...a cosy crochet cat bed

Give unwanted cats a comfortable place to sleep by donating one of these lovely handmade beds to your local cat rescue centre. You can make these using strips of fabric from old clothes or bed sheets cut into a continuous length.

How to make a fabric crochet bed:

Ch4, sl st in first ch to form ring. Round 1(RS): ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 5 dc into the ring (6 sts). Work in spiral rounds, place marker (pm) into the first stitch of each round. Round 2: 2 dc into each of next 6 sts. (12 sts) Round 3: 2 dc into each of next 12 sts. (24 sts) Round 4: 1 dc into each of next 24 sts. Round 5: *1 dc into each of next st, 2 dc into next st; rep from * to end of round. (36 sts) Round 6: 1 dc into each of next 36 sts. Round 7: *1 dc into each of next 2 sts, 2 dc into next st; rep from * to end of round. (48 sts) Round 8: 1 dc into each of next 48 sts. Round 9: *1 dc into each of next 3 sts, 2 dc into next st; rep from * to end of round. (60 sts) Round 10: 1 dc into each of next 60 sts. Round 11: *1 dc into each of next 4 sts, 2 dc into next st; rep from *to end of round. (72 sts) Round 12: 1 dc into each of next 72 sts. Round 13: *1 dc into each of next 5 sts, 2 dc into next st; rep from * to end of round. (84 sts) Round 14: 1 dc into each of next 84 sts. Round 15: *1 dc into each of next 6 sts, 2 dc into next st; rep from * to end of round. (96 sts) Rounds 16-17: 1 dc in next 96 sts. Round 18: *1 dc into each of next 15 sts, 2 dc into next st; rep from * to end of round. (102 sts) Round 19: 1 dc in next 102 sts. Round 20: 1 dc in next 85 sts. Fasten off. Work in rows. Join in yarn into the first st of the previous round. Row 21: 1 dc into each of next 85 sts. Fasten off. Rows 22–26: Repeat Row 21. Fasten off at the end of each row. Work in rounds. Join in yarn into the first st of the previous row. Round 27: 1 dc into each of next 85 sts, ch 17. Round 28: 1 dc into each of next 102 sts. Round 29: *1 dc into each next 16 sts, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (96 sts) Round 30: *1 dc into each of next 7 sts, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (84 sts) Round 31: 1 dc into each of next 84 sts. Round 32: *1 dc into each of next 6 sts, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (72 sts) Round 33: 1 dc into each of next 72 sts. Round 34: *1 dc into each of next 5 sts, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (60 sts) Rounds 35-36: 1 dc into each of next 60 sts. Round 37: *1 dc into each of next 4 sts, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (48 sts) Rounds 38-39: 1 dc into each of next 48 sts. Round 40: *1 dc into each of next 3 sts, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (36 sts) Round 41: 1 dc into next 36 sts. Round 42: *1 dc into each of next 2 sts, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (24 sts) Rounds 43-44: 1 dc into each of next 24 sts. Round 45: *1 dc into next st, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (12 sts) Rounds 46-47: 1 dc into each of next 12 sts. Round 48: *1 dc into next st, skip 1 st; rep from * to end of round. (6 sts) Round 49: 1 dc into each of next 6 sts. Round 50: *1 dc in next st, skip 1 st * rep from * to end of round. (3 sts). Fasten off. Opening To strengthen the opening, work continuously, in a clockwise direction, around the opening. From the lower left of the opening, count back 2 sts along the bottom of the opening, from the corner, join in fabric yarn with a sl st into next st. Along left side of opening: 2 dc into the first sp, 1 dc into next sp, [2 dc into next sp, 1 dc into next sp] twice, 2 dc into next sp; skip 1 side sp. Along top of opening: skip 1 st, sl st into next 15 sts, skip 1 st. Along right side of opening: skip 1 sp, [2 dc into next sp, 1 dc into next sp] 3 times, 2 dc into next sp, skip 1 side sp. Along bottom: sl st in 2nd st from corner. Fasten off. Finishing Weave loose ends into the crochet fabric Care instructions Spot-clean or machine-wash in warm water. To dry, block by pulling into the desired shape. Stuff with plastic bags to maintain shape while air-drying. Project taken from Big Hook Rag Crochet, by Dedri Uys, published by Search Press, £11.99