1 Skein Pet Bed [Pattern]

My little orange kitty had need of a pet bed. We moved into a larger house this last summer and now she likes to sleep in various rooms, depending on where the family is. There are a couple rooms that just left her with few options. While making her quite a comfortable mat, I thought to myself “why stop with making beds for my lil orange kitty when there are hundreds of shelter animals in need of homes and warm places to sleep.”

I decided that I would not “skimp” on a pet bed for a shelter animal. This pattern has a few different options and are noted within the pattern itself.

The pattern below is for 1 skein of yarn, which will make a single round bed and a single layer square mat OR making a double thick pet bed. I will make notations within the pattern for these options.

1 SKEIN PET BED
By Cris

Items Needed:
Crochet Hook – size I
1 skein Red Heart Super Saver acrylic yarn (5oz multi-color or 7oz solid skein)
Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations:
ch – chain
sl – slip stitch
st – stitch
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
btn – between
prev – previous
rpt – repeat

Making the Round Pet Bed (bottom)
ch 5, sl to join into a ring

Row 1
ch 2 (counts as dc), 11 dc into the center of the ring
sl to join

Row 2
ch 2, dc in the same st as the ch 2
2 dc in all st from prev row
sl to join (24 total dc, counting ch 2 at start)

Row 3
ch 2, dc in same st as the ch 2, dc in next st
*2 dc, 1 dc*
rpt btn * around the circle
sl to join (36 dc total, counting ch 2 at start)

Row 4
ch 2, dc in same st as the ch 2, dc into the next 2 st
*2dc, 1 dc in next 2 st*
rpt btn * around the circle
sl to join (48 dc total, counting ch 2 at start)

Row 5
ch 2, dc in same st as the ch 2, dc into the next 3 st
*2 dc, 1 dc in next 3 st*
rpt btn * around the circle
sl to join (60 dc total, counting ch 2 at start)

Row 6
ch 2, dc in same st as the ch 2, dc into the next 4 st
*2 dc, 1 dc in next 4 st*
rpt btn * around the circle
sl to join (72 dc total, counting ch 2 at start)

Row 7
ch 2, dc in same st as the ch 2, dc into the next 5 st
*2 dc, 1 dc in next 5 st*
rpt btn * around circle
sl to join (84 dc total, counting ch 2 at start)

Row 8
ch 2, dc in same st as the ch 2, dc into the next 6 st
*2 dc, 1 dc in next 6 st*
rpt btn * around circle
sl to join (96 dc total, counting ch 2 at start)

Row 9
ch 2, dc in same st as the ch 2, dc into the next 7 st
*2 dc, 1 dc in next 7 st*
rpt btn * around circle
sl to join (108 dc total, counting ch 2 at start)

NOTE: If you are going to do a double thickness round pet bed, finish off the first circle at round 9 and make a second circle. Do not finish the second circle off at row 9. Put both circles together and sc around the 2 circles to join them together and then move on to row 10. If you are making a single thickness round pet bed, do not finish the first circle at row 9. Continue to row 10.

SECOND NOTE: If you want your bed to be bigger around than what this one is, you can do so by adding rows between Row 9 and 10, working 1 more dc between the increase (2dc in same st). Of course, if you do this, you will be using more yarn meaning you will not be able to complete the square mat or do the double thickness round bed. Just buy 2 skeins of yarn if you want to go bigger (this one holds a standard house cat).

Row 10 (begins making the side of the pet bed)
ch 2, hdc around the circle in the front loop only
sl to join

Row 11
ch 2, hdc around the circle in both loops (like normal)
sl to join

Row 12
ch 2, dc around the circle
sl to join

Row 13 and 14
rpt row 12

Finishing the Round Pet Bed
Fold the “flap” of the pet bed over towards the outside (folding outward, not inward) to the row of hdc that went through the front loop only. You should be able to line up the stitches from the top of the mat to the back loops only. sc around the bed going through both loops of the dc (last row) and the back loop left open from row 10. Once you go around the pet bed, finish off.

SQUARE FLAT MAT (single layer)
If you did not make a double thickness round pet bed, you should have approximately 1/3 of the skein left over. You can make a matching mat by following the pattern below. If you have two skeins, you can make a second quare flat mat and stitch the second to the first, going around the outside with sc. Doing this makes a very thick pet mat. This pattern only makes one – you need the second skein to make the thicker square mat.

ch 39

Row 1
dc in 3rd “back bump” from the hook (note the first bump is almost right under the hook)
dc across the starting ch to end (total of 36 dc with a ch 3 at the beginning of the row)
ch 2, turn

Row 2
dc in all st across in back loop only
the last dc will be in the turning ch from prev row – put last dc in both loops (for a more secure turn)
ch 2, turn

Row 3 – 17
rpt row 2

Row 18
dc in all st across in back loop only
the last dc will be in the turning ch from prev row – put last dc in both loops (for a more secure finish)
finish off and weave in ends