Thermal Stitch Bath Mat
It has been a CRAZY year! Last fall our school had an electrical fire. Because of the water damage, we were forced to relocate while the entire building was gutted and remodeled. We were off of school for a month (I'm a teacher, by the way), and I spent much of that month working with our director to find a suitable, temporary location. By mid November we were back up and running in a much smaller space, but it was working. Now we are out of school again, trying to do this Distance Learning because of this coronavirus pandemic. Wow! I hope all of you are surviving. At least we have hobbies to occupy us while we are stuck at home!
Anyway, that's the main reason I haven't had time to write up patterns and post new projects. I have been working on a lot of projects, but I haven't had the attention span to finish them, write patterns, take pictures, and create blog posts. I am so sorry to those of you who have been patiently waiting for some of the patterns I promised last fall!
Now that I get to work from home and have gotten settled into a routine, I am hoping to get all of these cool projects finished and shared with you. I do not have kids at home, and my husband's employer is considered essential, so I am home all day just sitting here waiting for students to reply to my frequent attempts at contact. I do feel for those of you who are trying to manage kids and jobs from home. I had students in class, so I know how difficult it is to keep some of them on task! Please know that from a teacher standpoint, we do not have high expectations for our students. All we want is to know that they are okay. We want them to check in with us and try to learn a little something. My suggestion to help you manage distance learning from home is to teach them some independence. Encourage them to reach out to their teachers for help. You are not expected to teach them, and the teachers are just waiting around for these students to ask for guidance.
The pattern I have to share with you today is a bath mat that I originally designed last summer, and that I refined just after Christmas as a birthday gift for my mom. It is a very easy pattern, and I have included a photo tutorial to help you learn the thermal stitch, which is ultimately just two layers of single crochet - it's the crochet version of double knit. The thermal stitch makes this bath mat nice and thick and squishy, perfect for stepping onto out of the shower. Bernat Blanket Yarn, makes this bath mat plenty absorbent, and also machine washable.
To make the pattern you will need one of the large (double-sized, 10.5 oz/300 g) balls of Bernat Blanket Yarn (or Bernat Baby Blanket - it's basically the same yarn in a different color palette) or two of the regular size balls (5.3 oz/150 g). There are links below to purchase on Amazon. (Don't worry - you pay the same price, but I do earn a small advertising fee for referring you. This helps me justify the time I spend preparing all of these patterns to share.) Prices vary on Amazon, but you can get a good deal if you know what your yarn normally sells for at other stores or from the manufacturer.
I used a nice, large hook, a size Q (15.75mm) because the thermal stitch can get very dense and stiff with a tight gauge. The large hook makes this bath mat work up quickly. I think mine only took about 3 hours to crochet.
As always, if you would like to purchase the ad-free, printable pdf version, it is available on Etsy. You can also add it to your Ravelry queue here.
How to crochet the Thermal Stitch (photo tutorial)
Step 1: Ch 28
Step 2: Sc across in back bump only, starting with the 2nd chain from hook.
This is what your work will look like when you are ready to begin the third row. It is most difficult to find the stitches on the first couple rows. Once you get beyond that the rest is easy!
Now that you know how to crochet the thermal stitch, on with the pattern. If you followed the steps above, you have already completed the first two rows!
Materials:
1 Big Ball of Bernat Blanket yarn (10.5 oz./300 g; 220 yds/201 m) in Purple Haze (#10839) (note: I believe the color I used, Purple Haze, is a JoAnn's exclusive - but this bath mat will look great in any color!)
Size Q (15.75 mm) crochet hook
Notes
Bath mat is crocheted entirely in thermal single crochet. It is worked from short edge to short edge with no border needed.
Instructions are written using standard US abbreviations.
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Flo - front loop only
Anyway, that's the main reason I haven't had time to write up patterns and post new projects. I have been working on a lot of projects, but I haven't had the attention span to finish them, write patterns, take pictures, and create blog posts. I am so sorry to those of you who have been patiently waiting for some of the patterns I promised last fall!
Now that I get to work from home and have gotten settled into a routine, I am hoping to get all of these cool projects finished and shared with you. I do not have kids at home, and my husband's employer is considered essential, so I am home all day just sitting here waiting for students to reply to my frequent attempts at contact. I do feel for those of you who are trying to manage kids and jobs from home. I had students in class, so I know how difficult it is to keep some of them on task! Please know that from a teacher standpoint, we do not have high expectations for our students. All we want is to know that they are okay. We want them to check in with us and try to learn a little something. My suggestion to help you manage distance learning from home is to teach them some independence. Encourage them to reach out to their teachers for help. You are not expected to teach them, and the teachers are just waiting around for these students to ask for guidance.
The pattern I have to share with you today is a bath mat that I originally designed last summer, and that I refined just after Christmas as a birthday gift for my mom. It is a very easy pattern, and I have included a photo tutorial to help you learn the thermal stitch, which is ultimately just two layers of single crochet - it's the crochet version of double knit. The thermal stitch makes this bath mat nice and thick and squishy, perfect for stepping onto out of the shower. Bernat Blanket Yarn, makes this bath mat plenty absorbent, and also machine washable.
To make the pattern you will need one of the large (double-sized, 10.5 oz/300 g) balls of Bernat Blanket Yarn (or Bernat Baby Blanket - it's basically the same yarn in a different color palette) or two of the regular size balls (5.3 oz/150 g). There are links below to purchase on Amazon. (Don't worry - you pay the same price, but I do earn a small advertising fee for referring you. This helps me justify the time I spend preparing all of these patterns to share.) Prices vary on Amazon, but you can get a good deal if you know what your yarn normally sells for at other stores or from the manufacturer.
I used a nice, large hook, a size Q (15.75mm) because the thermal stitch can get very dense and stiff with a tight gauge. The large hook makes this bath mat work up quickly. I think mine only took about 3 hours to crochet.
As always, if you would like to purchase the ad-free, printable pdf version, it is available on Etsy. You can also add it to your Ravelry queue here.
How to crochet the Thermal Stitch (photo tutorial)
Step 1: Ch 28
Step 2: Sc across in back bump only, starting with the 2nd chain from hook.
Step 3: Thermal single crochet. Do NOT chain 1. Insert hook through 1 loop of foundation chain and front loop only of 1st sc. Sc in these two loops. Continue across row. Turn.
Step 4: Do NOT ch 1. Insert hook in unused loop from sc 2 rows below and through only the front loop of the 1st sc in the row below. Sc in these two loops. Continue across row. Turn.
This is what your work will look like when you are ready to begin the third row. It is most difficult to find the stitches on the first couple rows. Once you get beyond that the rest is easy!
Thermal Stitch Bath Mat
Crochet Pattern
This slightly oversized bath mat is super soft, thick, and squishy for a spa-like experience! It can be crocheted in just a few hours. Choose a variegated color for a unique pattern, or make it in a classic solid for a more modern look. Either way it is a perfect addition to your bathroom decor.
Difficulty
⚫ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
Finished Size
Finished bath mat measures approximately 18” (46 cm) by 24” (61 cm).
Gauge
Gauge is not important for this project, but to get the same size finished mat:
6 stitches in thermal sc = 4” (10 cm)
8.5 rows in thermal sc = 4” (10 cm)
1 Big Ball of Bernat Blanket yarn (10.5 oz./300 g; 220 yds/201 m) in Purple Haze (#10839) (note: I believe the color I used, Purple Haze, is a JoAnn's exclusive - but this bath mat will look great in any color!)
Size Q (15.75 mm) crochet hook
Notes
Bath mat is crocheted entirely in thermal single crochet. It is worked from short edge to short edge with no border needed.
Instructions are written using standard US abbreviations.
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Flo - front loop only
Instructions
Ch 28.
Row 1: Sc in back bump of 2nd chain from hook and each chain across. Turn. (27 sc)
Row 2: Do NOT ch 1. *Begin thermal sc by inserting hook from the bottom up into the unused loop from the foundation chain, below the first sc. Then insert hook into the flo of the 1st sc. Make 1 sc in both loops. Repeat from * to end of row. Turn.
Row 3: Do NOT ch 1. *Insert hook from bottom up through the unused loop from the sc 2 rows below (this one may be a little hidden), and then through the flo of the sc in the row below. Sc through both loops. Repeat from * across row. Turn.
Repeat Row 3 until you are almost out of yarn, approximately 50-51 rows. Don't worry if you come up with fewer rows. Just make sure you leave enough yarn to crochet the final row.
Final Row (Row 52): Do NOT ch 1. *Insert hook through unused loop from sc 2 rows below, then through BOTH loops of the sc in the row below. Repeat from * across row. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
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Copyright © 2020 Sharon Hansen/Yarnmare
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The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Hansen/Yarnmare. This pattern and design are subject to copyright, and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute or sell this pattern or any items created using the directions in this pattern without consent. Please email yarnmare@gmail.com with any questions.
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