While my first cat tubbie turned out pretty well and was immediately put into use (and in fact still has a cat in it 24/7), I have found the overall design to be flawed. Eventually, after much cat use, the walls flop over, and you end up with a kind of yarn and cat tubbie pancake. That doesn’t mean it has been used any less. My cats, in fact, don’t seem to care, but I do. Therefore, I’ve started on version 2.0.
I have found few different patterns for this now, neither of which I’ve been totally thrilled with. They seem overly complicated to me. I mean, basically, you just need to crochet a large circle of yarn, and then you need to start making it smaller in order to build the walls of the tubbie.
One technique I have decided to try is doubling up on my yarn. This is the first time I’ve done that, and it was a tad challenging considering I’m using the same size hook, but I have finally gotten the hang of it. The pattern, well, I started following a new one I found, and as I said, I thought it was overly complicated, so I started winging it, and now it’s not looking so hot. It kind of looks like a ruffly pancake, so I’ve stopped production and plan to….gasp!….pull out about half of what I’ve crocheted so far. Wish me luck that I get no knots!
If anyone know of an easy tubbie pattern, I’m interested!
April 2, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Love the tubbie. Great work, I can’t knit or crochet.
April 2, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Your picture got me to thinking. I may have to try this myself, but…
Double yarn sounds like a good idea, thin enough to be washable, but thick enough to catch most of the fur (keep off the furniture).
Every 2 or 3 rounds on the bottom, lay it down and adjust the numbers of extra stitches, or say “the cat’s won’t notice, so what the hay”.
For the sides, go up and then back down(kinda like a turtleneck), get a piece of foam that’s rectangular and will slide between the inside and outside walls, but can be removed for washing. My animals love curling up inside, resting their chins on the edges to watch the world and not having to exert any energy.
April 3, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Someone sent me a link to a pattern where you can add the foam like you suggest, but I’m going to try this first. Depending on how it turns out, I may eventually go the foam route though.
Urban craft- I find crochet, at least the basics, to be fairly easy. Jump in and try it.
April 13, 2009 at 2:10 pm
you might want to felt it a bit.
April 15, 2009 at 5:51 am
Is it really possible to felt acrylic yarn? I’ve done it with wool, though not terrible successfully.
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