Scraptastic Crochet Dog Bed Pattern: Crochet Cat Cave

I have a new way for you to support my FREE PATTERNS!!  I know many or most of you love supporting us makers – the truth is that is takes a long time to create a pattern and then write it and then edit it and get it proofed and tested – and then publish it – then you have to link it everywhere – its a lot of work, but us makers do what we do to share our love with you.  And, if you have followed my blog you may know that I do not run ads on my blog so all my support comes from PDF purchases. Some of you don’t need to purchase the PDF of my patterns, but still want to say a quick Thank you – so, you can now support my blog and my work.

Item #7 in my Scraptastic Summer Series!!

See THIS POST for more information and to get all the pattern links in one place as I finish them. All six projects so far are great stash busters!  My stash is almost gone!!

Scraptastic Messenger Bag 

Scraptastic Pocketbook

Scraptastic Jellyfish Lantern

Scraptastic Teddy Bear

Scraptastic Octopus

Scraptastic Grocery Bag Saver

First, the boring bits:

This pattern is intended for personal use only.  This pattern -and all my patterns- are offered for free or a small fee to help support my family so please do not redistribute, sell, copy or use them in any way not in accordance with fairness.

You may sell products made from this pattern, but please give me credit as the designer.  Please do not use my photos as your own work, but you may use my photos to reference back to my blog, Etsy, Pinterest, IG or FB, but please link back to me.

If you find any problems with this pattern, please let me know and if you have any problems with any of it feel free to message me and ask for support.

Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to me, Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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I want to say thank you for all who stop by to support my patterns and my blog.  I have chosen to NOT do ads on my blog (with the exception of my affiliate links) and offer FREE patterns, but please – if you love my patterns and want to say a little thank you- or just have some good small business karma support points- a purchase now and then or a visit to any of my affiliate links really helps.  It keeps this blog going so I can continue to offer free patterns for all to enjoy.  I also purchase a pattern now and then or visit an affiliate link from my favorite blogs and designers.  Thank you

 

Stitches Guide: *US Terms apply

Chain: Ch

Stitch: St

Single Crochet: SC

Inc Sc or Inc or 2sc: make two single crochet stitches in the same stitch as indicated

Inv dec or dec: decrease, invisible decrease or even crochet together

BLO: back loop only/ FLO: front loop only

Hdc: half double crochet

Dc: Double Crochet

To start, I have THE PAID PDF pattern listed in my ETSY SHOP

and in my Ravelry Store

for those that like to support the makers.  It’s a 7-page PDF and is cheaper than a cup of coffee and helps me continue to offer free patterns here on my blog.

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FIRST AND FOREMOST, CROCHET AND KNIT ITEMS SHOULD NEVER EVER BE USED FOR OR AROUND PETS THAT ARE “CHEWERS” – ESPECIALLY PUPPIES – Using crochet and knit items or things similar that can be unraveled pose a serious and life-threatening risk to animals as they can become ingested.  This bed should only be used for older animals that are past their chewing phase.

You can also modify this pattern to make a simple throw pillow, floor cushion etc.

Materials: This pattern is written as a scrap yarn project, but you can use any yarns you have for this as long as you keep the overall weight of the yarns being held together the same.  Gauge is not critical exactly, but you do want consistency throughout.  For example, if you start with 2 strands of #4 yarn, don’t switch in the project to 2 strands of #5 yarn or a strand of #3 and #4.  You can use all of these yarns, but you need to be consistent throughout.  So, you could start with a strand of #5 and #3 held together – but, keep that throughout.

I have used 2 strands throughout – I have held one strand of bulky weight yarn and one of regular #4 worsted weight yarn like Red Heart Super Saver – a side note: my bulky weight yarn was different and in sizes #5-#7 super bulky.  In this project it worked out fine, but it will result in slight differences in size. 

I used my size 9mm hook throughout the entirety of this project.

These are the large hooks that I use.  I love them as much as my Clover hooks. The only issue that I have had with them, but I use them A LOT! – is that the size has smudged off the handle grip, but they work just as fabulous as my expensive Clover set.

I have also ordered this set and love it! – and it comes with everything you need to get started:

Naturally, if you are using materials very different from mine, you will end up with a different size in the end.

I can’t give you an exact number of yards that you will use – I used all scraps – scrap balls and skeins and leftover pieces –If you run out of yarn, just join a new color – that is the magic of scrap yarn crochet! You can see in the photo above what I started with. My sewing basket was full of my bulky yarn and I did use everything in it except one yarn ball so this is a project that will require some yardage. Also, this pattern can be used to make any size bed!! 

Ugly Yarns: This is the perfect project for ugly, old yarns! When you hold them together sometimes you get something very nice at the end.  Also, some variegated yarns make really blocky patterns when worked in the round, but if you hold a second strand this changes that all together!

Crochet Hooks: You will probably need to try a few sizes to get the one that is right for your yarn. What I mean by “works” is that you want to be able to easily crochet all the strands without fighting them so, if you need to use a different size hook than what I have used please do.

Additional materials: you made need stuffing if you choose to stuff the sides. More on that at the end of the pattern.

A note on working in the round: while working in the round you DO NOT join and chain up.  This prevents a joining seam.  You just continue to work in a continuous manner.  If you need to know where you specifically start and stop each row, I encourage you to use a stitch marker.

My pet bed measures 18” across the circles on the bottom and 24” total with the “pillow” edge. This is easily adjustable and your bed can be made any size.  Once you get the flow of the increases you can just keep going and make a human size bed if you wanted!!  😊

This piece is made by first making 2 “circles” – I have circles in quotation marks because if you have done circles before you might know that if you make each round of increase in the increase from the round before, you eventually end up with more of a hexagon shape and that is just what we want for this project and I will show you why down below.

So, start by making two “circles” making sure that they are the same size or at least very close.  They don’t have to be identical – they are going to be crocheted together when you are done.

As you run out of one strand, add in another.  Make sure you are adding in the right weight if you are using different weights like I have.  In my example, when I ran out of a bulky weight, I added a bulky weight etc.  After knotting the ends together several times when joining a new color, I crocheted over my tails for a few inches and then cut the yarn – when you crochet these together you will have the wrong sides in toward each other and they won’t be visible.  You want to secure your ends for safety, but I didn’t weave them in or make it beautiful on bottom.

Rebel and Ruger approved!  Our two heelers get a box each month and we love this company!! We called customer service and get one regular box with toys and treats and the other box we get has just toys!!  They know when they get mail!!

Holding the strands of yarn that you have selected:

Chain 2.  Single crochet 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.

Starting in the first sc make 2 sc in that stitch and in each stitch around. (12) *Still work over the starting tail. After getting done with all 12 sc for that round, pull the starting tail to cinch up the opening.  You can now trim that tail or weave it in or just leave it if it will be on the inside of your work.

You want to move your stitch marker to the last stitch of each round so you know when you get to the end.

Round 3: (1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)

Round 4: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)

Round 5: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (30)

Round 6: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (36)

Round 7: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (42)

Round 8: (1 sc in next 6 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (48)

Round 9: (1 sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (54)

Round 10: (1 sc in next 8 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (60)

**Pattern note: you can stop increasing whenever you have the size circle you would like for your pet bed.

***Your pet bed will be reversible when you finish it. You can see how my two sides are very different.

Round 11: (1 sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (66)

Round 12: (1 sc in next 10 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (72)

Round 13: (1 sc in next 11 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (78)

Round 14: (1 sc in next 12 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (84)

Round 15: (1 sc in next 13 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (90)

Round 16: (1 sc in next 14 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (96)

Round 17: (1 sc in next 15 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (102)

Round 18: (1 sc in next 16 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (108)

Round 19: (1 sc in next 17 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (114)

Round 20: (1 sc in next 18 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (120)

**This is where I stopped for my example, but you can keep going in the established pattern above to make a larger circle.

Make 2 pieces the same size. When you finish the second circle don’t cut your yarn.  You can use what is on your hook to continue to crochet the two pieces together.

If you have worked the increases like above, you will have a slight hexagon shape.  Match up the long sides and the increase points by pinning or tying them together WITH THE WRONG SIDES FACING EACH OTHER AND THE RIGHT SIDES OUT.

You will single crochet around 5 SIDES ONLY to join the two pieces together. **this is for stuffing the center with padding or a small blanket later.  If you know you do not need this you can crochet around the entire piece. *also, if you have a cat, you might leave more of an opening and make a cat cave.

The photo above was taken after I made my side (the side is down in this photo), but you can see how I left one side open.  This is so that you can stuff a blanket or small pillow into the center and then remove it for ease of washing.  I designed this bed with the idea that stuffing and closing completely shut would be harder to wash.  With a slight opening that you can add a blanket or foam for padding if needed, it makes washing a lot easier.

After joining the bottom and top together, go right into making the side.  Just keep crocheting around with no increases.  To do this you just crochet in each stitch around until the length that you need is reached. So, as you crochet around on the first round of the side – when you get to the part that is open – you will just crochet in the top part of that side.

Continue to work as you need. You can leave the sides open like above if you want or you can choose to stuff and close them to make a pillow/support for the sides.  I chose to use some old tube socks and polyfil.  I didn’t want to add stuffing without it being in something for pet safety and to keep it from coming out.  You could also use panty hose for this.  Alternately, you can use a pool noodle for a firmer side.

**pattern note: you can also modify this pattern by making one full circle with a side and then repeat so that you can two circles with sides and then place those together and sew into one piece.  This will give you the same bottom, but double thickness and support on the sides if you don’t want to stuff them.  **you could also just fold down the side and secure with no stuffing.

But, I used socks and stuffing.  After stuffing my socks and tying them secure, I laid them inside my bed to see how much more length I needed to crochet the up the sides because you want to fold these sides down and sew them to the bottom.  See the third photo below?  At this point I had quite a bit more to crochet up my sides so that I could wrap the crochet work around the socks and join to the bottom.

Once you get the sides long enough to fold down and wrap around your stuffing material, cut your yarn, but leave one long tail to sew around the bottom.

**you want to sew to the bottom of the SIDE piece and not through the double layers of the bottom.  I sewed to the round just outside of where the two bottom pieces were joined.  This will help the “donut” cushion part flip over to either side. If you sew to the very bottom part where the two pieces are joined you will have a harder time getting this to be reversible. When you are done sewing, knot well and secure your end.

Now you have a super adorable pet bed that is reversible and that you can stuff a small blanket or pillow into for extra fluffiness for your pet. My little Theodore approves and was happy to be my model <3

I’ve been a member of Darn Good Yarn for years now and can’t say enough good things about this fabulous company!  In addition to gorgeous yarns, they have home goods, clothing and more!!

Thank you for choosing my pattern.  XOXO, Kristi at The Burgundy Basket.