8 Crochet Cat Couch Tips!

Want to make a Kitty Couch for your cat? Read this first!
​Pattern link end of post.

When I stumbled on a free pattern for this cat couch, I knew it was a must make...

1. DOWNLOAD THE MOST RECENT PATTERN UPDATE.

I downloaded the pattern, added it to “next list”, then started it 3 months later. First, I read the entire pattern and had lots of questions. I checked online and discovered the pattern had been revised with an update after I downloaded the first version, answering most of my questions. This is the correct pattern (download link, end of post):

Yarnspirations.com Free "CROCHET KITTY COUCH" #RHC0720-029832M • Revised 9/7/21

The 2nd version of this pattern shown here is well written. The actual crochet is beginner level, relaxing and fun. If you’re good at following step-by-step instructions, constructing assembling the foam couch foundation is easy too, but, read on... 

​2. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH YARN.

This may be obvious, but it's key. I used stash-yarn because I had lots of navy yarn that went with my living room decor. It always begins that way, right?

It didn't take long to realize I had miscalculated the yarn and needed several more skeins and could only get it on-line (two orders!). So much for stash busting. This pattern requires a LOT of yarn.

After that experience I'd recommend using a value yarn like the Red Heart Supersaver® yarn designated on the pattern. At least for the main portion of the couch (and, I'm not a RH ambassador) but after all, it IS their pattern! It's affordable, washable, durable and easy to find for most. Choose a color similar to your cats dominant color so shedded fur doesn’t show as much. 

After completion I had used approximately 35 ozs. of #4 worsted; just under five 7oz. Red Heart Super-Saver® skeins for the base color (gray alone). The picture doesn't look like it takes a lot of yarn, but there is a lot of relaxing crochet that's invisable until you start making the individual pieces!

3. UPHOLSTERY FOAM IS PRICEY,  RE-PURPOSE IF YOU CAN.

I realized the “foam foundation” (couch form) should be made before any crochet begins. That way, you can hold each piece up against the corresponding part of the couch to confirm it fits correctly as you go, saving time and frogging. The foam foundation instructions are on page 5 of the pattern –skip to that part first.

On-line, the upholstery foam would cost  $60+/- which I expected. After trips to Joanne and Hobby Lobby coupons in-hand, I found upholstery foam to be costly there too, so I resorted to some old cushion foam stashed at home.

I'd had two pieces of high-density foam in the attic. Not the precise measurements, in two different colors, but perfefct for this foam foundation considering the savings. High density upholstery foam is firmer and more expensive, but it's not really necessary for this project because most cats are light, right? If you have something that works, use it.

Following the foam foundation instructions (pgs. 5, 4), mark the exact measurements on craft paper (or newsprint, etc), and cut out pattern pieces. This step makes it easy to lay the pattern out on the foam to see the best cutting layout.

Place the largest pattern pieces on your foam first, then the smaller pieces, moving the pattern parts like a jigsaw puzzle to fit every piece before cutting the foam.

Cut the foam with a serrated bread or steak knife, cutting the sides with the straightest right angles possible trying not to slope those sides.

Then, take a sharpie pen and mark each pattern piece directly onto foam. If you have a key piece that’s a bit too small, consider piecing it with a leftover piece of foam, it won’t show even if the seaming is a bit uneven after gluing. As you can see below, I reallly got piece-happy and saved $60. Remember to cut 2 pieces of foam for armrest.

Cut the foam with a serrated knife, cutting the sides with the straightest right angles possible, trying not to slope those sides as you cut. Relax! With a nice big serrated bread or steak knife, it’s easier than you think. Your crocheted slip cover will be forgiving and cover little irregularities as these photos attest.

The older pattern (that I started with) specified foam glue for assembly. I purchased the upholstery foam glue which looked like Elmers® or tacky glue. It didn’t  fuse well, taking over 2 days to dry completely.

The updated pattern (shown above) specified a hot glue gun👍🏻, so I reinforced the weak spots with my hot glue and it bonded firmly, immediately. Don’t use foam glue, it’s inferior to hot glue.

If you have a key piece that’s a bit too small, consider piecing it with a leftover piece of foam.

I painted the form with (water based) latex paint so the (lighter) foam wouldn't show through the stitching.

In the end, it wasn't a necessary step. For other yarn over foam scenarios, it's an option (water based paints ONLY).

Concerned the navy (stash-buster) yarn I chose for my cover would show the (lighter) foam underneath through my stitching, I painted the foam foundation with navy (water based, LATEX) paint. It dried in approx 24 hrs. while I happily crocheted.

In the end, I discovered that the foam didn't show through my stitches, but  my sad looking patchwork foundation looked  a lot nicer, and I stopped worrying about show through! An easy option if you’re concerned about that.

Final foam note: I used 1/2” foam for the cushions as specified in the first pattern. The revised pattern calls for six pieces of quilt batting, stacking 3 layers in each cushion.  Because I had neither on hand, I chose foam for a spongy, firmer cushion –more like an actual couch cushion.

4. TIME TO CROCHET –AFTER A TEST SWATCH!

Depending on the yarn you use and how tight or loose your stitches are, your measurements may not match up to the pattern if you don’t do a gauge test-swatch first.

After choosing my yarn, I made a 4” x 4” [10 cm] swatch as noted on the pattern. My yarn/tension/gauge fit perfectly. If your swatch isn’t 4” x 4”, adjust your hook size to achieve gauge before starting. Take 10 minutes now to avoid an hours of frogging/redo! 

Keep checking your work laying it on the foam structure to confirm the fit of each piece as you crochet. After confirming that I was crocheting with correct gauge for my yarn, hook and tension, every piece I made fit perfectly (except when I wasn't paying attention and made mistakes 😳).

Keep checking your work against the foam structure to confirm the fit as you crochet.

5. MAKE THE COUCH FIRST, THEN THE LITTLE BLANKET.

This sweet granny square blanket is the icing on the cake. Instructions for the blanket are on page 2, save it for last. Who wants to make a blanket for a couch that isn't made yet?

The sweet granny square blanket is the icing on the cake.

Instead, skip to Couch Seat and Back Cushion on pg. 3; moving on to Back of Couch and Top  on pg. 4. As you complete each of these pieces, place it on the couch form to make sure they fit.Checking your work/fit as you go, helps to detect problems (in my case silly mistakes) as you go. Next move on to all the other pieces.

6. A BIT ABOUT COUCH COVER ASSEMBLY.

The assembly diagram on the pattern is all you need to put your couch together, just follow  it step-by-step. The instructions say “sew the couch together.” Instead, I used a slip stitch join because I personally find joining easier using a bit smaller hook for most of the seams.

Sewing the bottom to the lower egde of the perimeter strip. And, NO FOAM SHOW-THROUGH!

A slip stitch join on the dust ruffle adds a cording-like look to finish the Dust ruffle seam.

Once the base perimeter strip was attached to the couch, be sure turn the cover right side out, then fit it over the foam foundation permanently. I found it better to skip adding the dust ruffle at this stage, and “sewed the bottom to lower edge of base” first.

Next pin fit the dust ruffle attaching it last. This way, you can be sure the ruffle just barely and evenly meets the floor. Using my slip stitch join on the dust ruffle join made a cording-like finished look, much like a real couch dust ruffle seam. These last 2 joins were made with the lightweight couch sitting easily in my lap.

​7. WARNING: REPETITIVE CROCHET CAN CAUSE TENNIS ELBOW!

I loved crocheting this project. Countless hours of easy, relaxing crochet is my jam and this was the ultimate. That said, I couldn’t put this #wip down; which resulted in a searing pain shooting down my right arm elbow to wrist and sending me to the net to confirm my suspicions. Yup. My first bout of tennis (or crochet) elbow –something many of us yarn addicts develop at some point. Fortunately, I had to wait for snail mail to deliver more yarn curtailing my crochet frenzy for a few days as the pain faded...

I also ordered an affordable Arm Compression Sleeve which helped reduce the pain for a few days. Now that the project is over and I’m back to variety in my stitching, my tennis elbow hasn’t reoccurred. But, if I ever start a “relaxing crochet project” like this again, I’ll put the compression sleeve on to avoid tendon/muscle pain.

​8. CONSIDER SEWING THE COVER FOR A QUICKER PROJECT!?

Odd to end on this final note, right? I just can’t help thinking this couch would have been just as cute and much quicker to make if I’d simply cut the couch out of denim fabric. Or, better still  home dec fabric that  complements my living room furniture fabric. I’m saving the pattern pieces in case I want to update the look with a slipcover in the future 🤭

UPDATE 10/22: The couch is adorable, but a crocheted cover is not great for lounging kitties catching claws and shedding fur! Can't wait to cut this pattern out using a pair of old jeans, for a durable washable update here soon!

Hope this helps you complete a couch for your cat. It’s so much fun to see my kitty lounging where I want her to be –on her own couch!

Download the free pattern HERE.