I went to the USA and found the largest hook and the chunkiest wool I have ever seen. I decided to use them to make a cat cave.

This pattern uses a 15 mm hook and VERY LARGE wool. Seriously. It was like crocheting with rope. It is called ‘Chunky Grande’. It comes in balls of 22 metres/24 yards. This pattern uses 5 and a bit balls (so buy 6).

The cat cave is very easy to make, it is essentially just an incomplete sphere. The main difficulty is avoiding straining your shoulder using the massive hook and wool. I lift weights at the gym but this stuff made my arms hurt.

This pattern is written in American crochet notation. The finished cat cave is approximately 37 cm across.

Round 1: 6sc in a magic ring (6 stitches)

Round 2: increase in every stitch (12 stitches)

Round 3: sc in the first stitch, increase in the next stitch – repeat (18 stitches)

Round 4: sc in the first two stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (24 stitches)

Round 5: sc in the first three stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (30 stitches)

Round 6: sc in the first four stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (36 stitches)

Round 7: sc in the first five stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (42 stitches)

Round 8: sc in the first six stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (48 stitches)

Rounds 9 – 14: sc in each stitch (102 stitches)

Round 15: sc in the first six stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (42 stitches)

Round 16: sc in the first five stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (36 stitches)

Round 17: sc in the first four stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (30 stitches)

Fasten off, weave in ends.