127 TLC Designs Cat

127 TLC Designs Cat Crochet Blanket by Tricia Crow

Project Overview

The 127 TLC Designs Cat is a beginner-friendly crochet blanket designed by Tricia Crow. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a finished blanket measuring 40 inches by 58 inches, making it an ideal size for a throw blanket or lap blanket. The design features a cat motif worked using a charted pattern that combines simple stitches with decorative bobble stitch details to create visual interest and texture.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a rectangular crochet blanket with a cat design. The pattern uses a chart-based approach where each square on the grid represents one stitch, allowing crafters to follow a visual representation of the finished design. The blanket is worked from bottom to top in rows, with the cat image created through strategic placement of bobble stitches against a background of single crochet stitches.

Crochet Techniques and Construction

The blanket is constructed using fundamental crochet techniques suitable for beginners. The pattern begins with a foundation chain of 180 stitches, which establishes the width of the blanket at 179 stitches across (after working into the second chain from the hook). The blanket consists of 275 total rows, worked in a consistent stitch count throughout.

The construction method is straightforward: all rows begin with a chain stitch, and odd-numbered rows are worked entirely in single crochet across. The charted section (rows 4 through 272) incorporates the cat design by introducing bobble stitches at specific intervals, with numbers on the chart indicating how many single crochet stitches appear between bobble stitch placements. This numerical notation simplifies pattern reading, as numbers appear only when three or more single crochets occur consecutively between bobble stitches.

Stitches Used

• Single Crochet (sc): The primary stitch used throughout the blanket, forming the base fabric and background of the design
• Bobble Stitch: A textured, dimensional stitch used to create the cat motif. The bobble stitch is worked by completing five yarn-over and loop-draw cycles in the same stitch, then drawing yarn through all five loops on the hook simultaneously. All bobble stitches are worked to the back of the fabric, creating a raised, sculptural effect on the reverse side while maintaining a cohesive front appearance
• Chain Stitch: Used for the foundation chain and to begin each row

Materials Required

The pattern calls for I Love This Cotton yarn in an aran weight, requiring approximately 3,800 yards total to complete the blanket. A size G (4mm) crochet hook is used throughout the project. The cotton yarn choice provides a lightweight, breathable fabric suitable for a throw blanket, while the aran weight offers good stitch definition for displaying both the single crochet background and the bobble stitch details of the cat design.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it accessible to crocheters new to the craft. While the project involves working a large number of rows (275 total), the stitch techniques are fundamental. The bobble stitch, though requiring careful attention to technique, is clearly explained in the pattern instructions, and the chart-based design system provides visual guidance for stitch placement, reducing the likelihood of errors.

Pattern Format and Reading

The 127 TLC Designs Cat is provided as a downloadable PDF pattern. The design is worked from a chart where each square represents one stitch, with blank squares indicating single crochet stitches and black squares indicating bobble stitches. The chart is read from left to right on even-numbered rows, and the blanket is worked from the bottom upward, allowing crafters to see the cat design develop as they progress through the rows.