Plum Scallop Collar Ring: Free Crochet Pattern for Cats

Introduction

This little Plum Scallop Collar Ring is a sweet, quick project for any cat who deserves a bit of Y2K flair. It's written for beginners, so if you can chain and single crochet, you can make it. The ripple stitch creates gentle chevron peaks that read as soft scallops along both edges, and the two-tone plum-and-mauve band looks like a tiny sunset wrapped around your cat's neck. It's narrow and lightweight, so it sits comfortably like a collar rather than a bulky bandana, and a simple button closure keeps it easy to put on and take off.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight acrylic, approx. 20 yds (18 m) total — 10 yds (9 m) in plum and 10 yds (9 m) in mauve.
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook.
• Notions: Yarn needle, one small button (about 0.5" / 1.3 cm), scissors.
• Finished size: Circumference approx. 10" (25 cm), width approx. 1.5" (4 cm); fits neck size 8–10" (20–25 cm).

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through everything on the hook at once.
• sk — skip: miss the next stitch without working into it.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• rep — repeat.

Gauge

14 sts and 8 rows = 4" (10 cm) in ripple pattern (one 14-stitch repeat measures about 3.5" / 9 cm wide). Work a small swatch in pattern and measure it flat before starting; if your swatch is wider, go down a hook size, and if it's narrower, go up.

Tips Before You Start

• The ripple pattern is a repeating rhythm: 3 sc in the peak stitch, then 3 sc, skip 2, 3 sc, then the next peak. Count your stitches at the end of every row — you should always have 42.
• Keep your tension relaxed. A stiff band won't sit comfortably on a cat's neck, and loose, even stitches make the scallops lie flat.
• Change to mauve at the end of Row 4 by pulling the new color through the last loop of the final stitch, so the color change sits neatly at the edge.
• Always supervise your cat while wearing the collar, and remove it for play or when your cat is alone.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Collar (worked flat in rows, then seamed)

With plum, ch 43.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, *3 sc in next ch, sc in next 3 ch, sk next 2 ch, sc in next 3 ch, 3 sc in next ch; rep from * to last 3 ch, sc in last 3 ch (42 sts).

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, *3 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts, 3 sc in next st; rep from * to last 3 sts, sc in last 3 sts (42 sts).

Rows 3–4: Rep Row 2 (42 sts). Change to mauve at the end of Row 4.

Rows 5–6: Rep Row 2 (42 sts). Fasten off, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail for seaming.

Button Loop

With mauve, join yarn at one short end of the collar, ch 6, sl st in the same st, fasten off (loop measures approx. 0.75" / 2 cm in diameter).

Edging (optional)

With mauve, sc evenly around the entire outer edge, working 3 sc in each peak and skipping each valley. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assembly and Finishing

Fold the collar into a ring, overlapping the short ends by 0.5" (1.3 cm). Using the 6" tail and a yarn needle, sew the ends together securely, then weave in all ends. Sew the button onto the opposite short end, aligning it with the button loop so the collar closes snugly. Gently block the finished ring by misting it lightly and patting it flat to open up the scallops, then let it dry completely before your cat wears it.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the two colors for any pair you like — a single solid color makes an even faster project.
• For a slightly wider band, add one more repeat of Row 2 in mauve before fastening off.
• Use a snap or a small piece of hook-and-loop tape instead of the button if your cat is sensitive to closures.