Prairie Rose Collar Cover: Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

The Prairie Rose Collar Cover is a quick, beginner-friendly crochet project that turns an ordinary dog collar into a little piece of Western charm. It is a simple cherry red tube dotted with raised pink bobble "rosebuds," designed for small dogs and everyday autumn walks. Because it is worked in the round in plain single crochet, it is a great first project for anyone ready to try the bobble stitch. Slip it over your pup's collar and it looks cozy, cheerful, and just a little bit rodeo-ready.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Bulky weight (5) wool, approximately 100 yd cherry red (Color A) and 30 yd pink (Color B).
• Hook: 6.0 mm (US J-10).
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors.
• Finished size: Approx. 10 inches circumference x 2.5 inches wide, fitting collars up to 1 inch wide.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through everything on the hook.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• rnd(s) — round(s): one complete circle of stitches worked in the round.
• yo — yarn over: wrap the yarn over your hook.
• bobble — a small raised cluster made of three partial double crochets pulled together (full instructions in Step-by-Step).

Gauge

12 sts and 12 rnds = 4 inches in single crochet. To check, crochet a small flat swatch in sc and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if you have more or fewer stitches than 12 per 4 inches.

Tips Before You Start

• When you join the starting chain into a ring, check that the chain is not twisted before working Round 1 — a twist here cannot be fixed later.
• Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you always know where the join is.
• Keep your bobble tension slightly loose so the pink nubs pop out clearly against the red fabric.
• Change to pink only for the bobble itself, then carry or rejoin red for the plain rounds, so the back of the fabric stays tidy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Collar Cover (Color A, with Color B bobbles)

Setup: With A, ch 30, join with sl st to first ch to form a ring, being careful not to twist.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc (30 sts).

Rnds 2-3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join (30 sts).

Rnd 4 (bobble row): Ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, [bobble in next st, sc in next 4 sts] 5 times, bobble in next st, sc in last 2 sts, join (30 sts).

Rnds 5-6: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join (30 sts).

Rnd 7 (bobble row): Ch 1, sc in first 4 sts, [bobble in next st, sc in next 4 sts] 5 times, bobble in next st, join (30 sts).

Rnds 8-9: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join (30 sts).

Rnd 10 (bobble row): Ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, [bobble in next st, sc in next 4 sts] 5 times, bobble in next st, sc in last 2 sts, join (30 sts).

Rnds 11-12: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join (30 sts). Fasten off.

Bobble (worked in Color B)

Bobble: [Yo, insert hook in st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times (7 loops on hook), yo, pull through all loops, ch 1 to close.

Assembly and Finishing

There is no seaming — the cover is worked as one closed tube. Weave in all ends on the inside of the tube with your tapestry needle, tucking the pink tails behind the bobbles. Block lightly by misting with water and shaping the tube flat around a small rolled towel or cardboard tube; let it dry fully so the bobbles stand up. Once dry, slip the cover over your dog's collar.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the pink for cream or mustard to match a different season or your dog's coat.
• Add a fourth bobble row for a wider cover, or remove one for a slimmer band.
• Use a contrasting color for Rounds 1-2 and 11-12 to create a simple striped border at each edge.