Crocheted Cat Mats

Sandi/Poor But Proud
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 969 Posts

Total Time: 1.5 - 2.0 hours

Yield: 1

Source: I have been making circles for years, just thought of my Cornelius and how much he loved his.

Supplies:

• size N hook
• 275 ft scrap yarn
• scissors
• hot glue gun
• darning needle

Be careful not to use wool as the first time you wash it, it will felt and be ruined. Also don't use good yarn. This will be like the "velveteen rabbit"...only real once it's very used.

Steps:

1. With your double strand of yarn, chain 3 and make 11 double crochets in first chain for 12. Join and chain 3. I leave a 12" tail when I begin to sew the two centers together. Make 2 double crochets in each of the 12 doubles from first row for 24. Join and chain 3.

 
2. Each row for a standard circle is 12, 24, 36...so you just have to add 12 to each row. I begin each new row with the single doubles and then count "1, 2, 3/4" so that the extra double is in the end of each count instead of the first. It's just easier to count that way, at least for me.

 
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3. For all the rows to row 8, which gives you a 16" mat, increase by 12. You can work in the ties as you go or leave till the end.

 
4. Make two. Leave a 20" tail to use for sewing them together.

 
5. With the tails inside and your first tail, thread your darning needle and running stitch the two centers together. Work in your tail and hot glue all the tails, just a dab in the knot. This will keep little kitties from working out the tails.

 
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6. Using your last tail, make a running stitch around the edge and work in the last tail "very well".

 
7. NOTES: There are several ways you can come up with this same project using other methods.
   1. Use a smaller hook and make more rows.
   2. Make it half-doubles and make more rows.
   3. Work in the tails and don't use the glue.
   4. Make the top crocheted and the bottom fabric, using a sharper darning needle.
   5. Make these with scrap yarn, but just two different colors. In other words, less knots to glue and tails to work in.
   

Here's the challenge: Make one for a friend, relative, or even better, your local shelter. Share this on pinterest and facebook so others can do the same. The local shelters need help more now than in any time in history. Funds are low, needs are high and resources are stretched to the limit. We may not be able to do much, but in memory of my Cornelius and all the cats you may have loved and lost...we can all do something.

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ebuys

April 30, 20160 found this helpful

That is so pretty.

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Sandi/Poor But Proud
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 969 Posts

May 2, 20160 found this helpful

Thanks so much. And they are so easy, too!

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Jean Werle R.

May 4, 20160 found this helpful

I have been crocheting around fleece blanket for the kitties and also have done square ones with my leftover yarn too... LOVE THOSE animals !!!!

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Anonymous

May 4, 20160 found this helpful

That is great keep up the good work!

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Sandi/Poor But Proud
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 969 Posts

May 4, 20160 found this helpful

Good job. Keep up the great work. Post one or two sometime? PBP

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Helmut

May 7, 20160 found this helpful

My friend Dianne did the same until she died a couple of years ago. I cropped and sized and uploaded pictures of her "cat afghans" to funk.fire-cat.com/.../index.html, for her local animal shelter to auction / sell. There are probably a few thousand designs there, that you are welcome to copy.

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Have FUN!
DearWebby

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Sandi/Poor But Proud
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 969 Posts

May 8, 20160 found this helpful

This is so nice of you and a wonderful way to remember your friend. Winston Churchill said "We make a living by what we get. We make a life from what we give". I will check it out. Thanks!!

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Sandi/Poor But Proud
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 969 Posts

May 9, 20160 found this helpful

I clicked on that link and got an error. Is it perhaps not there anymore? If you have a way to list some patterns Thrifty Fun will help you do that. I would love to see them!

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Sandi/Poor But Proud
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 969 Posts

May 21, 20160 found this helpful

UPDATE!! I have now been asked to make these for two shelters. But, today I hot glue "spotted" 12 of them and it took too long and I don't like to take too long. Esp' since they have asked for 1 layer ones, where the ugly side will now show.

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So...I will now be doing them this way and you can use this method to join colors in anything you make from scrap.

When you get to the two joining ends overlap by about 6". Then, cross them over and and work in the tails as you go.

Say you have red and white, working with the red and adding the white. Now, you are working in the tail for the white end before you work in the tail of the red, on the other side of the joining spot.

In other words, do not tie them in knots. Simply cross them and work in the other color as you go. I know that is going to save me time, glue and I hope it helps you, too.
PBP

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