How to Crochet a Fatigue Mat

An experiment in creating bulky weight yarn from worsted weight resulted in an area rug with the spring of a fatigue mat.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• size Q crochet hook
• 96 ounces worsted weight yarn, preferably 12 8-oz skeins in color(s) of your choice

1. With 6 strands held together, chain 37.

2. Row 1 (right side):
   2 dc (double crochet) in 5th ch (chain) from hook; *skip next ch, 2 dc in next ch; repeat from * 14 more times; skip next ch, dc in next ch. You should have 16 2-dc groups. Ch 3 (counts as first dc on following rows), turn.

3. Row 2:
   Skip first dc, in space between first dc and dc-group, work 2 dc; work 2 dc between remaining 2-dc groups; work 2 dc between dc-group and last dc; dc in 4th ch of beginning 4 skipped chs. Ch 3, turn.

4. Row 3:
   Skip first dc, in spaces between dc and dc-groups, work 2 dc; dc in 3rd ch of turning ch-3. Ch 3, turn.

5. Rows 4 through 35:
   Repeat Row 3. At end of Row 35, do not ch 3. Finish off.

6. Border(optional)
   Hold rug with right side facing you and beginning ch at top; with 6 strands held together, join in first unused loop of beginning ch.

7. Round 1 (right side):
   Ch 1, 3 sc (single crochet) in same loop - corner made; working in unused loops of beginning ch, sc in each loop to last loop; 3 sc in last loop - corner made; working along next side in ends of rows in spaces formed by edge dc and turning chs and in base of stitches, skip next row, sc in base of next stitch; + sc in next row, sc in base of next st+; repeat from + to + to Row 35; working across Row 35, 3 ss in 3rd ch of turning ch-3 - corner made; sc in each dc to last dc; 3 sc in last dc - corner made; working along next side in ends of rows in spaces formed by edge dc and turning chs and in base of stitches, sc in base of next st; repeat from + to + to Row 1; join in first sc - 212 sc.

8. Round 2:
   Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 3 dc in next sc - dc corner made; *dc in each sc to 2nd sc of next corner; 3 dc in next sc - dc corner made; repeat from * two more times; dc in each sc to beginning ch-3; join in 3rd ch of beginning ch-3.

9. Round 3:
   Slip stitch in next 2 dc, ch 7, dc in 4th ch from hook, in same dc as last slip stitch made work (dc, ch 4, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc); +skip next 2 dc, in next dc work (dc, ch 4, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc)+; repeat from + to + 10 more times; skip next 3 dc, in next dc work (dc, ch 4, dc in 4th ch from hook)twice; dc in same dc; rep from + to + 23 times; sk next 3 dc, in next dc work (dc, ch 4, dc in 4th ch from hook)twice; dc in same dc; rep from + to + 11 times; sk next 3 dc, in next dc work (dc, ch4, dc in 4th ch from hook)twice; dc in same dc; rep from + to + 23 times; join in 3rd ch of beginning ch-7.
   
   Finish off and weave in all ends.

Tips & Warnings

• Use yarn pulled from the center of the skeins. Yarn is less likely to tangle than if used from the outside of the skein.
• Place the 6 skeins of yarn in front of you and center yourself in front of them to make it easier to maintain tension and the free flow of the yarn.

Resources

• Nessa's Notions Crocheted Goods