Dotty Cat Bed pattern
Finally, finally, I’ve written out the dotty pattern. I was planning on writing up the details on how I came up with the numbers in case anyone wants to modify it before I realized that hey! It’s felted and really, it’s not a math exam where anyone cares if I show my work. If anyone is interested, I’d be more than happy to decipher my notes for you.
So here it is! I was a bit fast-and-loose about measuring my gauge, but hey! It’s felted, so don’t worry about it! Also, the bottom decrease method doesn’t necessarily jive with my row gauge in stockinette, but I think it will work based on how mine turned out (actually, the bed bottom is now flat after the cats used it a few times).
I’d love to know if anyone actually makes this thing. Your cats will heart you for it!
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes [100% wool, 110 yards/50 grams]
- 3 balls MC [Chocolate (23774)]
- 2 balls CC1 [Chambray (23769)]
- 2 balls CC2 [Rain (23768)]
- 2 balls CC3 [Stream (23434)]
Notions:
- One 24 or 32 inch US 10.5 circular needle
- One set of US 10.5 double-pointed needles
- One stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
Gauge:
- Dot pattern, before felting: 3 circles wide by 3 pattern repeats tall = 3.75 inches by 3.5 inches
- Dot pattern, after felting: 3 circles wide by 3 pattern repeats tall = 3 inches by 3.18 inches
- Stockinette, before felting: 15 sts by 20 rows = 4 inches square
- Stockinette, after felting: ? stitches by 42 rows = 4 inches
Finished Measurements:
- Bottom: 17 inches in diameter
- Sides: 5 inches tall
Dotty Pattern:
Worked in the round over 6 sts, slip all sts as if to purl
Row 1: Attach MC. Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Break MC, attach CC. [sl2, K4]
Rows 4-7: [sl2, K4]
Row 8: [sl2, K4]. Break CC. Remove marker, sl3, place marker. This is your new beginning-of-round.
The Dotty Cat Bed pattern
Using MC, CO 276 stitches. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a stitch marker to denote the beginning-of-round.
Sides
Work the Dotty Pattern 9 times, alternating CC colors each repeat (CC1, CC2, CC3, CC1, …).
Transition Section
Break CC3, attach MC.
Purl one row in MC.
Flip cat bed inside-out. Remove marker. Slip one stitch from left needle to right. Pass second stitch from right needle to left, do not drop stitch off left needle. Place marker. You should now be set up to knit every round, and the stockinette side of the fabric is on the inside of the bed.
[K34, PM, K35, PM] to end. You should have eight evenly-spaced markers around the bed.
Knit one row in MC. Break MC.
Bottom
Work three-row stripes, alternating colors in this order: CC1, CC3, CC2, MC. Or invent your own stripey sequence. Go crazy! At some point you will run out of the CC colors – switch to MC and use that until the end.
At the same time, decrease as follows:
Row 1: [K to two stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker]
Row 2: K
Row 3: K
Row 4: [K to two stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker]
Row 5: K
Row 6: K
Row 7: [K to two stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker]
Row 8: K
*** Warning: this decrease sequence above is emperically-generated – no math was used here! In the pattern photos, the decreases are worked every 3 rounds, which led to a not-flat bottom. However, once the cats started lying in the bed, the bed bottom flattened out in no time. ***
Continue decreasing (switching to double-pointed needles when there are too few stitches on the circular needle) until you have 24 stitches. Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches, and pull tightly to close.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Felt the bed, using instructions here or here. I placed the bed in a zippered pillowcase, then threw the pillowcase and a pair of of jeans in my washing machine, on the HOT wash cycle, for about 15-20 minutes.
Once the bed is felted to your liking, block it over a cylindrical surface or bowl (I used an inverted bowl and lots of plastic bags).
Coerce cats into sleeping in it.
RSS
That’s awesome. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Yay! I can’t wait to start this for my kitties. I will, of course. (Wait, that is.) I’ve got socks to finish before MSWF and a vest to finish, not to mention a sweater to start, and so on and so on…
But I am definitely adding this to my list! Thanks
Is it wrong that I want to make this even though I don’t have a cat?
Wow, thanks for sharing the pattern!
Wow – thank you so much for writing this up!
I came looking for the Airy Mohair Wrap from Fitted Knits on Google.
I don’t have a cat, but that is one, AWESOME looking cat bed. Good job.
Edwin loves you.
I think my kitties might like a bed like this for their very own. I’m going to have to make them one; I’ve got no excuse now that I’ve got a pattern. :D
I know our kitty is going to love her bed. Thanks so much for posting the pattern. And now…you’re a knitting designer! How cool is that?
Thank you so much for writing that out, it is now tucked away in my favourites waiting to be made some day! It is such a great bed!
WHAT A CUTIE!!!
i love how your kitties squash the sides down and let their booties hang over the sides…okay so maybe that’s just one of the kitties! :o)heehee!
i would say that the kitty bed is a resounding success, considering how some people knit/felt these up and the cat doesn’t go near it! what blasphemy!
i might try doing a doggy bed version of this. can’t wait to see what else you come up with! have a great day! :o)
That’s *beautiful*!! What a lucky kitty :)
Thank you for sharing this pattern! I could probably use it for making a dog bed as well. Judging by the pictures my dog is probably a bit smaller than your cats and he always need another bed to sleep in. :)
Knit Cat Bed Pattern…
Make this striped and polka dot knit felted cat bed with the dotty cat bed pattern by kelp! It looks perfectly cozy for your feline friend. Link…….
This pattern is awesome! thanks for sharing it w/ us! i can’t wait to try it. :)
It was GREAT meeting you at MSWF this weekend! you are so nice! i’ll be adding you to my bloglines. :) hehehe.
take care!
I linked here from Craftzine- what an adorable kitty bed! I am wondering if my little dogs would use a bed like that…. Certainly will pass this pattern along to my cat friendly friends too! Great job!
Hi I blogged your lovely bed today….thanks for the pattern. xoxoxo amylou
Thanks for sharing this pattern/idea! The most difficult part would be to convince our cat to use it. But I could still knit it for decoration purposes, or for other cats. ;-) Anyway, thanks for taking the time to write it down.
[...] have also started the Kelp Knits Dotty cat bed next. Casting on 276 stitches isn’t as bad as it seems. [...]
Love this! Saw the tension square on flickr and loved the colours and pattern so so glad to have come across the full pattern.
Super cute I think I have to make my cats one!!
Thanks for sharing this great pattern! I have three to make for sure!
Thanks for the pattern!My three girls are going to love these. I’m working on it now and I’m on the 7th row. It’s fun and easy! Can’t wait till it’s done!
Thanks so much for sharing this pattern. A felted cat bed is exactly what I want to make but don’t have much experience with felting. My SIL’s cat uses a crinkly plastic bag as his spot (which is fine) but it’s starting to wear out and I thought he might like a new home of his own. Thanks again!
Oh my, this is too awesome – I’m definitely making it for my mom’s/sister’s cat next Christmas! :D
Oops – forgot to add: love your last finishing instruction ;-)
Thanks so much for your pattern.. have one cat and 3 little dogs who will enjoy this..(two Maltieses(Maltie?)one mini poodle and one LARGE cat AND one merlebigSheltie who will NOT be enjoying your pattern.. anyhoo, thanks a bunch. PeggyG
I have a question about the pattern. I am following it and I am at the point you call the transition section. I thought I did as you instructed and turned my work inside out and continued to knit but now it seems the wrong side of the dot pattern will be on the outside of the bed. I’m having trouble understanding why the work needs to be turned inside out…I apologize if I’m missing the obvious. If you could give me any pointers, I’d appreciate it b/c I love the bed and want to finish it for my little doggies. Thanks.