# Introduction to Crochet/Cat blanket

My cat claims ownership of every piece of crochet I make, if she doesn't succeed in shredding it during construction. So in order to pacify the little beast I tempt her away from the yarn balls with this blanket. It's just her size, it's soft, and she can leave her scent all over it. She especially enjoys it when it's laid on the carpet in a patch of sunlight. I don't think it makes the carpet any softer, but she seems to enjoy owning the thing.

## Materials

* Cotton yarn in ecru and Navy blue (amount)
* 4mm hook (U.S. size G)

## Construction

The body of this blanket is the important part and it's as easy as can be: one chain stitch, one double crochet. Wash, rinse, repeat. Work a half double stitch in a contrasting color around the border and do anything you like afterward. I got a little fancy because I had been staring at a book of border patterns and decided to try designing something of my own. So don't be afraid of the border design - it's really just sets of chain stitches and double crochet. If the thing gets frustrating, do a simpler border.

## Instructions

Body:
* Row 1: Begin with ecru yarn. Chain stitch 154 plus a 3 stitch turning chain.
* Row 2: double crochet, chain stitch. Skip 1, then double crochet and chain stitch again. Repeat. At the end of the row make 2 double crochet stitches in succession. Make a 3 stitch turning chain.
* Row 3: skip 1, double crochet wrapping around the previous chain, chain stitch. Repeast. At end of row make two double crochet stitches in succession; the second double crochet goes into the previous turning chain. Then make a 3 stitch turning chain.
* Rows 4-72: as row 3.
Border:
* Part 1: switch to Navy blue yarn. Half double crochet around the entire edge. Make 1 stitch into each stitch of the rows, 5 stitches into the loose loop at each corner, and 2 stitches into each row along the sides.
* Part 2: switch back to ecru yarn. Double crochet 3, chain stitch 1; skip 1. Repeat. At corners double stitch 2 stitches into each of the 5 corner stitches from the previous row. Complete 1 circle around the border this way. Close the loop with with a flat stitch.
* Part 3:
** Row motif: chain stitch 3, skip 2 and double crochet wrapping around the chain stitch from the previous row; chain stitch 2, double crochet a second stitch around the same chain stitch; make a picot of 4 chain stitches, close with a flat stitch; chain stitch 2, double crochet a third time around the same chain stitch, chain stitch 3, skip 3, single crochet around the chain stitch. Chain stitch 3, skip 3 and double crochet wrapping around the chain stitch from the previous row; chain stitch 2, double crochet a second stitch around the same chain stitch; make a picot of 4 chain stitches, close with a flat stitch; chain stitch 2, double crochet a third time around the same chain stitch, chain stitch 3, skip 3, single crochet around the chain stitch. Repeat to end of row.
** Corner motif: chain stitch 3, skip 1 and double crochet; make a picot of 5 chain stitches and close with a flat stitch, double crochet, chain stitch 3, skip 1 and single crochet. Repeat.
** Resume row motif for the other 3 rows and corner motif for the other 3 corners.