whether they gravitate toward bold colors, muted tones, eclectic combinations, or classic neutrals. A handmade rug in someone’s favorite colors is a deeply thoughtful gift, and the Friendship Rug pattern is beautifully suited to this kind of personalized making.

Striped designs are particularly practical for rug-making because they let you use up partial skeins and leftover yarn from other projects. If you have been accumulating odds and ends of bulky cotton in your stash, the Friendship Rug is an ideal way to put it all to use while creating something cohesive and lovely.

Sizing and Dimensions

One of the practical advantages of the Friendship Rug pattern is its adaptability in sizing. The base pattern produces a rug suitable for use as a bath mat or small accent rug, but with straightforward modifications to the starting chain and number of rows, you can create a much larger piece.

For a standard bath rug, dimensions in the range of 17 by 24 inches to 20 by 30 inches are common and practical. This size works comfortably in front of a tub or sink without overwhelming the space.

For a kitchen mat or runner, extending the length while keeping a moderate width creates a piece that fits naturally in front of a kitchen sink, along a kitchen island, or at the base of a stove. Runners in the 18 by 48 inch or 20 by 60 inch range are popular, and the Friendship Rug stitch pattern scales to this size beautifully.

For a bedroom rug or living room accent piece, a larger square or rectangular version — perhaps 36 by 48 inches or bigger — requires more yardage and more time, but the process is meditative and the result is a statement piece.

When planning your size, do a gauge swatch first and let it inform your chain count. Blocking your finished rug — either by soaking it in cool water, squeezing out excess moisture, and laying it flat to dry in the desired shape — will also help it settle into even dimensions and a smooth, flat surface.

Step-by-Step Overview of the Process

While this is not a substitute for Shawna Underwood’s full written pattern, here is a general sense of how the process unfolds for makers approaching this rug for the first time.

You will begin with a foundation chain to establish the width of your rug. Getting this right is important, so count carefully and consider making a test swatch to confirm your gauge before committing to the full starting chain.

From there, you will work your way across in rows, following the stitch sequence outlined in the pattern. Many makers find it helpful to use stitch markers at the beginning and end of each row, especially when working with thick yarn that can be tricky to count. Placing a marker every ten stitches along the row is another technique that helps keep the stitch count accurate.

Color changes in a striped design happen at the end of a row — drawing up the new color through the last two loops of your final stitch before turning is the cleanest way to transition. Some makers carry unused colors up the side of the work rather than cutting and rejoining at every stripe, which reduces the number of ends to weave in and keeps the edges tidy.

Once you reach your desired length, you will finish off, weave in all ends securely with your tapestry needle, and optionally add a border. A simple single crochet border worked all the way around the rug in one of your main colors creates a clean, finished edge that gives the piece a polished look.

Tips for Success

A few practical tips can make your Friendship Rug experience smoother from start to finish.

Work on a flat, stable surface when possible. Rug crochet involves handling a growing, heavy piece of fabric, and having space to spread it out helps you check that it is lying flat and not curling at the edges.

Keep your tension consistent throughout the project. With thick yarn, tension variations are more visible than in finer work. If you tend to tighten up when you are tired or distracted, taking breaks can actually improve the evenness of your finished rug.

Wash your yarn before starting if you intend to wash the finished rug. Some cotton yarns shrink on first wash, and pre-washing prevents your beautifully sized rug from emerging from the laundry a few inches smaller than intended.

Consider the weight of the rug as it grows. Working with bulky cotton can feel tiring on the wrists over long sessions. Taking breaks, stretching your hands, and varying your position can help prevent fatigue and keep the experience enjoyable.

Why Crocheters Love the Friendship Rug

The Friendship Rug by Shawna Underwood has accumulated enthusiastic reviews and repeat makers for reasons that go beyond the stitch pattern itself. There is a culture around this design — a spirit of sharing and gifting that the name invites.

Many makers report working through multiple versions of this rug, one for every room in the house, and then making a series of them as Christmas gifts or housewarming presents. The pattern is quick enough relative to its visual impact that it feels rewarding to complete, and recipients invariably appreciate both the beauty and the practicality of a handmade rug.

It is also a pattern that sparks creativity. Once you understand the construction, you begin to see possibilities everywhere: new color combinations, unexpected yarn choices, size variations for different rooms, adding fringe or tassels for a boho feel, or keeping it clean and minimal for a modern Scandinavian aesthetic. The Friendship Rug becomes a canvas, and the pattern is your reliable foundation.

For makers who sell their work, the Friendship Rug is a popular item at craft fairs and on platforms like Etsy, where handmade rugs in cotton and natural fibers consistently attract buyers looking for quality home décor that carries the warmth of handcraft.

Where to Find the Pattern

The Friendship Rug pattern by Shawna Underwood is available through her design channels, and a quick search will lead you to the correct listing. Purchasing from the designer directly supports independent crochet designers, who put enormous care and skill into creating clear, well-tested patterns.

When you purchase and download the pattern, take a moment to read through it entirely before beginning. Understanding the full arc of the project before you pick up your hook helps you anticipate color changes, understand the construction logic, and make any adjustments for sizing upfront.

Final Thoughts

The Friendship Rug pattern by Shawna Underwood is the kind of design that reminds you why you fell in love with crochet in the first place. It is satisfying to make, beautiful when finished, and deeply useful in the home. It invites color play and creative decision-making while keeping the construction clear and achievable. And above all, it embodies the spirit that gives it its name — a project made to be shared, gifted, and enjoyed by the people you love.

Whether this is your first rug or your twentieth, the Friendship Rug deserves a spot in your project queue. Gather your cotton yarn, choose your colors, and settle in. There is something wonderful waiting at the end of this pattern.