The cat basket is finished. The lovely boy in the basket is Miche. Chaton Minet is the name I ended up giving to this cat basket. It is also the title of a famous French Nursery rhyme. I thought the name suited the whimsical spirit of the basket. I really like the chevrons, and the edges which I curled into shape.
The basket is knit in the round, and there is no seaming to do! The basket is then felted.
I hope you will have fun knitting it, and that your feline friends will love it!
Chaton Minet
Materials: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted, 2 of each color: M-18 Khaki, M-13 Sun Yellow, M-52 Spruce, M-120 Limeade.
Needle: 29" US 13
Finished size after stretching and shaping 17" diameter
Chevron Pattern:
R1: *K1 f&b, K9, SL2, K1, P2SSO, K9, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R2: Purl
Please note that the whole basket is knit in garter stitch using 2 strands of yarn held together. The garter stitch felts thicker, and gives the basket a firm texture.
With Spruce, CO 161 stitches. Join round. Knit 6 rows in garter stitch.
Start chevron pattern above in following order of colors:
*4 rounds limeade, 4 rounds khaki, 4 rounds sun yellow, 2 rounds spruce* This forms 1 color pattern repeat. Knit a total of 3 color pattern repeats. On the last color pattern repeat replace the last 2 rounds of spruce, with 6 rounds of plain garter stitch with no chevron in Spruce.
Base decreases:
Base is knit in Khaki.
R1: K2tog, *Knit8, K2TOG* Repeat from *
R2: and all even rounds purl
R3: Knit
R5: Knit
R7:*K7 , K2TOG*Repeat
R9: Knit
R11:Knit
R13:*K6, K2TOG*Repeat
R15: Knit
R17: Knit
R19:*K5, K2TOG* Repeat
R21:*K4, K2TOG* Repeat
R23:*K3, K2TOG* Repeat
R25:*K2, K2TOG* Repeat
R27:*K1, K2TOG* Repeat
R29:*K2TOG*
Repeat R29 until 5-7 stitches remain. Gather remaining stitches with a darning needle.
Weave in ends.
Put the basket in a zippered pillow case, and throw in wash in hot water with laundry detergent, monitoring the progress.
The basket will be crumpled, and somewhat wavy because of the chevron and will need to be shaped, pulled, and tugged on. If you don't believe me look at this picture.I find that paying a lot of attention to the shaping really pays off, and our feline babies deserve only the best!
Copyright, Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer 2008. This pattern is for personal use only.