Holiday Cat Collar

Any cat lover adore this Holiday Cat Collar as a present for their furry friend during the holidays. This festive Christmas crochet pattern from Red Heart Yarn not only shows you how to crochet a collar, but also make a gorgeous craft flower that really brings home the spirit of the season. Challenge yourself to work with a Christmas crochet pattern that's results are rewarding. It's sure to be the cat's meow this year.

RED HEART® Holiday®: 1 ball each 1360 Aran/Gold A, 6560 Hunter/Gold B, and 9560 Wine/Gold C.

Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 5mm [US H-8].

Yarn needle, removable stitch marker or safety pin; 2 sets of ½" (13 mm) or  ⅝" (15 mm) sew-on snaps; sewing needle and thread.

GAUGE: 15 sts = 4" (10 cm) in hdc. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

(4 Medium) RED HEART® Holiday, Art. E759 available in 3.5 oz (100 g), 235 yd (215 m) balls.


Directions are for size Small/Medium; changes for size Medium/Large are in parentheses. Snap placement on collar allows a custom fit.

To Fit Neck: 8-11 (10-13)", [20-28 (25-33) cm].
Finished Measurements: 1 x 11½ (1 x 13½)", [3 x 29 (3 x 34) cm].


Collar
With A, ch 39 (46).
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across; do NOT turn.
Round 2: Work Reverse sc as follows: ch 1, insert hook in last st worked and draw through a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, * insert hook in next st to the right and draw through a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * across last row AND across end, the beginning ch and the last end. Fasten off.


Poinsettia Flower
Round 1: With C leaving a 12" (30 cm) yarn tail, make an adjustable loop; 6 sc into loop; join with a slip st in first sc. Pull on yarn tail to tighten loop and close center.

Round 2: * Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 3 ch **, slip st in next sc; repeat from * around, end at **.

Round 3: * Slip st in next ch, hdc in next ch, slip st in next 2 ch, ch 3, slip st in 3rd ch from hook, slip st in next 2 sc, hdc in next sc, slip st in next sc, skip next slip st; repeat from * around. Fasten off.


Poinsettia Leaf
Work as for flower with B.


Holly Leaves (Make 8)
Round 1: With B, ch 7; slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in next ch, slip st in last ch changing to A; continue on opposite side of ch: [slip st in next ch, ch 2, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, slip st in next ch] 3 times, ch 2, slip st in 2nd ch from hook; now work across original sts: [slip st in next st, ch 2, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, slip st in next st] 3 times. Fasten off leaving a long yarn tail.


Finishing
Sew center of poinsettia to center of poinsettia leaves, staggering petals and leaves. With A, sew center of poinsettia to one end of collar with French knots in the center of the flower.

Wrap the collar around animal’s neck to determine how much overlap there should be and mark with safety pin or removable stitch marker. With sewing needle and thread sew male side of snap to underside of collar underneath poinsettia; sew other half of snap near opposite end and opposite side of collar so that when snapped together, there is desired amount of overlap. With sewing needle and thread, stitch remaining snap to secure under lap of collar.

Sew leaves to collar as desired. Weave in ends.


ABBREVIATIONS: A, B, C = color A, B, C; ch = chain; dc = double crochet; hdc = half double crochet; mm = millimeters; sc = single crochet; st(s) = stitch (es); yo = yarn over; * or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated; [] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified.
 

If you'd like to see more holiday patterns, take a look at the new "Have a Red Heart Holiday: 20 Knit & Crochet Gifts and Decorating Ideas" eBook from Red Heart Yarns.