Looking for a quirky, modern cat bed for your four-legged favorites? Crochet a super bulky cat bed with cozy jersey knit fabric! Your kitties will love it, and it will fit right in with the rest of your DIY decor.
Pixel cat loves that he can curl up however he wants because the bed stretches and changes shape with him. Whether he’s upside down, balled up, or long cat-ing, the slight stretch in the fabric definitely allows for maximum coziness. I think he’s only left his new bed for about five minutes total since I gave it to him last week! (Unrelated: Just look at that sweet little face!)
Supplies:
* Cotton jersey knit fabric
* Scrap piece of yarn, 2-3" long (to use as a stitch marker)
* A small cushion or pillow for the bottom of the cat bed (optional, but it’s a nice touch)
Tools:
* Large plastic crochet hook
* Crochet hook
* Ruler
* Fabric scissors
If you need a refresher on the basics of crochet before you get started, check out the Crochet 101 video tutorial that I made for CRAFT!
**Please note that the links provided above are affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through.**
Step 1
Cut the jersey fabric into long strips that are about 3" wide.
Step 2
Tie the fabric strips together to make a ball of fabric yarn.
Step 3
Crochet the cat bed using the pattern below.
Tip: Use a scrap piece of yarn as a stitch marker to mark the first stitch in each round.
Super Bulky Crocheted Cat Bed
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
sl: slip stitch
st: stitch
Ch 3 and join with a sl st in first ch.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 8 sc in ring, sl in first sc to join. (8 sts.)
Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each sc, sl in first sc to join. (16 sts.)
Round 3: Ch 1, *work 2 sc in sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * around, sl in first sc to join. (24 sts.)
Round 4: Ch 1, *work 2 sc in sc, sc in next 2 sc; repeat from * around, sl in first sc to join. (32 sts.)
Round 4: Ch 1, *work 2 sc in sc, sc in next 3 sc; repeat from * around, sl in first sc to join. (40 sts.)
Round 5-10: Ch 1, work 1 sc in each sc, sl in first sc to join. (40 sts.)
Round 11: With contrasting color, Ch 1, work 1 sc in each sc, sl in first sc to join. (40 sts.)
Round 12: Work 1 sl in each sc, sl in first sl to join. Fasten off and weave in ends. (40 sts.)
Step 4
Untie any visible knots in the fabric and weave in the ends using the smaller crochet hook.
Step 5
Add a comfy cushion to the bottom of the cat bed and give it to your favorite kitty!
I think every cat needs a crocheted cat bed, don’t you?
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Beautiful kitty photos FTW!! This is an awesome design, Haley, and it’s clear from the nasty looks I’m getting over here that Pushkin needs one of these, stat. You must have developed some Popeye forearms crocheting this! :-)
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Thanks, Diane! My arms were definitely sore the next day, but it was totally worth it to hear those purrs of joy. :)
thezenofmaking recently posted..Sunday Snapshot: Sewing, Hooking, and Designing
Hailey suggested I put this tip here: For less bulk when attaching the fabric strip ends together, put a vertical slit in each end. Slip one end through the slit of the other. Slip the opposite end of the piece you slipped through, into the hole at the end of the piece. Tug on the attached strips gently, this will lock them together. As you make your ball or need to add more length, loop new a new through the end of the previous strip. This is a great way to change colors easily too. If you need a visual, go here: http://tottietalkscrafts.com/2010/05/13/how-to-make-a-join-in-fabric-strip-yarn-or-tarn/
Thanks, ladyfriend! For lighter weight fabrics, I definitely think the slit-and-loop method might be easier and just as visually seamless as untying the knots in the fabric and weaving in the ends. Thanks a ton for sharing the the details and the link!
thezenofmaking recently posted..Sunday Snapshot: Sewing, Hooking, and Designing
Love this! And can’t wait to find time to make one or a few… Plus the best part of using Jersey cotton is that it’s washable! =)
It’s definitely washable, but it might be a bit too big/heavy for most machines. I’d try hand washing first. :)
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I absolutely love this because it is so simple even I could crochet this! I’d have to make it bigger for my Maine Coons, but they would love this bed. I posted one finished photo of your cat bed, a photo click through link to your blog and a written link to your blog on truebluemenadyou. Please contact me if there is a problem :)
Thanks for sharing my post!
Pixel is a pretty big cat–he’s not Maine Coon sized, but he’s tall and long and about 12.5-13 pounds. I bet if you added one more increase round after round 4 (Ch 1, *work 2 sc in sc, sc in next 4 sc; repeat from * around, sl in first sc to join.- 48 sts), it might fit your kitties. If you try it, let me know!
thezenofmaking recently posted..Sunday Snapshot: Sewing, Hooking, and Designing
I love this because it’s combining two things that I love – crocheting and pets. Wonder if my toy poodle would like a little crocheted snuggly bed? I definitely have everything that I’d need to make one for sure! Great tutorial!!
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What’re your favorite colors? I’d love to include one in the package I’ve been collecting for you! How big is your dog–larger than cat sized?
thezenofmaking recently posted..Review: Sublime Floss™ Embroidery Floss from Sublime Stitching
Just seen your wonderful cat bed and thought you may be interested in the Jumbo Crochet Baskets I have been making and also Chester who is a huge 6ft tall Crochet Cat! You can read all about them over on my blog http://www.fiddlyfingers.blogspot.com
Love the pictures of your cat :)
I love your baskets–thanks so much for sharing! Where’d you get that massive wooden hook? Did you make it yourself?
thezenofmaking recently posted..Review: Boye Artisan Tools CrochetMaster Plus Crochet Hook Set
I spoke nicely to my husband and he made it for me. We sell them for £8 each + postage if anyone is interested :)
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That’s so awesome!
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It looks adorable but the 1st thing that popped into my head is what a PITA that must be to clean the cat hair off of. It wouldn’t just be the surface you’d need to get the hair off, it would get all tangled in between too :(
I just use a vacuum with a hose and brush to remove the cat hair. Works fine for me!
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I love this idea. I have a suggestion regarding cutting the fabric here is a link on how to cut a continuous strip and not have to join the strips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwSUbbYmB_I
once you get the hang of this technique it goes really fast.
Great link–I’m definitely trying this next time. Thanks for sharing!
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LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Cannot wait to start one.
BTW your PIXEL cat DOES have a sweet little face!!!
The biggest size of crochet hooks sold here is size P. Would that still work? What adjustments should I make? Thanks! :)
You can use a smaller hook, but you might need to cut narrower fabric strips and–depending on the size of your cat–you’ll probably need to make at least one more increase round. To add one more increase round after round 4: Ch 1, *work 2 sc in sc, sc in next 4 sc; repeat from * around, sl in first sc to join.- 48 sts
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