I’m excited to share my first stuffed cat knitting pattern, the Cuddle Kitty! If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I have several stuffed cat crochet patterns already. For the last pattern in this year’s Finishing Touches Knit Along, I’m sharing a quick knit gift idea for your favorite cat lover.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for this project were generously provided by Fairfield World.
I love cats. I have two rescues of my own at home (#blackcatsrule!) and before that I had two cats adopted from the Humane Society of New York. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you with the details of all the previous cats I’ve known in my life!
Over the years, I’ve designed several free crochet patterns for stuffed cats, including Kitty in a Romper, Black Cat Softie, Mr. Putty Cat, Sr., Putty Cat, Jr., and Patchwork Cat. And, of course, though not stuffed, there’s also the Sleeping Kitty Lovey.
I felt it was about time to add a stuffed cat knitting pattern to the collection, and so today I introduce to you Cuddle Kitty.
If you’re new to knitting softies, don’t worry! This little guy is rag doll style, so it’s knit flat in pieces that are seamed. I have added “clean edges” in the pattern to make seaming easier. The whole pattern uses very simple increases and decreases, and I’ve linked tutorials to each so if it is a new-to-you method, you will have some help. This guy knits up quickly in super bulky yarn, so it makes a great last-minute gift for any cat lover!
By the way, my friend Pia at Stitches n Scraps knit up this version of Cuddly Kitty and took the pictures. If you don’t know her already, check out her site for crochet, knitting, and crafty magic!
This pattern is part of KAL Corner’s Finishing Touches Knit Along. If you are just hearing about the KAL, you can get all the details here.
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- By the end of the KAL, you’ll have up to 24 knitted projects. You’ll also have the chance to win great prizes!
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If you make your own Cuddle Kitty project, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Cuddle Kitty
Stuffed Cat Knitting Pattern by Underground Crafter
This adorable rag doll style amigurumi critter makes a cuddly, portable friend. It works up quickly in super bulky weight yarn. This pattern is part of the Finishing Touches Knit Along with KAL Corner.
Finished Size
- 9” (23 cm) across at widest point x 6.5” (16.5 cm) tall from bottom to top of ear.
Materials
- Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn (80% acrylic/20% wool, 6 oz/170 g, 106 yd/97 m) – 1 skein each in 148 Slate (CA) and 153 Black (CB), or approximately 75 yd (68.5 m) in CA and 15 yd (14 m) in CB in any super bulky weight yarn.
- US Size 10.5/6.5 mm knitting needles, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- 12 mm cat safety eyes – 1 pair.
- Clover Quick Locking Stitch Marker Set (for holding pieces together when seaming).
- Fairfield Poly-Fil Crafter’s Choice Dry Packing Fiber Fill – 10 ounce bag.
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- 11 sts x 15 rows = 4” (10 cm) across in stockinette stitch. Exact gauge is not critical for this pattern. Stitches should be small so the fiber filling doesn’t show.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- CO – cast on
- k – knit
- k2tog – knit 2 stitches together – Lion Brand has a helpful video tutorial for the k2tog decrease here.
- kfb – knit in front and back – Lion Brand has a helpful video tutorial for the kfb increase here.
- p – purl
- p2tog – purl 2 stitches together – Lion Brand has a helpful video tutorial for the p2tog decrease here.
- rep – repeat
- RS/WS – right/wrong side
- sl st – slip st knitwise
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Pattern Notes
- When choosing colors, note that CA is the main color of the cat’s body, CB is the color of the nose and whiskers.
- A helpful video tutorial for the embroidery back stitch is available at the end of this pattern.
- A helpful tutorial for seaming with the mattress stitch is available here.
Pattern Instructions
Back Panel
- With CA, CO 25 sts.
- Row 1: (RS) K across to last st, p1.
- Row 2: Sl 1, p across.
- Row 3: Sl 1, k across to last st, p1.
- Rows 4-15: Rep Rows 2-3, 6 times.
- Row 16: Rep Row 2.
- Row 17: Sl 1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1. (Decreases by 2 sts with each rep)
- Row 18: Sl 1, p2tog, p across to last 2 sts, p2tog. (Decreases by 2 sts with each rep)
- Rows 19-22: Rep Rows 17-18 twice until 13 sts remain. Do not fasten off.
First Ear
- Row 23: (RS) S1 1, k4, p1, leave remaining sts unworked for Second Ear. (6 sts)
- Row 24: Sl 1, p2tog, p3. (5 sts)
- Row 25: Sl 1, k2tog, k1, p1. (4 sts)
- Row 26: S1 1, p2tog, p1. (3 sts)
- Row 27: Sl 1, k2tog. (2 sts)
- Bind off with p2tog. Fasten off.
Second Ear
- With RS facing on Row 23 and continuing with previously undworked sts, k2tog, k4, p1. (6 sts)
- Rep Row 24 through bind off as for First Ear.
Nose
- With CB, CO 1 st.
- Row 1: (RS) Kfb. (2 sts)
- Row 2: P1, kfb. (3 sts)
- Row 3: K across to last st, kfb. (Increases by 1 st with each rep)
- Row 4: P across to last st, kfb. (Increases by 1 st with each rep)
- Rows 5-6: Rep Rows 3-4 once until 7 sts remain.
- Bind off in knit. Fasten off CB with long yarn tail (approximately 18”/46 cm) for seaming.
Assembly and Finishing
- Use stitch markers to pin Nose to RS of Front Panel using pictures as guide. Thread yarn needle with yarn tail from Nose. Sew Nose to Front Panel. With yarn needle, weave in ends on WS of Front Panel.
- Position safety eyes on Front Panel centered above Nose. When satisfied with the position, snap washers into place on the back of the Front Panel.
- Thread yarn needle with CB. With yarn needle, back stitch (see Pattern Notes) whiskers to RS of Front Panel using pictures as guide. With yarn needle, weave in ends on WS of Front Panel.
- Place Back Panel under Front Panel with WS facing and with facial features facing upwards.
- Thread yarn needle with yarn tail from Front Panel. Beginning at top of Ears, join panels and ears together with mattress stitch (see Pattern Notes) through both layers until you get to the bottom of the body.
- Stuff firmly with fiber filling. Continue seaming with mattress stitch until you get to the start of the Ears. Add more stuffing. Continue seaming with mattress stitch until you get to the first stitch. Fasten off.
- With yarn needle, weave in remaining ends on inside of body.
Super cute! Thank you. 🙂