Mat for Plant Stand

Pat Tyler (inspired by Karla Twomey @ Karla's Making It' )

Materials

1 Cone (14 oz, aprox. 700 yds.) of Lily Sugar'n Cream crochet cotton yarn. Color: Trail Ombre
H hook (as recommended on yarn label)
Switched to a I (5.5 mm) hook for round 8 and subsequent rounds.
Stitch markers, or scraps of contrasting yarn or string.
Ruler to measure the diameter of the circles as you work.

Comment on the picture: The mat would have looked better if it were at least an inch wider. However, II was able to purchase the last cone of yarn in that color combination, and I ran out of yarn

. I've been looking for something in that rich dark brown. But I can't find that either!

I'm going to try a different way of expressing the pattern for this mat. After giving stitch by stitch instructions for clusters of stitches in a glossary at the beginning, then the clusters will be listed. I think the instructions will be easier to follow in this form. We will soon see if this works.

Glossary

Magic Loop or Magic Circle
Back Loop Only (blo) and Front Loop Only (flo)
Chain Stitch(ch)
Double Crochet (dc)
Half Double Crochet (hdc)
Half Double Crochet Increase (hdc inc): In this pattern: 2 hdc in one hdc stitch of the previous round. The increases are evenly spaced throughout the round. Spaces (where the instruction is 1 hdc in each stitch) between 2 hdc increase by one in each round.
Half Triple Crochet (hdc)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Triple Crochet (tr)

Foundations:: These are the half double crochet stitches. The Petals are worked in the front loop of these stitches, and the next round of Foundation stitches are worked into the back loops of these same stitches.

Each Foundation round starts with an hdc worked into the back loop of the first hdc in the previous Foundation round. There is no connecting slip stitch.

Increases: Each Foundation round consists of a round of hdc in each blo hdc of the previous foundation round. This includes 10 half double crochet increases (hdc inc) evenly spaced throughout the round. The number of single hdc stitches between the increases increases by 1 in each succeeding round. Because each foundation round increases by 10 stitches, it is easy to keep track of the number of stitches that should be in each foundation round.

To create a smooth circle rather than a ten-sided polygon: The placement of the increase stitches (hdc inc) around the Foundation round in a repeating pattern for every round will create the polygon. Instead, vary the placement of the hdc inc in the round by creating offsets of the first hdc inc in the round. This will automatically vary the placement of the remaining hdc inc in the round. The variation will defeat the creation of the flat sides of a polygon. These offsets are built into the pattern.
Petals:: All Petals are worked in the front loop only (flo) of the preceding Foundation round. They will vary in size depending how near to the center they are:
T-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st.*
(T-Petal spans 1 foundation stitch)

S-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. In next st dc, ch 2 sl st*
(S-Petal spans 2 foundation stitches)

M-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 htr (half triple crochet) in next st. In next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(M-Petal spans in 3 foundation stitches)
nM-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. htr (half triple crochet) in same st. In next st, htr, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st*
(nM-Petal spans 2 Foundation stitches)
wM-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 htr (half triple crochet) in next st. Htc in next st. In next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(wM-Petal spans in 4 foundation stitches)

L-Petal *sl st, ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 tr (triple crochet) in next st. In the next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(L-Petal spans 3 foundation stitches)
nL-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. tr in same st. In next st, tr, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st*
(nL-Petal spans 2 Foundation stitches)
wL-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 tr in next st. Tr in next st. In next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(wL-Petal spans in 4 foundation stitches)

Each Petal round begins with a slip stitch into the first hdc of the previous Foundation round.

When the number of Foundation stitches are not evenly divided by the number spanned by the petal of the round, there will be one or two hdc stitches left over that do not fit into the petal cluster. In those cases the petals named with a prefix of n or w will be used.

Instructions

Start with a Magic circle.

Round 1 (Foundation): 10 hdc in the loop. Pull the tail yarn to cinch the ring closed.
Round 1 (T-Petals): T-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st.*
(T-Petal spans 1 foundation stitch) Sl st to flo of 1^st hdc on the magic loop. This is the first stitch of your first T-Petal. Finish the petal and make 9 more.
(10 T-Petals)
Round 2 (Foundation): (This is worked in the Back Loops of the first Foundation round, behind the petals just created) 2 Hdc in back loop of every st of the previous Foundation round.
Increase Foundation by 10 stitches with 0 stitches between each hdc inc. (20 hdc)
Round 2 (S-Petals): S-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. In next st dc, ch 2 sl st*
(S-Petal spans 2 foundation stitches) Start the first S-Petal with a sl st to flo of first hdc. Finish the S-Petal and make 9 more. (10 S-Petals)
Round 3 (Foundation): 2 Hdc to blo of first st. (hdc inc) Hdc in next st. *2 Hdc in next st, hdc next st* around.
1 hdc between each hdc inc (30 hdc)
Round 3 (S-Petals): Work 15 S-Petals in the flo of the round 3 Foundation. (15 S-Petals)
Round 4 (Foundation): *hdc inc, hdc next 2 sts* around.
2 hdc between each hdc inc (40 Hdc)
Round 4 (S-Petals): Work 20 S-Petals in the flo of the round 4 Foundation. (20 petals)
Round 5 (Foundation): Hdc, *hdc inc, 3 hdc* ending round with 2 hdc.
3 hdc between each hdc inc (offset 1) (50 Hdc)
Round 5 (S-Petals): Work 25 S-Petals in the flo of round 5 Foundation.(25 petals)
Round 6 (Foundation): *hdc inc, 4 hdc,*
4 hdc between each hdc inc (offset 0) (60 hdc)

Each round of hdc stitches will increase by 10 stitches, the same number as in the first Foundation round. Offsets are provided to vary the placement of the hdc inc (increases) to avoid making straight sides of a polygon.

Now we make 1 petal over 3 Foundation stitches, and the Petals use htr (half triple crochet) in center.

Round 6 (M-Petals): M-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 htr (half triple crochet) in next st. In next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(M-Petal spans 3 foundation stitches) Work 20 M-Petals in the previous Foundation round. (M-Petals add 2 htc in an additional stitch in the center of the petal to span 3 Foundation stitches.)
(20 M-Petals)
Round 7 (Foundation): 2 Hdc, *hdc inc, hdc in next 5 sts* end with 3 hdc.
5 hdc between each hdc inc. (offset 2) (70 Hdc)
Round 7 (M-Petals): (22 M-Petals + 1 wM-Petal.)
Work 10 M-Petals, 1 wM-Metal wM-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 htr (half triple crochet) in next st. Htc in next st. In next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(wM-Petal spans in 4 foundation stitches), and 12 M-Petals in the Foundation.
(23 petals)
Round 8 (Foundation): 3 htc, *hdc inc, hdc in next 6 sts* end with 3 hdc
(80 Hdc)
Round 8 (M-Petals): (26 M-Petals + 1 nM-Petal)
Work 16 M-Petals, 1 nM-Petal nM-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. htr (half triple crochet) in same st. In next st, htr, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st*
(nM-Petal spans 2 Foundation stitches), 10 M-Petals in the foundation
(27 petals)

Mat with 8 rounds completed
About 9" in diameter

Round 9 (Foundation): 5 Hdc, *hdc inc, 7 hdc,* ending with 2 hdc
(offset 5) (90 Hdc)
Round 9 (M-Petals): Work 30 M-Petals in the foundation.
(30 petals)
Round 10 (Foundation): 4 Hdc, *hdc inc, 8 hdc,* ending with 4 hdc
(offset 4) (100 Hdc)

The htc are replaced with triple crochet stitches (tr) in center of the petals.
Round 10 (L-Petals L-Petal *sl st, ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 tr (triple crochet) in next st. In the next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(L-Petal spans 3 foundation stitches) ): (32 L-Petals + 1 wL-Petal wL-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 tr in next st. Tr in next st. In next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(wL-Petal spans in 4 foundation stitches))
Work 16 L-Petals, 1 wL-Petal wL-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. Make 2 tr in next st. Tr in next st. In next st, dc, ch 2, sl st*
(wL-Petal spans in 4 foundation stitches), and 16 L-Petals in foundation.
(33 petals)
Round 11 (Foundation): 6 hdc, * hdc inc, 9 hdc* ending in 3 hdc
(offset 6)(110 hdc)
Round 11 (L-Petals): (36 L-Petals + 1 nL-Petal nL-Petal: *sl st ch 2, dc in same st. tr in same st. In next st, tr, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st*
(nL-Petal spans 2 Foundation stitches))
Work 28 L-Petals, 1 nL-Petal, and 8 L-Petals in Foundation.
(36 petals)
Round 12 (Foundation): *Hdc inc, 10 hdc*
(offset 0) (120 Hdc)
Round 12 (L-Petals): Create 40 L-Petals in this round.
Round 13 (Foundation): 3 Hdc, *hdc inc, 11 hdc* ending with 8 hdc
(offset 3) (130 Hdc)
Round 13 (L-Petals): (42 L-Petals + 1 wL-Petal)
Work 20 L-Petals, 1 wL-Petal, and 22 L-Petals in Foundation.
(43 petals)
Round 14 (Foundation): 6 Hdc, *hdc inc, 12 hdc* ending with 6 hdc.
(offset 6) (140 hdc)
Round 14 (L-Petals): (46 L-Petals + 1 nL-Petal)
Work 10 L-Petals, 1 nL-Petal, 36 L-Petals in Foundation.
(47 petals)
Round 15 (Foundation): 4 Hdc, *hdc inc, 13 hdc* ending with 9 hdc.
(offset 4) (150 hdc)
Round 15 (L-Petals): Work 50 L-Petals in Foundation.
(50 petals)
Round 16 (Foundation): 7 Hdc, *hdc inc, 14 hdc* ending with 7 hdc.
(offset 7) (160 hdc)
Round 16 (L-Petals): (52 L-Petals + 1 wL-Petal)
Work 50 L-Petals, 1 wL-Petal, and 3 L-Petals in Foundation.
(53 petals)
Round 17 (Foundation): *hdc inc, 15 hdc*
(offset 0) (170 hdc)
Round 17 (L-Petals): (56 L-Petals + 1 nL-Petal)
Work 28 L-Petals, 1 nL-Petal, 28 L-Petals in Foundation.
(57 petals)
Round 18 (Foundation): 8 Hdc, *hdc inc, 16 hdc* ending with 8 hdc.
(offset 8) (180 hdc)
Round 18 (L-Petals): Work 60 L-Petals in Foundation.
(60 petals)
Round 19 (Foundation): 12 Hdc, *hdc inc, 17 hdc* ending with 5 hdc.
(offset 12) (190 hdc)
Round 19 (L-Petals): (62 L-Petals + 1 wL-Petal)
Work 12 L-Petals, 1 wL-Petal, and 50 L-Petals in Foundation.
(63 petals)
Round 20 (Foundation): 9 hdc *hdc inc, 18 hdc* ending with 9 hdc
(offset 9) (200 hdc)
Round 20 (L-Petals): (66 L-Petals + 1 nL-Petal)
Work 66 L-Petals, 1 nL-Petal, in Foundation.
(67 petals)
Round 21 (Foundation): 5 Hdc, *hdc inc, 19 hdc* ending with 14 hdc.
(offset 5) (210 hdc)
Round 21 (L-Petals): Work 70 L-Petals in Foundation.
(70 petals)
Round 22 (Foundation): 15 Hdc, *hdc inc, 20 hdc* ending with 5 hdc.
(offset 15) (220 hdc)
Round 22 (L-Petals): (72 L-Petals + 1 wL-Petal)
Work 36 L-Petals, 1 wL-Petal, and 36 L-Petals in Foundation.
(73 petals)