Knitting & Crochet
Knitting pattern: How to knit a cat
Image excerpted from Spud & Chloe at the Farm by Susan B. Anderson.
Knitting & Crochet
Knitting pattern: How to knit a cat
Learn how to knit this cute cat from the book, Spud and Chloe at the Farm.
Barn Cat is a sly fellow always perched and ready to pounce ... into the nearest spot for a nap. With sweetly colored stripes and soft white paws, Barn Cat works up quickly and keeps the knitting interesting at the same time.
Finished measurements
6 inches tall, 3 inches wide, 2 1/2 inches long from the front to the back of the body
Materials
Yarn
Spud & Chloë Sweater (55% superwash wool, 45% organic cotton; 100 grams/160 yards), 1 hank each in Pollen #7508, Firefly #7505, Ice Cream #7500, and Watermelon #7512
Needles
U.S. size 6 (4 mm) double-pointed needles (set of four) or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions
- Stitch markers
- Ruler or tape measure
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Plastic pellets (optional—do not use for young children or babies, as they pose a choking hazard)
- Polyester fiberfill
- Embroidery needle
- Black embroidery floss
Gauge
5-1/2 sts per inch in stockinette stitch
Check out a larger photo of the finished cat here.
Directions
Body
Starting at the bottom of the body with Firefly, cast on 9 sts, placing 3 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Kfb in each st – 6 sts per needle, 18 sts total.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: Kfb in each st – 12 sts per needle, 36 sts total.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: (k2, kfb); repeat to the end of the round—16 sts per needle, 48 sts total. Place a stitch marker on round 6 and leave it there.
Switch to Pollen and begin the stripe pattern. Note: While working the stripes, carry the yarns along the inside of the body.
Rnds 7 and 8: Knit.
Switch to Firefly.
Rnds 9 and 10: Knit. Repeat rounds 7-10 until the body measures 2-1/2 inches above the stitch marker left on round 6.
Decrease rounds
Continue in the stripe pattern, alternating colors every 2 rounds.
Rnd 1: (k2, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 12 sts per needle, 36 sts rem.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: (k1, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 8 sts per needle, 24 sts rem.
At this point, thread the end from the cast-on sts at the bottom of the body on a yarn needle and take a few stitches to close the hole. Pull the end to the inside of the body and trim. Fill the body one-third full with plastic pellets and stuff the rest with fiberfill or stuff with fiberfill only. Continue to add stuffing as needed.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: K2tog; repeat to the end of the round – 4 sts per needle, 12 sts rem.
Rnd 6: (k1, k2tog, k1); repeat to the end of the round – 3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Finish any stuffing. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Take a few stitches to secure. Leave the end out to use later for attaching the head.
Head
Starting at the back of the head with Firefly, cast on 9 sts, placing 3 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Kfb in each st—6 sts per needle, 18 sts total.
Switch to Pollen.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: Kfb in each st—12 sts per needle, 36 sts total.
Switch to Firefly and continue to alternate Firefly and Pollen every 2 rounds.
Rnds 5–8: Knit.
Rnd 9: (k5, kfb); repeat to the end of the round – 14 sts per needle, 42 sts total.
Place a stitch marker on round 9 and leave it there. Continue to knit every round, alternating colors every 2 rounds, until the head measures
1-1/2 inches above the stitch marker.
Decrease rounds
Continue in Firefly only.
Rnd 1: (k5, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 12 sts per needle, 36 sts rem.
Rnd 2: (k4, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 10 sts per needle, 30 sts rem.
Rnds 3 and 4: Knit.
At this point, thread the end from the cast-on sts at the back of the head on a yarn needle and take a few stitches to close the hole. Pull the end to the inside and trim. Stuff the head with fiberfill and continue to stuff to the end.
Rnd 5: (k3, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 8 sts per needle, 24 sts rem.
Switch to Ice Cream.
Rnds 6–9: Knit.
Rnd 10: (k2, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 6 sts per needle, 18 sts rem.
Rnd 11: Knit.
Rnd 12: (k1, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 4 sts per needle, 12 sts rem.
Rnd 13: (k1, k2tog, k1); repeat to the end of the round – 3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Finish any stuffing. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Stitch to secure, pull the end to the inside of the head, and trim.
Thread the end from the top of the body on a yarn needle and whipstitch the head to the body.
Ears (Make 2)
Outer ear
Cast on 7 sts with Firefly. Use two dpns to work back and forth.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Rows 3 and 4: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Row 5: K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1 – 5 sts rem.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Ssk, k1, k2tog – 3 sts rem.
Row 8: P3tog – 1 st rem.
Cut the yarn and pull the end through the remaining st.
Inner ear
Cast on 5 sts with Watermelon. Use two dpns to work back and forth.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Rows 3 and 4: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Row 5: Ssk, k1, k2tog – 3 sts rem.
Row 6: P3tog – 1 st rem.
Cut the yarn, leaving an 8-inch end. Pull the end through the remaining st.
Hold the inner ear and outer ear together with the purl sides facing each other. Thread an end from the inner ear on a yarn needle and whipstitch the inner ear to the outer ear. Thread the end from the cast-on sts of the outer ear on a yarn needle and whipstitch the ear to the top of the head. Pull all ends to the inside of the head and trim.
Face
Nose
With a length of Watermelon threaded on a yarn needle, use straight stitches to make a nose, using the photo as a guide.
Mouth
With a length of black embroidery floss threaded on an embroidery needle, take 3 straight stitches to form the mouth and the centerline down from the nose. Pull all ends to the inside of the head and trim.
Eyes
Thread a length of black embroidery floss on an embroidery needle, take 2 small horizontal straight stitches for each eye. Then take a tiny vertical straight stitch to pull the horizontal straight stitches slightly upward.
Whiskers
Thread a length of black embroidery floss on an embroidery needle. Stitching through the nose from one side to the other, draw the floss through halfway so equal amounts hang on either side of the nose. Take the floss off of the needle and repeat the process with another length of floss, right next to the first. Tie the two threads on each side together with a half-knot to secure the whiskers. Trim to desired length.
Tail
Cast on 9 sts with Firefly, placing
3 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnds 1 and 2: Knit.
Switch to Pollen.
Rnds 3 and 4: Knit.
Rnds 5–12: Repeat rounds 1–4.
Switch to Firefly.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: (k1, m1, k1, m1, k1); repeat on each needle–5 sts per needle, 15 sts total.
Rnd 15: Knit.
Switch to Ice Cream.
Rnds 16–18: Knit.
Rnd 19: (ssk, k1, k2tog); repeat on each needle–3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Rnd 20: Knit.
Rnd 21: (k1, k2tog, pass the first st over the second st and off the right needle); repeat on each needle–1 st per needle, 3 sts rem.
Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole.
Pull the end to the inside of the tail and trim. Stuff the tail lightly with fiberfill.
Thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle. Whipstitch the tail to the bottom and center of the back of the body. Pull the end to the inside of the body and trim.
Back paws (Make 2)
Cast on 12 sts with Ice Cream, placing 4 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnds 1–4: Knit.
Rnd 5: (k1, m1, k2, m1, k1); repeat on each needle–6 sts per needle, 18 sts total.
Rnds 6 and 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: (ssk, k2, k2tog); repeat on each needle–4 sts per needle, 12 sts total.
Place the first 6 sts on the first needle. Place the last 6 sts on a second needle. Cut the yarn and thread it on a yarn needle. Use the Kitchener stitch to close the end of the paw. Pull the end to the inside of the paw and trim. Stuff the paw lightly with fiberfill.
Thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the cast-on end of the paw closed. Whipstitch the paw to the bottom and slightly to the side of the body, using the photo as a guide. Pull the end to the inside of the body and trim.
Front paws (Make 2)
Cast on 10 sts with Ice Cream, placing 3 sts on Needles 1 and 2 and 4 sts on Needle 3. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnds 1 and 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: On Needles 1 and 2, (k1, m1, k2) on each needle–4 sts per needle. On Needle 3, k1, m1, k2, m1, k1–6 sts; 14 sts total.
Rnds 4 and 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: (ssk, k3, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round–10 sts rem.
Place the first 5 sts on the first needle. Place the last 5 sts on a second needle. Cut the yarn and thread it on a yarn needle. Use the Kitchener stitch to close the end of the paw. Pull the end to the inside of the paw and trim.
Stuff the paw lightly with fiberfill.
Thread the tail end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle. Whipstitch the cast-on end of the paw closed. Whipstitch the paw to the bottom front of the body, using the photo on page 64 as a guide. Pull the end to the inside of the body and trim.
With a length of black embroidery floss threaded on an embroidery needle, take 2 straight stitches at the front of each paw, again using the photo as a guide. Pull all the ends to the inside of the paw and trim.
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Excerpted from Spud & Chloe at the Farm, copyright 2011 by Susan B. Anderson, $16.95. Used by permission of Thomas Allen & Son.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.
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