Free Crochet Cat Pattern – Amigurumi Tutorial

This week’s project is a free crochet cat pattern to make your own Clawdia Cat. When I was trying to name this free amigurumi pattern I had a few things in mind: J.K. Meowling, Cindy Clawford, Catrina. Obviously, I had to go with some sort of pun and Clawdia Cat eventually won out. This is a begginer-friendly pattern and I have included clear instructions with photo tutorial on how to do the embroidery.

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Clawdia is a sweet little crochet cat pattern made with Mary Maxim’s Amigurumi yarn. It’s an easy pattern that uses basic crochet stitches to create a cute cat stuffed animal. This pattern was initially designed using Mary Maxim’s Amigurumi yarn which has unfortunately, been discontinued since.

You can substitute your favourite yarn weight and yarn colors for the suggested yarn in this pattern, just make sure you use a hook size that creates a closed fabric for no stuffing to show through. Gauge isn’t vital to the pattern but just keep in mind that it may affect the size of your toy and the amount of yarn used.

Get a printable ad-free PDF version of this pattern for a small fee in my Etsy and Ravelry shops to help me keep my patterns free.

This beautiful cat makes a great gift for cat lovers! I have made this pattern for many of the little girls in my life and it has always been a big hit. Use different colors with this free pattern to mimic real cats. Use black yarn to make a black cat or use green eyes and a tan or orangey colour to create a cat that looks more like a tabby cat. Use your favorite colors and have fun with it. If you want a slightly bigger cat, I suggest using a 3.5 mm crochet hook and a worsted weight yarn like WeCrochet’s Brava Worsted to create your cat. It’s my favourite acrylic yarn that I use for designing and crocheting amigurumi toys. It’s a bulkier yarn than the Mary Maxim Amigurumi yarn, which is why your toy will likely be a bit bigger than shown.

Other free patterns for crochet toys to check out:

• Bubba Bird
  
  
• Henley the Hound
  
  
• Backpack Bronto

How do you crochet a beginner cat?

This is a great pattern for beginners because it uses simple stitches. The body parts (other than the cat head and body) are made in separate pieces and then seamed together. Then the skirt is crocheted and seamed onto the cat. After all the pieces are created and seamed together, we will embroider the facial details (I love her small pink nose). Don’t want to do the embroidery? Try subtituting a safety nose instead.

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the item created by this free crochet pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog: https://theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, or claim this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

Skill Level:

• Easy
  
  

Supplies:

• Approx 77 yards (0.95 oz) of Mary Maxim Amigurumi yarn in Grey (colour Y150-0920) and approx. 12 yards (0.15 oz) in Red (colour Y270-0150) or another comparable size 3 yarn. 
  
  
• 3.0 mm crochet hook
  
  
• Pink and Black Embroidery Thread
  
  
• 1 Craft Pipe Cleaner (optional)
  
  
• 2 – 6mm safety eyes
  
  
• Polyester Stuffing
  
  
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and embroidery
  
  
• Stitch Markers
  
  
• Scissors

Abbreviations:

• CH = Chain
  
  
• SC = Single Crochet
  
  
• SCINC = Single Crochet Increase
  
  
• SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease
  
  
• HDC = Half Double Crochet
  
  
• DC = Double Crochet
  
  
• MC = Magic Circle / Magic Ring
  
  
• SL ST = Slip Stitch
  
  
• FO = Finish Off
  
  

Size:

• Finished size:  Approximately 5” from base to tip of ears

NOTES:

• This pattern was written using U.S. terminology
  
  
• This pattern is worked in continuous rounds (unless indicated) which means you do not join the end of the rounds with a sl st. 
  

Get an ad-free PDF version of this pattern for a small fee in my Etsy and Ravelry shops to help me keep my patterns free.

Free Crochet Cat Pattern – Clawdia Cat

Head & Body

Using Grey yarn, make a MC.

Row 1: SC 6 in the MC. (6)

Row 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)

Row 3: (SC 1, SCINC) x 6 (18)

Row 4: SC 1, SCINC (SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC 1 (24)

Row 5: (SC3, SCINC) x 6 (30)

Row 6: SC 2, SCINC (SC 4, SCINC) x 5, SC 2 (36)

Row 7: (SC 5, SCINC) x 6 (42)

Row 8: SC 3, SCINC (SC 6, SCINC) x 5, SC 3 (48)

Rows 9 – 16: SC around (48) *Insert safety eyes in Row 11 with 4 stitches in between them*

Row 17: SC 3, SCDEC (SC 6, SCDEC)x5, SC 3 (42)

Row 18: (SC 5, SCDEC) x 6 (36) *Start stuffing, adding a bit more every couple of rows.  Stuff firmly*

Row 19: SC 2, SCDEC (SC 4, SCDEC) x 5, SC 2 (30)

Row 20: (SC 3, SCDEC) x 6 (24)

Row 21: SC 1, SCDEC (SC 2, SCDEC) x 5, SC 1 (18)

Row 22: (SC 1, SCDEC) x 6 (12) *Stop stuffing*

Row 23: (SC 1, SCINC) x 6 (18)

Row 24: SC 1, SCINC, (SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC1 (24)

Row 25: (SC 3, SCINC) x 6 (30)

Rows 26 – 32: SC around (30)

Row 33: (SC 3, SCDEC) x 6 (24) *Start stuffing, adding a bit more every couple of rows.  Stuff firmly*

Row 34: SC 1, SCDEC (SC 2, SCDEC) x 5, SC 1 (18)

Row 35: (SC 1, SCDEC) x 6 (12)

Row 36: (SCDEC) x 6 (6)

FO and weave in ends.

Ears (Make 2)

Using Grey yarn, make a MC.

Row 1: SC 6 in the MC. (6)

Row 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)

Rows 3 – 4: SC around (12)

Row 5: (SC1, SCINC) x 6 (18)

Rows 6 – 8: SC around (18)

FO leaving a long tail to sew onto head.  Do NOT stuff.  Flatten piece.  Sew an ear on either side of the head.

Arms (Make 2)

Using Grey yarn, make a MC.

Row 1: SC 6 in the MC. (6)

Row 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)

Rows 3 – 9: SC around (12) *start stuffing as you go; stuff firmly*

Row 10: (SCDEC) x 6 (6)

FO leaving a long tail to sew onto the body.  Secure onto the body.

Legs (Make 2)

Using Grey yarn, make a MC.

Row 1: SC 6 in the MC. (6)

Row 2: (SCINC) x 6 (12)

Rows 3 – 9: SC around (12) *start stuffing as you go; stuff firmly*

Row 10: (SCDEC, SC1) x 4 (8)

FO leaving a long tail to sew onto the body.  Secure onto the body.

Tail

Using Grey yarn, make a MC.

Row 1: SC 6 in the MC. (6)

Rows 2 – 16: SC around (6)

FO leaving a long tail to sew onto body.  If using the pipe cleaner so the tail is bendable, bend the tip of the pipe cleaner on itself so the wire won’t stick out the end.  Cut the pipe cleaner to the same size of the tail and insert it into the tail.  Sew the tail onto the body.

Cat Lover? Check out these other easy free cat crochet patterns

• Cat Head Crochet Ornament
  
  
• Crochet Cat Ears Head Band – includes video tutorial!
  
  
• Pawsitively Cozy Crochet Cat Bed

Skirt

Using red yarn, CH 30.

Row 1: SC in the 2^nd CH from the hook and in each stitch across.  CH 1 and turn. (29)

Row 2: SC in the first stitch and in each stitch across.  CH 2 and turn. (29)

Row 3: DC 2 in the first stitch.  DC 4 in the next 27 stitches.  DC 2 in the last stitch. (112)

Bow

Row 1: Using red yarn, CH 11.  DC 2 in the 3^rd CH from the hook.  DC, HDC, SC, SL ST, SC, HDC, DC, DC 5 in the last CH.  Working on the other side of the chain, DC, HDC, SC, SL ST, SC, HDC, DC, DC 2 in the last CH.  Join with a SL ST.

Row 2:  CH 1.  SC 5, SL ST, SC 11, SL ST, SC 5. Join with a SL ST to the first stitch.  FO and weave in ends.  Using a long piece of red yarn approximately 15” long, secure the end to the back, center point of the bow and wrap the yarn around the center of the box a few times.  When done wrapping, secure the yarn in the back and use the remaining length of yarn to sew the bow onto the head of your Clawdia Cat.

Face

Using the pink embroidery thread, embroider a nose.  Start in the stitch indicated below and insert your needle into the one stitch below and to the right of the starting stitch.  Fill in the stitches between the starting stitch and the indicated finishing stitch.  FO.

To embroider the mouth, using black embroidery thread, start in the same stitch that the point of the nose is in.  Insert the needle in the stitch indicated below.

Insert the needle through the indicated stitch below (three stitches to the right and one stitch up) and back through the last stitch.

Insert the needle into the stitch three stitches over and one stitch up.

Using the black yarn, embroider some eyelashes next to each eye.  Start in the stitch directly next to the centre/side of each eye.  Insert the needle into the next stitch and back up through the stitch you started the eyelashes in.  Bring the needle back out one stitch above the first eye lash.  Repeat with the other eye.

Disclaimer:

Feel free to sell the item created by this pattern but please provide pattern credit back to me when posting online, and please provide a link to my blog theloopylamb.com.  Please do not resell, distribute, duplicate, or share this pattern in any printed or digital form, claiming this pattern as your own original design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.   

I’d love to see your finished Clawdia Cat!  Please share your finished makes using this free crochet cat pattern by tagging the pattern on Ravelry, sharing it to our Facebook page or using #theloopylamb on Instagram.  Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest 

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If you like to make amigurumi projects, check out my free crochet patterns for Wanda the Whale and Ned the Narwhal, Carter the Carrot, Penny the Bunny Cactus and Randy the Cactus Reindeer.