I’m kicking off the 2018 Halloween Crochet Along with the Black Cat Softie, a free crochet pattern for an amigurumi cat! With an orange scarf, nose, and whiskers, the Black Cat Softie is ready for some Halloween fun. Change the scarf color to update the Softie for other occasions, and have a portable kitty friend to play with all year.

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 the sample were generously provided by Red Heart, Fairfield, and Clover USA.

When Rhondda from Oombawka Design first brought up the idea of a Halloween Crochet Along, I knew I was going to make an amigurumi black cat. After all, here is my inspiration at home!

As much fun as I had for the last few days at #snapconf listening to inspirational speakers, attending informative workshops, hanging out with a growing crew of #crochetbloggers, and chatting with sponsors and getting to see their new products… well, home is where the heart is! #cats #rescuecatsrock #crochetinthebackground #crochet #crochetripple

A post shared by Marie @ Underground Crafter (@ucrafter) on Apr 23, 2017 at 10:53am PDT

If you’re just hearing about the Halloween Crochet Along, you can get all the details here, including how to enter the fabulous end-of-CAL giveaway to win one of eight great prizes from Crippen Works, Denise, Dover Publications, My Darn Yarn, Pavilion, Quilt Knit Craft, Red Heart, and Undead Yarn.

Since I had recently designed the free crochet patterns for Mr. Putty Cat, Sr. and Putty Cat, Jr., I knew I wanted this cat to have a different shape. I decided that a long tube would be fun… and it turns out that the Black Cat Softie also makes a great “stress ball.” My friend from work is giving the Black Cat Softie a squeeze after a long meeting.

To add to the Halloween vibe, I included the pattern for a very long (for a softie) mock bobble scarf. You could substitute your favorite stitch pattern instead. I let the edges of the scarf curl, because I liked the look. But, of course, you can straighten them out first if you prefer, or use a larger hook to crochet the scarf so it doesn’t curl.

I will confess that I didn’t actually make a tail for my Black Cat Softie… but I included the pattern for the tail if you’d like your version to be more anatomically correct!

If you make your own Black Cat Softie, 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!

Add the Black Cat Softie to your Ravelry favorites or queue.

If you want an easy print format, you can buy an ad-free PDF version on Craftsy.

Black Cat Softie

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

With an orange scarf, nose, and whiskers this cat is ready for some Halloween fun. Change the scarf color to update the softie for other occasions. This pattern is part of the 2018 Halloween Crochet Along.

 

Finished Size

• Approximately 10.5” (26.5 cm) tall from feet to top of head after stuffing.

Materials

• Red Heart Super Saver yarn (100% acrylic, 7 oz/198 g, 364 yd/333 m) – 1 skein each in 312 Black (CA) and 256 Carrot (CB), or approximately 115 yd (105 m) in CA and 45 yd (41 m) in CB in any medium weight yarn.
• US F-5/3.75 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
• Yarn needle.
• Clover Quick Locking Stitch Marker Set.
• Fairfield Poly-Fil Fiber Fill.
• 12 mm cat craft/safety eyes – 1 pair.

Gauge

• 18 sc x 20 rows = 4” (10 cm). Exact gauge is not critical for this project. Stitches should be small so that fiber filling doesn’t show.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• BL – back loop only – Marly Bird has a helpful video for identifying the back loop here.
• CA – Color A
• CB – Color B
• ch – chain
• pm – place stitch marker
• rep – repeat
• Rnd(s) – Round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• tr – treble (triple) crochet
• *Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
• [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
  

Pattern Notes

• When choosing colors, note that CA is the main color of the cat’s Body, Legs, Ears, and Tail; CB is the color of the Nose, Scarf, and Whiskers.
• Body, Legs, and Tail pieces are worked in rounds in continuous spirals without joining. Move stitch marker up each round to mark last st.
• Legs and Tail pieces start with magic adjustable ring. Oombawka Design has a helpful magic ring tutorial here.
• Tips for working with long foundation chains, like the one used to start the Scarf, are available here.
• FreshStitches has a helpful tutorial for joining amigurumi pieces with whip stitch seams here.
• Fiber Flux has helpful back stitch tutorials. The photo tutorial is here and the video tutorial is here.

Pattern Instructions

Body

• With CA, start with long yarn tail (approximately 18”/46 cm) for seaming, ch 41.
• Set Up Row: Turn, sk 1 ch, sc in next 40 ch. Being careful not to twist, join with sl st seam to begin working in the round, pm in last st (see Pattern Notes). (40 sts)
• Rnd 1: ScBL in each st around.
• Rep Rnd 1 until body measures approximately 8.5” (21.5 cm). Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 18”/46 cm) for seaming.

Legs (Make 4)

• With CA, start with magic adjustable ring (see Pattern Notes).
• Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull the yarn tail tightly to close ring, pm to mark last st (see Pattern Notes). (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: 2 scBL in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: *2 scBL in next st, scBL in next 5 sts; rep from * around, pm to mark position, do not move up next Rnds. (14 sts)
• Rnd 4: ScBL in each st around.
• Rep Rnd 4 until Leg measures approximately 1” (2.5 cm) from marker, fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming.

Tail (optional)

• With CA, work as for Legs through Rnd 2. Pm to mark position, do not move up next Rnds.
• Rnd 3: ScBL in each st around.
• Rep Rnd 3 until Tail measures approximately 1” (2.5 cm) from marker, fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming.

Ears (Make 2)

• With CA, ch 2.
• Row 1: Turn, sk 1 ch, 2 sc in next ch. (2 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, 2 sc in next st. (3 sts)
• Row 3: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, sc in each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st. (Increases by 1 stitch with each repeat)
• Rows 4-5: Rep Row 3 twice. Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming. (6 sts)

Nose

• With CB, work as for Ears through Row 3. Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 24”/61 cm) for seaming and whiskers.

Scarf

• With CB, ch 201 (see Pattern Notes).
• Row 1: Turn, sk 1 ch, [sc in next st, tr in next st] across. (200 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and in each st across. Fasten off.

Assembly

• See Pattern Notes for seaming and back stitch tutorials. Use stitch markers to pin pieces in position before seaming. Use pictures as guide for positioning.
• Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail at start of Body. Use yarn needle to seam closed the gap from the Set Up Row and then to seam the bottom of the Body closed. With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of Body.
• Being careful to only work on the top layer of the Body, position safety eyes approximately 1” (2.5 cm) from top (unseamed part) of Body. When you are satisfied with eye positions, insert the washers until they click. Position Nose beneath eyes. Thread yarn needle with yarn tail from Nose. Sew Nose to Body. Do not fasten off yarn tail. With yarn needle, back stitch whiskers to Body. With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of Body.
• Stuff Body firmly. Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail at top of Body. Use yarn needle to join the top of the Body. With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of Body.
• Stuff Legs and Tail firmly. Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail from first Leg. Use yarn needle to seam Leg closed, then to join Leg to bottom of Body using pictures as guide. With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of Body. Repeat for next Leg. Position top Legs so that underside of each Leg is at approximate midpoint of Body. Repeat to attach. Position Tail on back of Body. Repeat to attach.
• Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail from first Ear. Sew Ear to top of Body above eyes on the diagonal. Repeat for second Ear. With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of Body.
• With yarn needle, weave in ends on Scarf. Wrap Scarf around Body decoratively between facial features and top Legs.

© 2018 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: https://undergroundcrafter.com/2018/09/05/crochet-pattern-black-cat-softie/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

f you make your own Black Cat Softie, 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!

Add the Black Cat Softie to your Ravelry favorites or queue.

If you want an easy print format, you can buy an ad-free PDF version on Craftsy.