If you follow me on social media, you know that we’ve recently added a very unlikely member to our family. And when I say “unlikely”, I mean that never in my life did I ever think I would own a cat. My older sister was allergic to them, so I never had one growing up; and, I have always been a big dog person. Like, literally, big dogs. Not cats. While I love animals of all kinds, I just never had an interest in owning a cat. So a month ago, if you’d told me I was going to be publishing a pattern for a cat bed, I would have given you a very strange look.
But, here we are!
And that’s all thanks to Simba, the little orange cat that coughed and sneezed his way into a permanent place in our family.
He came to us with a bad upper respiratory infection, ear mites, and eyes so red and gunky he couldn’t hardly open them after a nap. And I tried really hard to stay unattached. But this kitty is impossible not to love. When I was crocheting on the couch one morning not long after we brought him home, he came over, wrapped his paws around my arm, laid his head on me, and fell asleep; and that’s pretty much how he is all the time — cuddly and sweet, and just wanting to be with people. When we didn’t receive any leads on our “lost kitty” posts for a week, I finally admitted to myself that even though I’ve never been a cat person, I really wanted to be his person. And we decided to keep him.
A few days after that decision, I hosted our church’s Women’s Life Group at my home as I do every week. One of the women who attends owns a large horse farm a few miles from our church (where my husband found Simba), and the moment she saw him, she immediately recognized him as one of her barn kitties that had been missing for a while. My heart sank. But when I told her we’d give him back (after all, my children had known from the beginning that his owners might show up), this wonderful woman didn’t even hesitate to say “No, he’s yours. I think he chose your family. God meant him for you.”
And that’s the story of how Simba chose our family!
Of course, I decided pretty early on that I needed to make him something. I thought a bed would be the perfect thing, and I wanted it to have a rustic look to it, so I headed to Michaels to find a thick, rustic yarn, and Loops & Threads Chunky was the perfect fit. I also designed a cute little tag for it and ordered the finished item from MemorableLand on Etsy. Dmitry did a wonderful job putting my vision on these wooden tags!
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About the Rescued Tag
Now, I guess Simba isn’t technically a rescue pet. We now know where he came from, and had we not wanted him, he would have been welcomed back to his farm with open arms. But I had ordered these wooden tags from MemorableLand before we had that information… and given the fact that I was in a bit of a rough patch when this little kitty came into our lives, it’s safe to say that Simba sort of “rescued” me out of the funk that I was in. Anyone who has a pet knows how healing they can be for the soul, and Simba has most definitely been that for me over the past few weeks!
The word “Rescued” holds a lot of meaning for me, in more ways than one; it’s also a meaningful reminder of how Christ rescued me, and that’s a wonderful thing to be reminded of, especially as we celebrate Easter this weekend!
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TABBY CHIC CAT BED
Level: Easyish
Size: 17″ wide x 5″ tall
Materials:
- S hook (19.00mm) – and YES, I really did use an S hook, and that really is an S hook in the photos. I have a very tight tension. If you don’t, you should use a smaller hook.
- Yarn needle
- Approximately 140 yards of Loops & Threads Chunky (<6 skeins). Sample shown in “Oatmeal” (currently sold out online, but my store had plenty). Loops & Threads Chunky is a #6 super bulky yarn, HOWEVER, if you are substituting, I would strongly recommend using a #7 Jumbo yarn. (The yarn I used really should be classified as a #7, as it’s significantly thicker than any #6 yarn I’ve ever used.)
- Stitch marker or bobby pin
Gauge:
Your first 4 rounds should measure 7″ across.
Abbreviations Used:
MC (magic circle) – view my tutorial here
CH (chain)
ST/STS (stitch/stitches)
SL ST (slip stitch)
SC (single crochet)
HDC (half double crochet)
Special Terminology:
3rd Loop – Some rows call for the stitches to be completed in the “3rd loop”. Instead of putting your HDC in the top loops, reach your hook past the back loop where you’ll find a 3rd loop on the side of the stitch. Insert your hook there to create your HDC. This forces both of the top loops to rest on the front of your project, creating a ribbing effect. In other patterns it is also referred to as a Camel Stitch or RibHDC.
Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard terms.
(2) This pattern is worked mostly in a seamless round. At Round 10, you will chain and turn, and then continue on in a seamless round in the opposite direction. This is all noted in the pattern.
(3) Starting CHs do not count as stitches.
How To Make It Larger:
It’s relatively simple, so hopefully my explanation won’t sound toocomplicated. What you’ll want to do is continue increasing your base until it’s about 1-2 inches smaller than the size you want the bed to be. On the very last repeat of the last round you did, use SC instead of HDC for all but the last two stitches; use slip stitches for the final two stitches. (This is the equivalent of Round 9 in the pattern.) So for instance, if you did 10 increase rounds, your 10th round would be:
(2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 8 STS) 7 times. 2 SC in next, 1 SC in each of the next 6 STS, 1 SL ST in each of the next 2 STS. (80)
Then, CH1 and turn, and do a final increase round in HDC (this is the equivalent of Round 10 in the pattern). Continue on with Round 11 and follow the pattern as written (your stitch counts will be different).
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
To begin:
Using S Hook, make a magic circle.
Round 1: CH1. 8 HDC in MC. (8)
Round 2: 2 HDC in each ST around. (16)
Round 3: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in next) around. (24)
Round 4: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 2 STS) around. (32)
Round 5: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 3 STS) around. (40)
Round 6: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 4 STS) around. (48)
Round 7: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 5 STS) around. (56)
Round 8: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 6 STS) around. (64)
Round 9: (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 7 STS) 7 times. 2 SC in next, 1 SC in each of the next 5 STS, 1 SL ST in each of the next 2 STS. (72)
Note: The end of round 9 should smooth down your round to blend in, instead of ending with the jagged edge that working a seamless round causes. This will enable us to chain up in the next round, turn our work, and begin working seamlessly in the other direction.
Round 10: CH1, turn your work. (2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in each of the next 8 STS) around. Do not join. (80)
Rounds 11-14: In 3rd loops, HDC in each ST around. (80)
Round 15: In 3rd loops, SC in each of the next 75 STS. SL ST in 3rd loops of each of the next 5 STS. (80)
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
I am confused about when you end each round. Should I be slip stitching into the first stitch?
You just work in a continuous circle, then there’s no seam, at least that’s how I understand it.
Hello-
I have a question about yardage. I see the pattern says 140 yards, but also says <6 skeins. I am going to order the yarn on line and wondered which measurement I should go with?
Thanks
Cindy
My dear sweet lady, you did indeed rescue Simba. He may have died a tragic death left to his own devises considering how ill he was, add in predators and traffic. Our sweet Jesus knew what he was doing when he led your caring hubby to this precious little babe. I love the bed and love your family. Thank you for all having such big hearts! Mrs. Loretta Champagne
I love when you accompany your patterns with stories. I especially love this story — it is my favorite of all! Know that in the coming years you may be creating a whole line of Simba crochet cat toys! (It happens.) As for Simba choosing your family, cats follow the love — always!
Thank you for this lovely pattern. I am catching up on your site. You make crochet wonderful!
Pls help. Tabby bed pattern. How does this become a bed. It’s a flat piece. What did i miss. Thanks
Dee, I have also tried to stitch this pattern. Your are right, it is flat. The only way to shore it up is to skip stitches and leave big holes. Too bad the designer didn’t respond to your query. I will be moving on to another source.
Jean
It is not flat. When you reach row 10 you stop increasing and each row stays 80 for the next road until finished.
Hi, are you sure is it a 19 mm (S) crochet??
Lol yes, I am positive. I have a very tight tension.
I️ found your wonderful site this morning in my Pinterest email. I️ clicked on your scarf picture and that was it ! I️ fell in love with them both! My daughters will each (3) receive one for Christmas..can’t wait to start them tomorrow. Got to go hobby lobby and get the yarn..thank you for sharing this pattern . Looking forward to making more lovely items with you..Diane G
Hi Rebecca. So I am having a hard time with this pattern for some reason. When I was using the S hook, the bed came out as big as a dog bed. So I tried the 15mm hook and when I checked my gauge? It was 9″ instead of 7″. Then I tried a P hook (11.50) but it was so tight I couldn’t get my hook through the loops. What am I doing wrong? Do you have any suggestions? I was thinking of crocheting until I get to 17″ across then continuing the pattern that way. I don’t crochet tightly. My tension is pretty normal so I just don’t understand.
It sounds like that might be the way to go for you. Just make sure that whatever yarn/hook combo you use, it’s fairly tight.
Hi Rebecca,
I have been trying to add this pattern and others from your site, but I can not access members log in. I have paid your member fee but I have not been able to add any patterns to my account.
If you can tell what I need to do I wold appreciate it. I have no idea how to refresh a page as it keeps telling me to do.
Thanks for your help.
Ami
Hi, love your story–I have 3 rescue cats of my own 🙂
I am a knitter at heart and trying to break into the crochet world–I wondered if you could explain to be the “2 HDC, 1 HDC in the next”? I did try and google/youtube etc. which is where I normally find these answers. Is the 2 HDC, 1 HDC in the front and 1 in the back loop of each stitch??
Thank you!
Are you referring to round 3, which says “(2 HDC in next, 1 HDC in next) around”? If so, that’s just a typical increase in crochet. You’re just putting 2 half double crochet stitches in the next stitch you come to, and then 1 HDC in the next stitch, and then 2 HDCs in the next stitch, 1 in the next, etc all the way around. All of these stitches are done in both loops.
Hi!
I want to say that you did in fact rescue Simba, she was sick, tired, hungry, and most of all homeless when you found her. Just as our Lord has said and I know that I am not quoting the verse as said in the Bible, but what I took it to mean. If you feed, nurse a sick person or animal back to health, give a safe place to rest, and give a home to a person or animal, you have done so to God.
So thank you for taking Simba into your home. All of my cats have rescue stories.
What a lovely story! I hope Simba is still doing well, and I am so touched you decided to welcome him as a permanent member of your family. I volunteer at a cat rescue that helps place cats in their “forever homes,” and your story was wonderful to read. I love your patterns, and have made two of your hats for myself and one of your scarves as a gift for my mother, but somehow I missed this beautiful story until today! Thank you for sharing Simba’s story and your beautiful patterns.
An S hook is way to big. In the photo the hook looks to be about L? Please help. Using the S hook makes the holes way too big.
It actually is an S hook in the photo. If you’re using the same yarn I did, it should be fine. If you’re substituting, then please see my note under the “materials” section of the pattern.
I am going to make these for my rescue kitties counting three now… Two were from the Humane Society and the one was a feral cat that had kittens in my shed and after I tamed down and found home for the kittens (after shots and fixing 🙂 ) I then found out that mama would let me pet her and started trusting me. She has now been in my house for a year and has no desire to go outside. I also trapped and fixed the feral male but he has no desire to be close to humans….
I have designed cat beds that I make for the local Humane Societies here. It is made out of Chunky yarn so it is not as expensive as these. The cats love them and the staff at the places love when I come in for a visit.
Yellow Tabbies have a loving nature that is greater than most cats. You are so fortunate. I have had cats for most of my life (I am now a great grand mother). With just a few exceptions most have been super cats; but the best were my yellow cats. I am looking forward to making your cat bed.
Ok, this post left me a little teary-eyed. I love a happy ending. Thanks for being open to a kitty who just needed a family to love. God bless.
What a cute name for this! And it’s a great looking cat bed. Thank you so much.