While packing up the gifts to send to my folks for Christmas, it occurred to me that I had forgotten to get something for my brother's new daughter, Ella.
So, I decided to throw together a toy. I knew I didn't have enough time to knit something, so I drew out a cat on some graph paper, knit eyes, nose, tail and collar and attached them with needle and thread. If you're interested in making the cat, the pattern is below.
What you will need:
Felt in brown (2 pieces about the size of a standard sheet of paper)
Worsted weight yarn in white, black, pink, brown and blue. (Of course, you can use whatever assortment of colors you like.)
Size 6 dpns
Embroidery floss in black (for whiskers)
Needle and thread
Polyester fiberfill for stuffing
Begin:
Download and print
pattern.
Cut two of pattern from felt.
Eyes: (work in round)
CO 12 stitches on to 3 dpns using white yarn and join in round
Rounds 1 and 2: k12
Switch to black yarn
Round 3: (k2, k2tog) 3 times - for a total of 9 stitches
Round 4: k9
Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave in loose yarns.
Nose: (work back and forth in rows)
CO 6 stitches on to 1 needle
Row 1: p6
Row 2: k2tog, k2,ssk - for a total of 4 stitches
Row 3: p2tog, p2tog-tbl - for a total of 2 stitches
Row 4: k2tog
Break yarn, slip through remaining loop and pull tight. Weave in loose ends.
Tail:
Knit a six stitch I-cord until approximately 4" long (or as long as you like).
Finishing:
*When attaching face/tail, be aware that you will need to leave room for a seam if you use a sewing machine to sew up the sides.
1) On outside front cat piece, attach eyes and nose using needle and thread.
2) Embroider whiskers with black embroidery floss using backstitch. ( I put three whiskers on each side below the nose with the middle whisker on each side slightly shorter than the other two.)
3) On outside back cat piece, attach tail either curving (as in picture) or straight with needle and thread.
4) With outsides facing in (face and tail should face each other), pin the two felt cat pieces together.
5) With a sewing machine, sew front and back together with a 3/8" -1/2" seam, leaving a small hole at bottom for turning inside out and stuffing.
6) Trim corners to make shaping easier.
7) Turn inside out so face and tail are on the outside.
8) Stuff cat
9) Close up hole in bottom with whip stitch.
10) Knit a 4-stitch I-cord, long enough to fit around stuffed cat's neck. Tie the two ends in a bow to attach to cat (as pictured) or use tails to sew the two ends together for a seamless look.
** If you don't have a sewing machine, you can use whip stitch to sew the front and back of cat together.
