Cats Help Craft

My cat really enjoys getting into my knitting. It was actually hard to finish the body of this sweater because he loved it so much

With my free will and bank account, I decided to make him a knit cave that mimics the in-progress sweater situation he enjoys so much.

Supplies: Acrylic yarn and 32" of wire

I wanted a wool blend, because the cat likes wool, but my local Michaels was out of Wool-Ease. Womp womp.

The idea is to have a cave that narrows at one end and will stay open. To make it cozier, I decided the opening will be set back a couple inches so the fabric will flop down a bit for more coverage.

I tried to demonstrate this but the picture is potato quality.

I decided to go with a basket weave to help me keep track of increases/decreases (since I was doing this on the fly), but you could do any texture or have it plain. I'd like to do one entrelac. With this pattern I'm working with 14 blocks

I cast on 98s sts, knit two rows and then joined in the round (always easier to avoid twisting if you're not joining at the first row - you have to weave the end in anyway so it's easy to close the gap). Place marker for start of round.

Increase row 1 - k 3, *kfb, k6* until last 4 sts, kfb, k3 - each block now has 8 sts

Basket weave - *k8, p8* around for a total of 6 rounds

increase row - k4, *m1, k8* until last 4 sts, m1, k4 - each block now has 9 sts

Basket weave B - *p9, k9* around for a total of 6 rounds

Wire row - knit around - you may want to insert a lifeline or other marker. I inserted my wire like a lifeline and don't suggest it - made the next couple of rows harder to do.

Basket weave A - *k9, p9* around for a total of 6 rounds

knit 1 round

basket weave b - *p9, k9* around for a total of 6 rounds

Alternate between basket weave a and basket weave b with a knit round between until piece measures 7" from wire row, ending on the last basket round (for me this was 5 blocks deep from the wire)

decrease row - as established, work first 3 sts, k3tog, work next 6 sts around, then continue to the next block of the basket weave (7 sts each block)

continue as established for another 2 basket weave sections (7 sts each block, 3 blocks deep)

work decrease again, working 2 sts, k3tog, work next 6 sts around to last 5 sts, k3tog, k3, then continue to next block of the basket weave (5 sts each block)

work two more blocks of basket weave (5 sts each block, 3 blocks deep)

decrease last time - k1,*k3tog, k2* to last 4 sts, k3tog k1, then knit the next block of basket weave (3 sts each block)

cut yarn and thread through the live stitches and pull tight

Thread in the wire, overlap by at least an inch and wrap the overlap with duct tape, making sure the ends are well covered.

I know it looks really silly. Also the pattern as written is one section deeper than this is. I was going for 11" (the depth of one of the hides on their cat tower) but it could have been longer.

If you want it deeper than that, add another round of blocks between either in the 9sts or 7 sts section, or both. It's your thing!

uh. uhhhhh. excuse me??? excuse me?? lap is occupied by spinning? no space for cat?? do you mind???