• 8 mm hook
• 9 mm hook
• or whatever hooks will give gauge (not really important in this project!)
• 4 - 4oz Bulky 100% wool yarn (NOT Superwash or anything that won't shrink when washed)
• 1 - 4 oz worsted weight 100% wool yarn (NOT Superwash or anything that will not shrink when washed)
• Gauge: 2 1/2 - 3 stitches to the inch using 8 mm hook and bulky yarn.

Fig.1
Finished Cat Bed

Fig.2
His Royal Majesty Thunder inspecting his new bed.

My thanks to Lisa and Thunder in East Texas for letting me use these pictures.
I especially like her choice and use of colors on this project.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. With 8 mm hook and bulky yarn, chain 31 leaving a short tail that will be worked over when finishing.
   • Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and 4 more ch. Ch 1, turn.
   • Row 2: Sk 1st sc, sc x 4, Ch 1, turn.
   • Row 3: Sc x 5 (last sc goes in the "turning chain" of the prev row.
     Continue row with dc, hdc, sc, sc, sc, in starting chain. Ch 1, turn
   • Row 4: Sk 1st st, sc x 9, ch 1, turn
   • Row 5: Sc x 10 plus dc, hdc, sc, sc, sc, in starting chain, ch 1,
     turn. Continue in pattern until row 11
   • Row 11: Sc x 30, ch 1, turn.
   • Row 12: Sk 1st st, sc x 29, ch 1, turn. (1 wedge completed)
2. Repeat rows 1 - 12 for each wedge (row 12 becomes the starting chain for the next wedge)
   until the circle is complete. Fasten off.
3. Sew the first and last wedges together
4. To fill in the center hole, sc in the end of each row,
   then weave the yarn through the stitches and pull tightly together.
   Stitches stretch and fill in the hole. Weave end in.
5. With one strand of bulky yarn, crochet loosely 108 sc around the edge of the circle.
   (one sc in the end of every 2 rows-6 sc in each wedge)
6. Using 9 mm hook and 1 strand of bulky and 1 strand worsted tog, sc in every sc around.
   Do not join -place marker- and crochet a 3 inch edge.
7. Last row: (sc x 3, sc2tog) around. Fasten off.
   Weave in any loose ends.
8. FELTING: Place bed in a pillowcase and close it tightly.
   (There will be a lot of fuzz that will make a mess of the machine otherwise.)
   Place in washer on Hot wash-Cold rinse and run through twice.
   If dried in the dryer it will shrink a bit more.
   (Air drying won't shrink it any more).
   After felting, my basket measured 20 inches in diameter.

Alternate Instructions for Cat Basket

INSTRUCTIONS:
Materials and supplies are the same as for first set of instructions.

1. With 8 mm hook and bulky yarn, chain 31 leaving a short tail
   that will be worked over when finishing.
   • Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. No Chain, Turn.
   • Row 2 and all even rows: Sk 1st sc, Sc across, Ch 1, Turn.
   • Row 3: Sc x 25 No Chain, Turn. (All odd rows end with No Chain,
     Turn so it will not be repeated)
   • Row 5: Sc x 15.
   • Row 7: Sc x 10.
   • Row 11: Sc x 5.
   • Row 12: Sk 1st st, sc x 4, ch 1, turn. (1 wedge completed)
   • Row 13 [start of next wedge]: Sc in each sc
     and end of row across. (30 sc)
2. Repeat rows 2 - 13 for each wedge (row 13 becomes the starting chain
   for the next wedge) until the circle is complete. Fasten off.

   All other instructions are the same for both cat baskets.

   Return to top of Page

   ---

   Flat Circle Cat Basket

   Use any yarn and a hook 2-3 sizes larger than normal
   to keep fabric soft.
   
   Instructions:
   Ch 5, ssj, Chain 1
   R1: 8 sc in ring. Ssj. Chain 1, Turn.(8)
   R2: 2 sc in each sc. Ssj. Chain 1, Turn. (16)
   R3: sc, 2 sc. Ssj. Chain 1, Turn. (24)
   R4: sc, sc, 2 sc. Ssj. Chain 1, Turn. (32)

   Each round -add 1 more sc each section.
   (R5: sc, sc, sc, 2 sc. Ssj. Chain 1, Turn. (40)

   Continue in pattern until disk is about 15 inches in diameter
   then work even for 6 more inches to create sides for the basket.

   Return to top of Page

   ---

   CAT BALL

   Materials:

   • Size F (4 mm) hook
   • Worsted weight yarn
   • Stitch will be sc (hdc or even dc would work)
   • Cotton batting or polyester fibrefill
   • Piece of nylon sock
   • Catnip

   INSTRUCTIONS:(number in list refers to row number)
   Chain 2, don't join, place marker at beg of row

   1. 6 sc (gives 2 1/2" ball) or 8 sc (3" ball) in second ch from hook
   2. 2 sc in each sc
   3. 2 sc in each sc
   4. sc in each sc
   5. sc, sc, 2sc
   6. sc in each sc
   7. sc in each sc
   8. sc in each sc
   9. sc, sc, sc, sc2tog, end row with sc, sc.
   10. sc in each sc
   11. sc, sc, sc, sc2tog, end row with sc.
       At end of row, stuff ball with catnip wrapped in fibrefill
       wrapped in a piece of nylon sock.
   12. sc, sc, sc2tog, end with sc
   13. sc, sc, sc2tog, end with sc
   14. sc, sc2tog, end with sc
   15. sc2tog, end with sc to lock the decrease. Sew end in.

   With this project, gauge doesn't matter so use any hook you are comfortable with,
   and if the rows don't happen exactly as written, just improvise. Return to Top of Page

   ---

   Boot for Dog
   Our dog has one leg with no muscle control so he drags the paw and walks on the knuckles.
   Even walking in the grass, the top of the paw is scraped bloody.
   The boot was designed to provide some protection.
   We originally had a shoe maker create a boot that tied on but the leather stretched and the boot kept falling off.
   The crocheted boot, being softer, seems to stay on better. However, it does stretch some when it gets wet.

   Materials: 1 50 gr (1 3/4 oz) ball worsted weight dishcloth cotton
   (the slightly smaller, variegated ball will work, too.)
   4.50 mm hook

   Instructions:
   Ch 2
   Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Slip stitch join, ch 1, turn.
   Rnd 2: 2 sc in each of the first 2 stitches, 2 hdc in each of the next 2 stitches,
   2 sc in each of the last 2 stitches.Join, chain 1, turn.
   Rnd 3: *(1 sc in the first st, 2 sc in next st) 2 times, 1 sc in next st*,
   2 hdc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * to *. Slip stitch join, ch 1, turn.
   Rnd 4: 1 sc in each of first 5 sts, sc2tog, 1 hdc in each of next 4 sts,
   sc2tog, 1 sc in each of last 5 sts. Slip stitch join, ch 1, turn.
   Rnd 5: 1 sc in each of first 4 sts, sc2tog, 1 hdc in each of next 4 sts,
   sc2tog, 1 sc in each of last 4 sts. Slip stitch join, ch 1, turn.
   Rnd 6: 1 sc in each of first 4 sts, (sc2tog) 3 times,
   1 sc in each of last 4 sts. Slip stitch join, ch 2, turn.
   Row 7: Skip first st, hdc in each stitch to end of row.
   DO NOT JOIN. Ch 2, Turn.
   Repeat row 7 (3 times) more. Ch 1, turn.
   Last row: 1 sc in each stitch and top of chain 2.
   Fasten off.
   Add ties:
   Fasten 10 inch ties (flat shoestring or length of cotton yarn) to the outside
   stitch on both ends of first and third hdc row.

   NOTE: The boot opens at the back. The ties should be long enough
   to cross at the back, cross at the front, cross and tie at the front.

   The dog is an 8 pound Maltese X and his legs are only as thick as my thumb.

   ---

   Small Pet Blanket

   
   

   This little blanket is done in a rectangle
   starting from a center chain and working joined rounds.

   The original blankets were made with wool.
   When we come back from a winter walk this little blanket
   seems to give instant warmth to our little dogs
   and they curl up in their beds
   under their little blanket and go to sleep.

   To figure the length of the starting chain,
   figure the finished size first then subtract the width from the length.
   This will be the length of the starting chain so add two chain
   to it for the turning chain.

   Example: the blanket will be 8 inches by 12 inches so subtract 8 from 12.
   The remainder is 4 inches so the starting chain
   must be 4 inches -plus 2 chain- long.

   Rnd 1: 3 sc in second chain from hook [place marker in the first and third sc],
   sc to last chain, 3 sc in last chain [place marker in first and third sc of the final group of three sc],
   working in free loop of each chain, sc to end of chain.
   Slip stitch join to top of first sc of first group of 3.
   chain 1. Do not turn.

   Rnd 2: (sc, ch 1, sc) in first sc [move marker to ch-1] sc in next stitch,
   (sc, ch 1, sc) in next sc [move marker to ch-1],
   sc across to next marker, (sc, ch 1, sc) in marked stitch [move marker],
   sc in next stitch, (sc, ch 1, sc) in next marked stitch, move marker to ch 1,
   sc to beginning of row. Join with a slip stitch
   to top of first sc, chain 1.

   Rnd 3: Continue in pattern. (sc, ch 1, sc) in marked ch-1 space
   and move marker to new ch-1 space,
   end row with slip stitch to top of first sc, chain 1.

   Repeat Rnd 3 until blanket is large enough.

   Finish off with the needle join (invisible bind-off) or the method of your choice.

   Note on changing colors:
   To change colors at the join: Insert hook in top of first stitch, change yarn,
   YO and complete slip stitch, chain 1,
   sc in same stitch as the chain 1. continue with new color.

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