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I’m Marie Segares from Underground Crafter and I’m excited to launch a charity spotlight series on Oombawka Design! Each month, I’ll be highlighting a charity that accepts crochet donations and sharing a free pattern, so read on for details.

Did you know that June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month?

Ever year, over 3.5 million cats enter animal shelters in the US and Canada. Sadly, more than 40% of them are euthanized. Even if you can’t adopt a cat (or, in my case another cat!) this month, there are other ways you can help local animal shelters and rescue groups.

June’s Featured Charity: The Snuggles Project

One way is by supporting this month’s featured charity, the Snuggles Project. The Snuggles Project invites crocheters, knitters, and quilters from around the world to create pet blankets (also known as Snuggles) to donate to local animal shelters and rescue groups. These blankets can make life in a shelter just a little cozier. You can find more information about donating pet blankets along with a Worldwide Shelter Directory here.

Tips for Making a Great Pet Blanket

Pet blankets are great ways to try new stitches and use scrap yarn. According to the Snuggles Project, common sizes for pet blankets are 14” (35.5 cm) square for small animals (including most cats), 24” (61 cm) square for larger cats and small to medium sized dogs, and 36” (91.5 cm) square for medium to large dogs. Always ask your local pet charity of choice what their preferred size is to be sure!

Because pet blankets get a lot of use and need to be washed frequently, they should be made with 100% acrylic or 100% cotton yarns. Although animals will be happy with just about any color (smile), darker colors hide stains more easily.

Remember that you should always fasten off pet projects with a long yarn tail, and then thoroughly weave in your yarn tails with a yarn needle. Yarn ends tied off in knots can easily become loose with wear and unravel – or worse. Animals may suffer if they chew and swallow unsecured bits of yarn.

Mitered Square Pet Blanket

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

 

 

This square blanket has a fun ribbed texture. The close stitches keep a pet cozy when inside of a crate.

Although the instructions are for a small 14” (35.5 cm) square blanket, this pattern can be easily customized! Just continue Rows 3-6 until the blanket measures approximately 0.5” (1.25 cm) smaller than your final desired size and then start the border.

Finished Size

• Adjustable. Pictured sample is 14” (35.5 cm) square.

Materials

• Lion Brand Heartland (5 oz/142 g/251 yds/230 m/100% acrylic) – 1 skein ea in 109 Olympic (CA) and 105 Glacier Bay (CB), or approximately 125 yds (114 m) in ea of 2 colors in any medium weight yarn. Larger blankets will require more yarn.
• H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook or any size needed to obtain gauge.
• Yarn needle.
• Locking stitch marker or scrap yarn.

Gauge

• Exact gauge is not critical for this project, but stitches should be snug to avoid holes in the fabric.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• BL – back loop only
• ch – chain
• ea – each
• rep – repeat
• sc – single crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• yo – yarn over
• ^* Rep after asterisk as indicated.

Pattern Notes

• Carry unworked color up side of piece. Move stitch marker up each row to mark center st for increase.

Pattern Instructions

Blanket

• With CA, ch 2.
• Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, 3 sc in next ch, place marker in second (middle) sc. (3 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, scBL in first st, 3 scBL in marked st (move marker to second st), scBL in next st, changing to CB with last yo of final sc. (5 sts)
• Row 3: Turn, ch 1, scBL in ea st to marked st, 3 scBL in marked st (move marker to second st), scBL in ea st across. (Increases by 2 sts)
• Row 4: Turn, ch 1, scBL in ea st to marked st, 3 scBL in marked st (move marker to second st), scBL in ea st across, changing to CA with last yo of final sc. (Increases by 2 sts)
• Row 5: Rep Row 3.
• Row 6: Turn, ch 1, scBL in ea st to marked st, 3 scBL in marked st (move marker to second st), scBL in ea st across, changing to CB with last yo of final sc. (Increases by 2 sts)
• Rep Rows 3-6 until square measures approximately 12” (30.5 cm) or until desired length, ending after Row 5. Fasten off CB with long yarn tail and continue in CA.

Border

• Round 1: Rep Row 3 to last st. 3 scBL in last st, *turning to work across edge of blanket, sc in side of ea row to first st (being sure to crochet over unworked yarn from color changes), 3 sc in first (corner) st, turning to work across edge of blanket, sc in side of ea row to beginning of border, 2 sc in side of row, join with sl st to first (corner) st. Fasten off CA with long yarn tail.

Finishing

• With yarn needle, weave in ends securely.

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Marie Segares is a crochet and knitting designer, teacher, and blogger, and the Proprietress of the Underground Crafter. Please visit her at one of the following links:

Facebook | Pinterest | Website

Or, check out her profile and additional Guest Posts on the Oombawka Design Contributor Page.

On behalf of the Oombawka Design readers, and myself, I would like to Thank Marie for sharing this information about The Snuggles Project and her fantastic and versatile pattern for a Mitered Square Pet Blanket. 

You may also want to check out Marie’s eBook: 30 Purrfect Stitches for Pet Blankets.  This ebook includes 20 crochet and 10 Tunisian crochet stitch patterns that are selected with pet blankets in mind. $1 from each sale is donated to local animal welfare organizations. This year’s recipient is the Humane Society of New York.

© 2015 Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). Published with permission on Oombawka Design.

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