So…this was different and fun! From 1837 The Ladies Knitting and Netting Book by Miss Watts, the pattern has 2 side pieces and 4 end pieces. The mat would make a great eye-catching home for your cell phone! All 6 pieces have paired short rows but I offset the turns by 1 stitch for easier knitting. Each piece starts with only 20 stitches and has no purl stitches, so this goes surprisingly fast.
I used a Kroy Socks variegated yarn that was more random than I liked. Using 2 solid-colored yarns might be my choice next time.

The mat is about 6” wide and 10” long at gauge after blocking. The mat can be made bigger or smaller with different yarn and needles. You could also easily cast on more stitches and knit more short rows for a bigger mat. Using only side pieces makes a scalloped flower shape about 6” in diameter at gauge. The 6 side pieces could also be blocked into a hexagon.

Skills needed: cast on, slip, knit, increase, short rows (see note) and bind off in knit stitch.
Optional (if preferred): provisional cast on and grafting or 3-needle bind off.

Gauge is not important in this pattern. Any block-able yarn/thread will work. Make a swatch to check gauge and appearance.

62 yards of Kroy Socks yarn will make a mat in the stated gauge. Color is “Sing’N the Blues Stripes”.
7 yards will make 1 side piece at gauge. 12 yards will make 1 edge piece at gauge.
One 166-yard Kroy Socks skein will make 2 mats.