A great way to use up excess yarn, especially the ugly stuff you might not like. Some mats might be pretty, some might be ugly, but all will be surprisingly spongy and a perfect cat magnet.


CAT MAT #3




I am making a granny square using a 2 half-double crochet cluster (HDC) instead of 3 double crochet. The shell stich is also made with HDC instead of DC.

The finished mat is around 19" x 13"

Supplies needed are: 5mm/I/9 hook

Any worsted weight yarn

Stitches used are half-double crochet, standing HDC, standing single crochet, single crochet and chain stitch. 

There are many tutorials on how to make the HDC and the Standing Stitch, so I won't describe it here.

Make the pad 20 rounds if using a thin yarn like Caron Simply Soft, or 18 rounds using a thicker yarn. Make 2 pads. Finish off the loose ends before joining them together.

To start the mat, chain 18, then do 1 hdc in 3rd chain from hook, 2 ch (starting HDC cluster) and 2 HDC (HDC cluster) in same stitch. (This is the start of a corner). 

Skip 2 ch and do 2 hdc in next stitch. Continue to the end. In the end stitch do 2 hdc, ch 2, 2hdc, ch 2, 2hdc. Continue with 2 hdc on other side of chain to match the ones you have already completed. When you get to the start, make 2 hdc, ch 2. Join with SS to first 2 hdc cluster There should be 9 2-hdc clusters on each side and 1 hdc at each end of the 1st round. 

If you are going to use the same colour, then turn the work around and start making 2 hdc clusters between the 2 hdc clusters of the previous row. In the corners make 2 hdc clusters, ch 2, 2 hdc clusters. 

If you are going to use different colours, then finish of the colour and join the new colour in any corner using a standing HDC without turning around the project.

When you have finished 2 mats - connecting and Shell Stitch border

Line up the corner of the 2 mats. Join yarn using a hanging single crochet and do 3 sc total in the corner. Then do SC in each stitch along any side, ending on an even number before the next corner.

Then 3 SC in corner, SC in each stitch along the next side, ending on an even number before the next corner. Continue until you have stitches all sides together. Attach with an SS in starting hanging single crochet. Finish off yarn.

In SC before the 3 SC in the corner, connect yarn with a SS. Skip one SC and do 8 HDC stitches in middle stitch of corner 3 SC. 

Skip next stich and ss in next stitch. Skip next  SC and do 5HDC in next stitch. Skip next SC and ss in next stitch, skip next stitch and do 5 HDC in the next stitch. Continue to next corner. If you have to squeeze a stitch in to make the last cluster fit properly it doesn't really matter, just so long as there is 1 space before the centre stitch of the corner 3 SC to make your 8 HDC corner shell.

Finish off.

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