My Grandma Felts was a very special woman. I was so happy to have known her even a little, and still ask my mom lots of questions about her to this day. My grandma was deaf, so though we visited her every summer when I was little, I wasn’t able to communicate with her very well, since there are only a few things that I know how to say in sign language. Of course, my mom made sure we all knew how to say “I love you,” which brought a beautiful smile to Grandma’s face every time.
One thing that stood out to me about her, however, is how much she loved to crochet. She made everything from blankets to ornaments to stuffed animals. We had so many stuffed animals that she made in our home while I was growing up, so I asked my mom to bring me one that I could try to copy cat.
To my surprise, she actually brought me a cat! I have no idea how old it is, but it has to be, at the very least, 20-25 years old. But aside from it being a bit discolored and snagged, it is in very good shape!
While examining the pattern, I realized that my grandma had used a variation of picot stitches throughout. This made me nervous to copy, because I didn’t want stuffing to come out. This is why I adapted it to be all single crochet. It gives it a cleaner look and prevents any stuffing malfunctions.
So, though my grandma was taken to heaven many years ago, it is so special to me to have this little thing to connect us. Crafts bring people together and I know that my grandma would have been so happy to know that I have found so much happiness in the craft she loved the most.
Happy Crocheting!
Grandma’s Kitty Cat
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Materials:
1 skein of worsted or medium weight yarn. (I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn in Graymist)
black yarn or embroidery thread
2 matching buttons
Needle for sewing on face
Yarn Needle
for sewing in ends and attaching bow
For detailed recommendations, visit my Recommendations Page.
Stitches:
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
hdc – half double crochet
Gauge and Size:
5 stitches x 5 rows = 1 inch
Cat measures 12 inches tall and 9 inches wide.
Pattern:
Body (Make 2 identical pieces):
Ch 21
Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and across, turn. (20)
Rows 2-17: ch 1, sc in each stitch across, turn. (20)
Row 18: ch 1, sc in each stitch across, ch 27, turn. (20 sc + 27 chains)
Row 19: sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across, sc in next 20 stitches, turn. (46)
Rows 20-48: ch 1, sc in each stitch across, turn. (46)
Rows 49-62: (you will now be working on the first leg) ch 1, sc 16, turn. (16)
Finish off first leg.
Second Leg:
Connect yarn using a slip stitch 16 stitches from opposite side of first leg so that you will be crocheting away from the first leg and toward the edge of the project.
Row 1: ch 1, sc 16 across to the outer edge, turn.
Rows 2-14: ch 1, sc 16, turn.
Finish off.
Face: Sew face onto one of the two pieces. Make sure it is the middle of the top square. See below.
Assembly:
- Lay the piece with the face sewn on on top of the blank piece.
- Starting at the far right corner (this is where the tail will be), connect yarn and single crochet the two pieces together around the edges.
- Once you have single crocheted all the way to the lower right hand corner, begin stuffing the kitty cat with poly-fil.
- Finish single crocheting together while taking breaks to add the amount of poly-fil you’d like. Join with a slip stitch.
Tail:
With yarn still connected to top right hand corner,
Row 1: Ch 30, pull loop on hook until it makes a very large loop. Pull hook out, turn, and put hook into first chain from big loop. (See below)
Row 2: Ch 1 using tail of chain, sc in each chain down (30), join with a slip stitch, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc up tail (30), pull loop on hook until it makes a large loop about the same size as the first. Pull hook out, turn, and put hook into first sc.
Rows 4-5: Repeat rows 2 and 3.
Row 6: Slip stitch rows 1 and 5 together. (See below) Join with slip stitch, finish off, sew in ends.
Cut loops at the end of tail evenly.
Ears (2):
Make in the top two corners of the head, starting two stitches away from corner stitch.
Row 1: join yarn 2 stitches away from corner. ch 2, 2hdc in same stitch, 2hdc in next stitch, 3hdc in corner stitch, 2hdc in next two stitches, ch 2, turn.
Row 2: hdc in first two stitches, 2hdc in next two stitches, hdc in next stitch, 2hdc in next stitch, hdc in next stitch, 2hdc in next two stitch, hdc in last two stitches. Slip stitch 2 stitches away from ear onto head, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: slip stitch across top of ear, sl st to join 2 stitches away from ear onto head. Finish off.
Bow:
For this pattern, I cut 4 equally long strands of yarn and sewed them through every 4 stitches from front, around back, and to the front again. Then I tied a bow in front.
Another option is to make a long chain and weave it through from front, around back, and to the front again. Then tie a bow.
And there you go! My adapted Grandma’s Kitty Cat! Enjoy!
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