Cat & Mouse Throw & Pillow in Caron Simply Soft - Downloadable PDF

Cat & Mouse Throw & Pillow in Caron Simply Soft — Crochet Pattern Summary

Designed by Deb Richey, the Cat & Mouse Throw & Pillow is a charming, beginner-friendly crochet pattern available as a free downloadable PDF. The collection includes two projects: a generously sized lap throw measuring 45 x 56 inches and a coordinating 12-inch square pillow. Both pieces feature a playful cat-and-mouse motif worked in a classic block construction, making them an ideal choice for crafters who are new to colorwork or motif-based crochet.

Projects Included

Cat & Mouse Throw (Blanket)

The throw is built from individual crocheted squares that are assembled to create the finished blanket. The construction begins with a foundation chain and is worked entirely in single crochet (sc) rows, keeping the technique accessible for beginners. Each square is finished with a neat single crochet border worked in the round, including corner increases to keep edges flat and tidy. The finished blanket measures 45 x 56 inches, making it a comfortable size for a lap throw or a child's bed blanket.

The cat motifs are crocheted separately and incorporated into the design, with both pink and black versions made to create visual contrast across the throw. The playful cat-and-mouse theme gives this blanket a whimsical, storybook quality that appeals to children and cat lovers alike.

Cat & Mouse Pillow

The coordinating pillow follows the same construction principles as the throw, using single crochet squares and cat motifs to create a cohesive set. The finished pillow measures 12 inches square, making it a perfect accent piece for a sofa, chair, or child's bedroom. Working the pillow alongside the throw allows crafters to use up partial skeins and practice the motif construction on a smaller, faster scale before tackling the full blanket.

Techniques Used

• Single crochet (sc) — the primary stitch used throughout both the throw and the pillow for all squares and motifs
• Single crochet decrease (sc dec) — a special technique used in shaping the cat motifs; worked by inserting the hook into each of the next two stitches, drawing up a loop in each (three loops on hook), then drawing the yarn through all three loops
• Foundation chain and row-by-row construction — squares are built from a starting chain and worked in straight rows of single crochet
• Working in the round for borders — after the rows are complete, a final round is worked around the outer edge of each square, picking up stitches in the ends of rows and along the foundation chain, with corner increases (3 sc in corner stitches) to maintain shape
• Joining with slip stitch — used to close rounds and join motifs as directed in the pattern notes
• Colorwork using separate motifs — cat shapes are crocheted individually in contrasting colors and applied to the squares, creating the signature cat-and-mouse design without complex intarsia or stranded colorwork

Stitches Used

• Chain (ch / chs)
• Single crochet (sc)
• Single crochet decrease
• Slip stitch (for joining)

Materials

Both projects are worked in Caron Simply Soft, an aran-weight yarn available in 170 g / 6 oz skeins with approximately 288 m / 315 yards per skein. Simply Soft is a smooth, machine-washable acrylic yarn well suited to home décor and children's projects. The pattern calls for three contrast colors:

• Contrast A — Soft Pink (9719): the dominant background color; 8 skeins for the blanket alone, 1 skein for the pillow alone, or 9 skeins for the complete set
• Contrast B — Black (9727): used for contrasting squares and cat motifs; 5 skeins for the blanket alone, 1 skein for the pillow alone