A few weeks ago, I saw a post from Mary Mooney with a photo of the “Kitty Couch” pattern, available at Annie’s Attic.
Designed by Candy Clayton, the pattern contains 3 different couches that are just the right size for a cat. They are so adorable that it was pretty easy for Bill to talk me into making one. I have a big box of Brown Sheep wool that I have been using in the classes that I probably won’t be teaching anymore, so it was pretty easy for me to get started.
I was surprised to learn how big a project this actually is. The “Blue couch” is the design I started with, because it looked the least complicated. The finished couch is 21 in. wide, 14 in. deep, and the back is 7 in. high. There were 12 pieces to crochet, and then assemble into the couch. Then, 3 pillows with fronts and backs to crochet. This requires a LOT of yarn, so I knew I would have to use several colors, as I didn’t have enough of one color to crochet the whole thing.
Mostly, it was pretty easy crochet, after I got into the rhythm of the pattern. But it took a long time to get all of the pieces made, and I really wasn’t sure that this was going to work, that the pieces would fit together properly. So many pieces!! The finished pieces sat on my desk, and I noticed that the cats were all taking turns sitting on them, which I took as a good sign. Certain yarns appeal to cats, and mine have always liked pure non-superwash wool the best.
Bill searched high and low for the foam pieces that provide the structure. He finally found what we needed at Home Depot, and cut the pieces to size for me. As soon as I started to sew everything around the foam, I was amazed and impressed at how well everything fit together. Candy Clayton is a genius. There was immediate attention paid by Jasmine, who couldn’t wait for me to get this done.
Last night I finished the last of the pillows, and the result is all I could have wished for.
Benny and Jasmine have both been spotted napping on the finished couch. Jedi is our elusive cat, and I haven’t seen her on it, but I’ll bet she has checked it out.
Now I have to check my stash and see if I have enough yarn to crochet another of the designs. I’ll have a better idea now, of what works. I’ll need multi-colors, again, and am thinking about stripes, this time. It might be sort of dumb, but right now all of the news is depressing, life is really hard and frustrating, and anything that brings laughter and light into our lives is welcome. Thank goodness for our pets, they really distract us in good ways. There is nothing like a purring cat on your lap, and having them appreciate your craft, to brighten your day!