Bowl/Yorkie Bed Pet Bed Knitting Pattern

Knitted Bowl and Pet Bed in Cascade 220

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a versatile bowl or pet bed suitable for small pets like Yorkies. The finished piece measures 10 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep after felting, making it an ideal size for cozying up a small dog or cat. The design works equally well as a decorative knitted home décor bowl for displaying items or as functional pet bedding.

Knitting Techniques Used

This beginner-friendly pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques to achieve its structured shape. The piece begins with a cast-on of 80 stitches worked in the round using a circular needle, which allows for seamless construction. Double-stranded knitting is used throughout the entire project, meaning two strands of yarn are held together and worked as one, creating a thicker, more durable fabric. The pattern incorporates strategic color changes by dropping and picking up different yarn strands at designated intervals, creating horizontal color bands without cutting the yarn. Wet felting is the final and crucial technique, which transforms the knitted fabric through controlled shrinkage in the washing machine, reducing the overall size by approximately 22 percent and creating a dense, finished bowl structure.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern uses basic knitting stitches appropriate for beginners. Knit stitches form the primary fabric throughout most of the piece, while purl stitches appear in the opening rounds to create a finished edge. Knit-front-and-back (Kfb) increases are used in Round 5 to add 10 stitches strategically spaced around the circumference, creating the bowl's widest point. Knit-two-together (K2tog) decreases are employed in the latter portion of the pattern to gradually shape the bowl, with decreases occurring at regular intervals across seven consecutive rounds to taper the sides and create the finished bowl form. A stitch marker tracks the beginning of each round during circular knitting.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern calls for Cascade Yarns Cascade 220, a 100 percent Peruvian Highland Wool yarn. The project requires two skeins totaling 200 grams (7 ounces) and 440 yards (400 meters) of yarn. Two colors are used: one skein of color #9404 (Ruby) and one skein of color #7826 (California Poppy). The pattern specifies US 15 (10 mm) circular knitting needles measuring 20 inches in length, which accommodate the cast-on stitches and allow for working in the round without laddering. A yarn needle is needed for weaving in ends. The gauge is 12 stitches by 17 rows over 4 inches when worked double-stranded before felting, which is important to verify before beginning to ensure proper finished dimensions after the felting process.

Pattern Structure and Construction

The pattern is organized into distinct sections. The opening rounds establish the bowl's base with alternating knit and purl rows before joining in the round. An increase round adds width at the appropriate point. The middle section features color work, with the yarn strands being changed at specific intervals to create bands of Ruby, mixed Ruby and California Poppy, and California Poppy colors. The final section consists of seven consecutive decrease rounds that progressively narrow the bowl opening and shape the sides. Before felting, the piece measures 9 inches tall by 13 inches across when laid flat, demonstrating significant size reduction during the felting process. Crafters are advised to test their specific felting method beforehand to determine expected shrinkage with their washing machine setup.