6 rounds · filed under drape · 6 of them
Home decor · added 3 Oct 2026
Double crochet paw print rug for a pet corner
Double crochet rounds build a thick, plush circle in super bulky yarn, finished with sewn-on pads for a paw-print pet rug.
- Skill
- Easy
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Hook
- 6 mm
- Yarn
- Super Bulky
- Rounds
- 6
About this pattern
Under the hand this works up thick and padded, closer to a cushion than a mat, because the double crochet stitch is worked in super bulky chenille-style yarn that fills in on itself round after round. Each dc stands tall and wide, so the fabric has real loft and a soft, brushed surface rather than a crisp, defined stitch grid. It holds its shape without stiffening, giving a dense, cushioned circle that stays put on a floor.
The main piece builds as a flat circle, growing from 12 dc to 24 dc to 36 dc and continuing on that increase path until it spans about 36 inches across. That wide disc becomes the pad of the paw, with four separate toe pieces and a large paw pad sewn on afterward to turn a plain circle into a recognizable paw shape. Lay it flat by a pet bed, a door, or a favorite nap spot.
Rated an Easy skill level. Measurement: approx 36" [91.5 cm] diameter. Gauge: 10 dc and 5 rows = 4" [10 cm], so checking that gauge early keeps the finished diameter on target.
The swatch in numbers
- Rounds
- 6
- Level
- Easy
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Hook
- 6 mm
- Yarn
- Super Bulky
The yarn and the hook
Yarn
- Bernat® Blanket™ (Super Bulky 6)
Contrast A
- Dark Teal (10825) — 3 balls or 470 yds/428 m
Contrast B
- Pale Grey (10046) — 1 ball or 195 yds/178 m
Tools
- Size U.S. J/10 [6 mm] Susan Bates® Silvalume® crochet hook (or size needed to obtain gauge).
- Susan Bates® yarn needle.
Stitches, spelled out
Approx Approximately; Beg Beginning; Ch Chain(s); Dc Double crochetDrape; Rep Repeat; Rnd(s) Round(s); RS Right side; Sc Single crochetDense; Sl st Slip stitch; St(s) Stitch(es).
Tension and hand-feel
After the third round, the 36 dc should lie flat on a table without the edge cupping up or rippling outward, and using the stated gauge of 10 dc and 5 rows per 4 inches, the circle at that point should measure roughly 4.8 inches across.
Rug Construction Steps
Notes Notes: Ch 3 at beginning of round counts as dc. Join each round with a slip stitch to first dc.
Start: With MC, chain 4. Refer to the diagram on page 3 for further assistance.
Toes & Pad Toes (Make 4) and Large Paw Pad:
For creating the Toes and Large Paw Pad, follow the same pattern from to * provided for the Rug. Fasten off each piece after completion.
Finishing Touches Block: Lay out all the pieces you've worked on and block them flat into the desired shape.
Assembly: Sew the four Toes and the Large Paw Pad to the Rug according to the arrangement seen in the reference picture.
This project culminates in a lovely and tactile rug that mimics the playful design of a paw print, providing a soft and cozy rest for your pet while adding a touch of animal whimsy to your home decor.
How the texture is built
- The first three rounds increase by exactly 12 stitches each time (12, then 24, then 36 dc), a steady doubling-then-even pattern that keeps the circle lying flat as it grows; later rounds continue adding evenly spaced increases rather than jumping the count, which is what keeps a wide super bulky disc from buckling.
- Each round closes with a slip stitch join back to the first dc rather than spiraling, which draws a visible seam line into the fabric at the start of every round and keeps the rounds as distinct concentric circles instead of a continuous spiral.
- The paw shape is not built into the main rounds at all: the four toes and the large paw pad are worked as separate pieces and only become a paw once they are blocked and sewn onto the main circle, so the main rounds only ever need to produce a plain, flat disc.
If you swap the yarn
| Wool-blend bulky (not super bulky) | Produces a thinner, less padded fabric, so more rounds are needed to reach the same 36-inch diameter, and a smaller hook closer to US I/9 keeps the dc from gapping. |
|---|---|
| Cotton super bulky | Gives a heavier, firmer disc with less squish and almost no stretch, which holds a flatter shape underfoot and machine washes well for a rug that sees real traffic. |
| Acrylic worsted held double | Creates a lighter, more pliable fabric with visible stitch definition instead of a brushed surface, so the circle will need additional rounds beyond the sample count to match the finished size, and the hook should drop to around US H/8. |
Colorways
- Teal field, grey paw Work the full main circle, round 1 through the final round, in Dark Teal; reserve the single ball of Pale Grey entirely for the four toes and the large paw pad, so the paw shape reads as a pale contrast sitting on the dark disc.
- Grey field, teal paw Flip the usual assignment: work the main circle in Pale Grey and the four toes plus the large paw pad in Dark Teal, keeping in mind the yardage split in the materials list (3 balls versus 1) so the larger piece should still carry the more generous color.
Washing and blocking
Hand wash or machine wash on a cold, gentle cycle, since the polyester chenille-style yarn in the materials list is prone to pilling under rough agitation or heat.
Lay flat to dry rather than hanging, which keeps the thick dc rounds from stretching out of their circle under their own wet weight.
Reshape by smoothing the paw outline flat while still damp and store the rug flat or loosely rolled, not folded, so the plush surface does not take a crease line.
When it does not look right
- The circle cups instead of lying flat.
- Too few increases were worked for the round, or tension is tighter than the stated gauge; recount against the 12, 24, 36 progression and loosen tension or size up the hook.
- The edge ripples or waves instead of staying smooth.
- An extra increase crept in somewhere along the round; lay the piece flat, recount stitches against the round totals given, and remove the extra stitch.
- The toes and large paw pad do not line
- The pieces were sewn on before blocking; block the toes and pad flat first, then pin them to the main circle and check placement before stitching them down permanently.
Questions people ask
How much yarn is needed to finish the whole rug?
The materials list calls for 3 balls of Dark Teal (about 470 yards) for the bulk of the piece and 1 ball of Pale Grey (about 195 yards) for the lighter sections. Buying exactly those amounts should be enough to complete the rug as charted.
Can a different hook size be used?
Yes, as long as the gauge of 10 dc and 5 rows per 4 inches is matched, since the final diameter depends on that gauge holding steady. Swatch the first couple of rounds and check against that measurement before committing to a hook size.
Why does the rug start as a plain circle instead of a paw shape?
The main rounds only build a flat disc through even increases; the paw look comes afterward, once the separately worked toes and large paw pad are blocked and sewn onto that disc. Building the paw details separately keeps the main rounds simple and keeps the circle lying flat.
How big will the finished rug be?
Worked to gauge, the finished piece measures approximately 36 inches across. Because the fabric is thick and plush, that diameter also means a rug with real heft underfoot rather than a thin mat.
New patterns, as they are filed
One short email when a batch lands, with the feel of each.