Animals are sensitive to their surroundings. When adopting, we've always included something from the cage, such as a toy or material, to give the animal a sense of familiarity. For some, especially our two dawgs, the idea of being caged is traumatic.
Crocheters can create cage blankets to get the animal off the cage floor and onto something comfortable. For those dropping their animals off for care, it's traumatizing for the animal and human companion. Send a piece of home with them.
Be sure to check with your vet before bringing in items from home to ensure they are good with it. They may have suggestions for you as well.
I will file this under palliative care blankets as some of us have to send our animals to the vet for reasons that are heart-wrenching.
It is designed as a rectangle so it is not too large to fit into a cage. It can be easily folded so the animal has a place to rest, and the other part remains a cage bottom for relieving itself. These blankets are easily washable.
Size: 40” wide by 17” long.
Materials
This is a great stash-busting project to finish up any balls you may have. I used leftovers from one of the stitch-alongs from years ago.
Bernat Blanket Yarn - 300g / 10.5 oz, 201 meters / 220 yards
A - Shell Pink - 1 Full Ball
B - Seagull Grey - 75% Ball
Hook Size: 10 mm / N/15
GAUGE = 8 sc and 7 rows = 4” [10 cm]
This blanket was made for Bibi, the Papillon dog. Bibi was sent from Alberta, Canada, to Karen for babysitting for a few months as the family member is having a house being built, and they are in a non-pet rental.
When Bibi is sent back on the plane, she will have a blanket to remind her of home in Nova Scotia so she can be comforted in the crate on her way home.
Abbreviations List
- Approx = Approximately
- Beg = Beginning
- Ch = Chain(s)
- Hdc = Half Double Crochet
- Rep = Repeat
- RS = Right side
- Sc = Single crochet
- Sl st = Slip stitch
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- WS = Wrong side
Instructions
With A, ch 75. No multiples are required for this pattern.
1st row: RS. 1 hdc 2nd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each ch across. Turn. 74 hdc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 hdc in each hdc across. Break A. Turn. 74 hdc.
3rd row: Attach B with sl st to beg st. Ch 1. 1 sc in each st across. Turn. 74 sc.
4th row: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. Break B. Turn. 74 sc.
5th row: Attach A with sl st to beg st. Ch 1. 1 hdc in each st across. Turn. 74 hdc.
6th to 10th rows: Ch 1, 1 hdc in each st across. Turn. Break A at the end of the 10th row.
11th row: Attach B with sl st to beg st. Ch 1. 1 sc in each st across. Turn. 74 sc.
12th row: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st across. Break B. Turn. 74 sc.
Rep 5th to 12th rows once more. Break B at the end of the rep.
Edging
1st rnd: With RS facing and with B, attach with sl st to any corner. Ch 1, 3 sc in the same corner. Evenly sc around, placing three sc in each corner. Join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off.
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Have you completed this project. Show me!