Four knitted cats
More patterns for knitted toys can be downloaded at: www.ravelry.com/designers/kath-dalmeny Thesizeofyourkittenwill dependon theweightofyarnyou choose.Double knittingyarnwill giveyoua cat about 23cm(9in)longfromitsnoseto tail, while4plyyarn,knittedwithsmaller needles,will produce a kitten about 18cm(7in)long. Foreachcatyou'llneed about two 50gballsofwool（inthecolour of yourchoice).Useoddmentsforan alley cat,shadesofbrownforatabby andmohairyarnforapurebred long haired kitten.Don't use angora woolitcanbeharmfultobabiesandsmall children.Ifyou are using different colours,makesureall theyarns areof thesameweight,type and thickness. Forsafety,theeyes aremadeoffelt, and thepaws andmouth arestitched oninwool.Thecatispaddedwith washable stuffing,available from departmentstoresorbymail order.
MATERIALS
Two-tonecat:1x50g（1/oz)ball contrastcolour(A) f yam in white (MC andina Alleycat:1x50g（1/4oz)ballof white(MC)andoddmentsinthree colours(A,Band C)inthesame yarn typeandweightas(MC). Apair ofknittingneedles2.75mm(no12)needlesfor4ply yarn,3mm(no11)needlesfor doubleknitting,and3.25mm（no 10)needlesformohairyarn
How to make a knitted cat
Oddmentsofbrownyarnforthe embroidery
Tapestryneedleandsewingneedle Scissors Scrapsofbrown,black andgreen orbluefelt White andgreenorbluesewing thread Washablepolyester toy stuffing
ABBREVIATIONS
beg=begin(ning);cm=centimetre(s); cont=continu(e)（ing); dec =decreas（e)(ing); foll=follow(s)(ing); inc=increas（e)（ing）;k=knit; p=purl;rem=remain(ing); RS=right side;st(s)= stitch（es); st st=stocking stitch; tog=together;WS=wrong side; Ml=pickupthebarbetween thestitch justworkedandthenextstitchonthe left-handneedle andknit into thebackof it;skpo=slip one,knitone,pass the slippedstitch over.
BODY
(Make1inMCand 1inA)
Cast on15sts. Begwith akrow,work2rows stst.Next row:(RS)k7\*M1,k1,M1,k7.Nextrow: ptoend.Next row:K8,M1,k1,ml,k8. Cont in st st,increasing1st each side of centrestoneveryRSrowasbeforeuntil there are31sts.Work13rowsstst ending withaprow. Nextrow:(RS）K13,\*k2tog,k1,k2tog,k toendofrow. Nextrow:(RS）k13,skpo,k1,k2tog, k10.Nextrow:K12,skpo,k1,k2tog, k12.Cont in st st,decreasing1steach side ofcentrestoneveryRSrow asbeforeuntil 15stsrem,endingwith a p row.Cast off.
TOPOFHEAD
(Make1 using A)
\*\*Work asfor the body until there are29 sts,endingwith a krow. Begwith aprow,work7rowsst st. Nextrow:K12,\*skpo,k1,k2tog,k12. Nextrow:Pto end.Cont in st st, decreasing1steachsideofcentrest on everyRSrowuntil23stsrem,endingwith aprow.\*\*Cast off.
BOTTOMOFHEAD
(Make1 inMC)
Work asfor the top of thehead from\*\*to \*\*Place a loop of coloured thread as a markerat thelastrow.Cont to deceach sideof centre stuntil5 stsrem,ending with aprow.Cast off.
LEGS
(Make4)
Cast on 13sts inMC.Begwith akrow, work2rowsstst.Nextrow:（RS)K1,M1, k5,M1,k1,M1,k5,M1,k1. NextrowPtoend.Nextrow:Kl,M1, k7,M1,k1,M1k7,M1,k1. Nextrow:Ptoend.Nextrow:Kl,Ml, k9,M1,k1, M1,k9,M1,k1. Nextrow:Ptoend.Nextrow:Kl,Ml, k11,M1,k1,M1,k11,M1,k1.[29sts]. Begwithaprow,work7rows.Cutoff MC,joinonA andwork22rowsst st, endingwith aprow. Nextrow:K2tog,k12,k2tog,k11,ktog. Next row:Pto end.Next row:K2tog, (k10,k2tog）twice.Nextrow:Ptoend. Nextrow:K2tog,k9,k2tog,k8,k2tog. Nextrow:Ptoend.Nextrow:K2tog(k7 k2tog)twice.Next row:Ptoend.Next
HEAD
WithWStogether,match theendsof thecastoffrowonthetopof thehead sectiontothemarkersonthebottom of theheadpiece.Stitch thestraight sideseams andremovethemarkers. Usingladderstitch,join thecaston edgesoftheheadtothecastoffedges of thebody,matching thesideseams. Stufftheheadfirmlythroughthe openingon theface. Toformtheface:fold thetriangular flaponthebottomof theheadupto meet thefront openingof thehead thenneatlysewthetriangleflapin place.
EARS
WithWStog,matcheachwhitepiece withacolouredpiece.Sewtheshaped edgestogether,thenstitchthebottom edgesinplaceonthehead,with the whitesidesfacingtothefront.
LEGS
WithWSfacing,foldeachlegpiecein halflengthways.Stitch around the edgeofthewhitepawandupthe straight edge of theleg.Stuff each leg, thenfirmlysewtheshapededges and foldedcast off edgestogether.Withthe longseamsfacinginwards,stitch the leg to thebody. Paws:withbrown yarn,sewthreelong stitchesoneachwhitepawtorepresent claws.With thesameyarn,makea short stitchovereachclaw，wherethe longer stitches cross theseam.Fold up eachpawatarightanglesothatit points forwards.Tohold it in place, stitchacrossthetopofeachpawwhere it joins theleg.
FACE
Eyes:Trace off theeyeandpupil patternpieces.Cut2green orbluefelt eyes and 2blackfeltpupils.If you are making asmaller orlargerkitten, adjustthesizeof theeyes andpupils accordingly.Usingasewingneedle, matchingthreadand tinystitches,sew oneblackcircleontoeachcoloured circle,thenstitch theeyestotheface. Toadd asparkletotheeyes,worka
fewtiny stitchesinwhite threadnear thetopofeachblackcircle. Nose:Using the nose pattern piece, givenonthepreviouspage,cutanose frombrownfelt.Again,adjustthesize of thenoseto thesizeof yourkitten. Stitchit inplace.
Mouth:Withbrownyarn,takeastitch fromthenosedowntothemouth, thentakeanotherstitchfromoneside of themouth totheother.Secure the mouthwithasmall stitchofbrown yarn atthecentre.Withwhitethread, slipstitchthemouthtothefaceina smoothcurve. row:K2tog,k6,k2tog,k5,k2tog.Next row:Ptoend.Castoff.
TAIL
(Make1)
UsingA,cast on18sts.Work26rows st st,endingwithaprow.CutoffA,join on MCandwork2rowsstst,endingwitha prow. Continstst,decateachendofnext and everyfollRSrowuntil4stsrem,ending withaWSrow.Threadyarn throughrem 4 sts and draw them up together.Using ladder stitch,sewseam tocastonedge.
EARS
(Make2inMCand2inA)
Caston10sts.Work6rowsstst.Next row:K1,skpo,ktolast 3sts,k2tog,k1. Nextrow:Ptoend.Replast2rowsuntil 4stsrem,endingwith aprow.Nextrow: Skpo,k2tog.Nextrow:Ptoend.Cast off.
STRIPEDKITTEN
Followtheinstructionsfor KNITTINGAKITTEN,butwhere the patternsaysA,workthatsection instststripepatternof4rowsin eachof3coloursinturn.The back,topofhead,legs,tailand backofearsshould allbeworked in thestripedpattern.
MAKINGUPTHEKITTEN
Presseachpieceflat.Useladderstitch throughouttojointheknittedsections toeachother.Formoreinformation onladderstitch,seeSEWINGFACTS, page18.
BODY
WithWStog,matchupthetwobody pieces.Joinstraightsideseamstomake a tube.Neatly join the caston edges together,matchingthecentrekston thebacktothecentrekston the tummy.Thisis the tail end.Fill the bodyfirmlywithpolyester stuffing through the openneckend.
TRACEPATTERNS
TAIL Stuff thetail firmly.Usingladder stitch,sewthecastonedgeof thetail to the closedend of thebody.Tohold the tail upright,worka fewstitchesa littlewayupfromthebaseof thetail and thebackof thebody.
