There are several different ways to START this stitch. You can either skip 2 or 4 sts between the puffs/clusters on the starting row of chains, and you can make 2 or 3 dcs on each end of the rows.

I researched/studied two other patterns before deciding to follow Crystal’s:

1. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kitty-cat-afghan... (74 projects)

2. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kitties-in-a-row... (161 projects)

• BOD video tutorial/pattern (multiple of 4 (+ 1 if chaining)): https://youtu.be/QZVcbuKBge8 Crystal’s way, which is to start with a row of sc and only skip 2 stitches between the clusters/puffs/whatever they’re called and to have 3 dcs on each end of the rows.

I like the sturdiness of working into scs instead of into chains, and I prefer fsc instead of sc’ing into a chain.

For what I wanted to make, after I did a practice swatch and ran the numbers, I started with 160 fsc stitches (multiple of 4 (+1 not needed)), which makes it about 65” wide and has 38 kitties per row. I also figure I will need to make 8-9 rows to get to the ~18-20” I want it to be. UPDATE: grew to be 70” wide.

Crystal (and others) do 4 yarn overs for the kitty paws / legs, but I am only doing 3 yarn overs because I like it better than 4. I saw that idea in one of the Ravelry projects for one of the other patterns.

Amount of yarn used per color (pattern repeat): ~ 2 oz.

1/18/24:
Measuring about 70 inches long and 23 inches tall with eleven (11) full kitty rows plus the set up rows.

1/24/24:
I’ve just been using it to cover me when I’m crocheting instead of finishing it. I think I’m done. Just need the final two rows to finish it off (one row is Row 3 of the pattern, and the final row is from another pattern meant to make a straight edge.)

1/27/24: I finished the last row to make the straight edge, but I should have paid attention as I went OR to my test/gauge piece that clearly showed what others warned about. My tc was too tall, so I should have replaced it with an extended dc, and there’s waviness, so I should have used a smaller hook for that row.

2/10/24: UPDATE: last last squaring off row is now frogged back and crocheted with a 1mm smaller hook, i.e., a 5mm and an extended DC rather than a TC. It’s much better!

The final row (to square off the edge) repeat over the repeated section below is Ext-DC, DC, HDC, SC, DC, HDC and then there are DCs in the 3 stitches at the beginning and the end.

FINAL WEIGHT: 24.66 oz

IMPORTANT NOTE … it’s VERY holey using worsted weight yarn and a 6mm hook. If I have bare feet, my toes catch and push through the holes. It probably would be better to use a smaller hook next time.

Crystal’s tutorial is for bulky yarn, a 6.5mm hook, 193 chains to start (multiple of 4 + 1), and she made hers 87” x 12-13” for a scarf.