Clever Crochet Fidget/Sensory Lap Mat
The Clever Crochet Fidget/Sensory Lap Mat will provide hours of practice, play, and peace of mind. Whether your toddler is looking to improve her dexterity with snaps or your great uncle who has Alzheimer's could use some comfort and stability, this crochet lapghan is the perfect versatile piece for many fidgety people in your life.
The thoughtfully designed blanket offers a few foundational elements, like snaps, buckles, clasps, and sequins, and also leaves space for you to add your own touches. Customize as you see fit for the specific person in your life who could use a little relief from an addled mind or who who is just learning how to buckle her shoes.
NotesCh 1 does not count as a stitch unless otherwise stated
This mat is made in 4 parts.
The body of the mat uses 2 strands of worsted weight yarn held together
The big hook is for the body of the mat, while the small hook is for the strips on the mat
Crochet HookH/8 or 5 mm hook, K/10.5 or 6.5 mm hook
Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)
Crochet Gauge13 rows by 12 stitches = 4 by 4 inches (after blocking)
Finished Size15.8" wide by 19.5" tall (after blocking)
Materials List
- 4 balls of worsted weight, Medium 4 yarn (with 2 strands held together all through). 3 balls = Blue (the 3rd ball can be divided in equal halves to use two strands). 1 ball = Red (this can also be divided to make the border)
- 5 (12mm snap fasteners)
- 1 keychain in ring
- 4 D-ring buckles and 2 adjusters
- 300- 600 sequins
- Black sewing thread to sew snap fasteners
- Tapestry needle (with large eye)
INSTRUCTIONS
Part 1- Strips & Snap Fasteners (with large hook)
Chain 35 SC in 2nd chain from hook and across. Turn, chain 1
Rows 2- 25: SC across. Turn, chain 1
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Strips (with small hook and left over yarn) - make 5
Row 1: Chain 16, SC in 2nd chain from hook and in 13 chains, 3 SC in last chain, turn upside down, SC across. Turn, chain 1
Row 2: SC in 14, 2 SC in each of next 3 stitches, SC across. snip yarn, leave tail for sewing.
Sew all strips onto the block, then sew the snap fasteners on each strip and block, making sure the snap are aligned properly
Part 2 - D Ring buckles and Keychain
Chain 35 SC in 2nd chain from hook and across. Turn, chain 1
Rows 2- 25: SC across. Turn, chain 1
Row 25: SC in 2 sts, attach ring and SC 4 through ring, SC in 22, SC in 4 through ring, SC in last 2 sts
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Key ring strip- with small hook and left over yarn
Row 1: Chain 31, SC in 2nd chain from hook, SC across. Turn, chain 1
Row 2: SC across, insert through ring of keychain, fold and sew top closed. Sew this strip in the middle of the mat.
Joining parts 1 and 2
Hold each part by matching stitch to stitch, SC across in back loop and front loop of next part. Snip yarn; weave in tails.
Part 3- D-ring, Strips and buckles
Row 1: Join yarn in corner, Chain 1 (stands as 1 SC), S in 23, SC2tog in 25th st and first st of part 2, SC in 15 sts, attach D-Ring, SC 4 through ring, SC across remaining stitches, Turn, chain 1
Rows 2 -12: SC across. snip yarn, weave in tail.
NOTE: IT IS RECOMMENDED TO MAKE EDGING AND BLOCK MAT BEFORE SEWING ANYTHING ON PARTS 3 & 4
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Strips (with small hook and left over yarn) - make 2
Row 1: Chain 36, SC in 2nd chain from hook and in across, 3 SC in last chain, turn upside down, SC across. Turn, chain 1
Row 2: SC in 34, 2 SC in each of next 3 stitches, SC across. snip yarn, leave tail for sewing.
Part 4: Sequins
Row 1: Join yarn in corner, Chain 1 (stands as 1 SC), SC in 4 sts, attach D-Ring, SC 4 through ring, SC in 15, SC2tog in 25th st and first st of part 2, SC across. Turn, chain 1
Rows 2 -12: SC across. Do not break yarn, continue to edging.
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A note on sequins: the idea for the sequins was to use only one on each stitch that had 2 different colors on each side. Since I did not find that I decided to use 2 different colored sequins (purple and green) on each stitch. You could use only one colored sequin as well.
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Two ways to add your sequins:
Either sew them on individually or string them on yarn and make a sequined single crochet fabric. Once that’s done, sew the fabric on the mat.
The sequins on this mat were sewn individually, making the sequined fabric take less time. -
You’ll need about 250-500 sequins 250 for 1 sequin per stitch, 500 for 2 sequins per stitch.
You’ll be sewing the sequins on each stitch of every other row.
You can use any embroidery thread or other string that the sequins can pass through.
You’ll need to leave a tail at the beginning and end of each row you’re sewing on, so that you can tie them and weave them in. -
To make a sequin fabric (assuming you are using a lighter weight yarn like fingering weight):
String 300- 600 sequins. This will be 1 sequin per stitch, 60 sequins per (even) row. Double the number of sequins if you want to use 2 sequins per stitch.
Row 1: Chain 61, SC in 2nd chain from hook and across. chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC sequins in each st across. chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across
Rows 4- 11: repeat rows 2 and 3 till required numbers of rows to fill Part 4. Sew to mat.
Edging
Continue from Part 4, Ch 1, *SC 49 across, Ch 2 at the corner, SC 58 across, Ch 2 at the corner. Repeat from * around, end with Ch 2, sl st in 1st stitch. Snip yarn, weave in tails.
With Red yarn, insert in Ch 2 space, Ch 1, SC in space, *Spike SC in next, SC in next. Repeat from * across, end with SC in Ch 2 space. Snip yarn, weave in ends.
Repeat with Red yarn at the bottom of mat. Snip yarn, weave in tails. Block mat, sew embellishments on parts 3 and 4.
Finished Clever Crochet Fidget/Sensory Lap Mat
Who are you making this fidget/sensory blanket for?
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