Free Crochet Cat Pattern – Amigurumi Tutorial

Today I’m sharing my free crochet cat pattern to make your own Clawdia Cat. This is a beginner-friendly pattern and I have included clear instructions with a photo tutorial on how to do the embroidery.

Clawdia is a sweet little crochet cat pattern that fits in the palm of your hand. It’s an easy pattern that uses basic crochet stitches to create a cute cat stuffed animal. 

I’ve included some yarn substitution suggestions as well as suggestions on how to make this free amigurumi pattern bigger.

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This beautiful cat makes a great gift for cat lovers! I have made this amigurumi cat 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. 

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.

How do you Crochet This Cat?

This is a great pattern for 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 substituting a safety nose instead.

What Yarn Should I Use To Make My Amigurumi Cat?

This pattern was initially designed using Mary Maxim’s Amigurumi yarn (a dk cotton, acrylc yarn blend)  which has, unfortunately, been discontinued. Below I’ve made some yarn suggestions that would work well with this cat crochet pattern:

• WeCrochet Animation Yarn
• WeCrochet Brava Sport
• Ricorumi DK

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.

Other free patterns for crochet toys to check out:

• Bubba Bird
  
  
• Henley the Hound
  
  
• Backpack Bronto

Make a Bigger Cat Amigurumi Toy

If you want a slightly bigger cat, I suggest using an E / 3.5 mm crochet hook and a worsted weight yarn like WeCrochet’s Brava Worsted to create your little kitty. 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.

If you want to make your cat even bigger, try using a super bulky weight yarn (6), like Bernat Blanket and an 8mm crochet hook.

Disclaimer

Feel free to sell the finished product created with 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 (including video tutorials), or claim this pattern as your own patterns or design.  Please do not use my photos when selling your finished items.  This pattern is for personal use only. 

Skill Level:

• Easy
  
  

 Terminology: 

• U.S. Terminology

Supplies:

• 3.0 mm crochet hook
  
  
• Mary Maxim Amigurumi Yarn (51% Acrylic, 49% Cotton, DK (3) Yarn, 142 Yds/130 M, 50g/1.76 Oz), 1 ball each in the following colors:
  • Color A: Grey (Color Y150-0920), Approx. 77 Yds
  • Color B: Red (Color Y270-0510), Approx. 12 Yds
    
    
    
• 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
  
  
• Sewing Pins (Optional)

Abbreviations:
(Click links to view a photo and video tutorial for that stitch/technique)

• CH(s) = Chain(s)
  
  
• DC = Double Crochet
  
  
• FLO = Front Loops Only
  
  
• FO = Finish Off
  
  
• HDC = Half Double Crochet
  
  
• MC = Magic Circle / Magic Ring
  
  
• SC = Single Crochet
  
  
• SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease
  
  
• SCINC = Single Crochet Increase / 2 Single Crochet Stitches in the Same Stitch
  
  
• SL ST = Slip Stitch
  
  
• ST(s) = Stitch(es)
  
  

Size:

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

NOTES:

• Gauge is not vital to the project but it may affect the amount of yarn needed for the project and the size of your toy.  Keep a consistent tension throughout your project to ensure the pieces fit together properly.
  
  
• Instructions within the brackets () are to be repeated the number of times specified next to the brackets.
  
  
• This pattern is worked in continuous rounds (unless stated otherwise).  Do not join at the end of the Round, unless indicated.  A stitch marker is used to keep track of the beginning of the round.
  
  
• For a cleaner SCDEC, do your SCDEC under the front loops only of each stitch rather than under both loops (except when indicated to work your ST in a different location i.e. BLO).  This is often referred to as an invisible decrease. Find my tutorial here: https://theloopylamb.com/how-to-do-an-invisible-decrease/
  
  
• Place scrap pieces of yarn or stitch markers into the stitches for the safety eyes until you have crocheted past that point far enough to insert the safety eyes with the backs on them without them getting in the way of your crocheting.
  
  
• Helpful tutorials:
  • Ultimate Finish: https://theloopylamb.com/how-to-finish-off-amigurumi-using-the-ultimate-finish/
    
    
  • Working on Both Sides of a Chain: https://theloopylamb.com/how-to-crochet-on-both-sides-of-a-foundation-chain-tutorial/

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

Round 1: Using Color A, make a MC andSC 6 into the MC. (6)

Round 2: (SCINC) x 6. (12)

Round 3: (SC, SCINC) x 6. (18)

Round 4: SC, SCINC, (SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC. (24)

Round 5: (SC 3, SCINC) x 6. (30)

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

Round 7: (SC 5, SCINC) x 6. (42)

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

Rounds 9 – 16: SC around. (48) – Insert safety eyes in Round 11 with 4 stitches in between them

Round 17: SC 3, SCDEC, (SC 6, SCDEC) x 5, SC 3. (42)

Round 18: (SC 5, SCDEC) x 6. (36) – Start stuffing. Continue to add stuffing as you progress.  Stuff firmly.

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

Round 20: (SC 3, SCDEC) x 6. (24)

Round 21: SC, SCDEC, (SC 2, SCDEC) x 5, SC. (18)

Round 22: (SC, SCDEC) x 6. (12)

Round 23: (SC, SCINC) x 6. (18)

Round 24: SC, SCINC, (SC 2, SCINC) x 5, SC. (24)

Round 25: (SC 3, SCINC) x 6. (30)

Rounds 26 – 32: SC around. (30)

Round 33: (SC 3, SCDEC) x 6. (24)

Round 34: SC, SCDEC (SC 2, SCDEC) x 5, SC. (18)

Round 35: (SC, SCDEC) x 6. (12)

Round 36: (SCDEC) x 6. (6)

FO leaving a long tail.  Finish stuffing. 

Thread yarn tail onto tapestry needle and weave tail through FLO of last round and pull tight to close the hole (This technique is called the Ultimate Finish. Find a link in the notes section to see a tutorial for this technique). Weave in ends.

Ears (Make 2)

Round 1: Using Color A, make a MC andSC 6 into the MC. (6)

Round 2: (SCINC) x 6. (12)

Rounds 3 – 4: SC around. (12)

Round 5: (SC, SCINC) x 6. (18)

Rounds 6 – 8: SC around. (18)

FO leaving a long yarn tail to sew onto the Head. 

Flatten piece. Do NOT stuff. Use yarn tail to sew an Ear on either side of the Head, sewing through both sides of the opening of the Ear as you sew it to the Head. Weave in ends.

Arms (Make 2)

Round 1: Using Color A, make a MC andSC 6 into the MC. (6)

Round 2: (SCINC) x 6. (12)

Rounds 3 – 9: SC around. (12) – Start stuffing. Continue to add stuffing as you progress.  Stuff firmly.

Round 10: (SCDEC) x 6. (6)

FO leaving a long yarn tail to sew onto the Body. 

Use yarn tail to sew an Arm onto either side of the Body, sewing through both sides of the opening of the Arm as you sew it to the Body. Weave in ends.

Legs (Make 2)

Round 1: Using Color A, make a MC andSC 6 into the MC. (6)

Round 2: (SCINC) x 6. (12)

Rounds 3 – 9: SC around. (12) – Start stuffing. Continue to add stuffing as you progress.  Stuff firmly.

Round 10: (SCDEC, SC) x 4. (8)

FO leaving a long yarn tail to sew onto the Body. 

Use yarn tail to sew  Leg onto either side of the bottom of the Body.  It may help to place the toy’s bottom on a flat surface to get the Leg placement and to pin the Legs in place before sewing them to the toy. 

Sew around the opening of the Leg as you sew it to the Body, adding stuffing as you sew. Weave in ends.

Tail

Round 1: Using Color A, make a MC andSC 6 into the MC. (6)

Rounds 2 – 16: SC around. (6)

FO leaving a long yarn 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 back of 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 Color B, CH 30.

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

Round 2: CH 1 and turn. SC in the first ST and each ST across.  (29)

Round 3: CH 2 and turn. DC 2 in the first stitch.  DC 4 in the next 27 stitches.  DC 2 in the last stitch. (112)

FO leaving a long yarn tail to sew onto Body.  Wrap the Skirt around the Body with the foundation chain against the Body, just above the Legs and sew the two short ends together using the yarn tail. 

Then, if desired, use the remaining yarn tail to sew the Skirt to the Body.

Bow

Using Color B, CH 11. 

Round 1: 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 last ST to the first ST with a SL ST. (23)

Round 2:  CH 1, do NOT turn.  SC 5, SL ST, SC 11, SL ST, SC 5. Join last ST to the first ST with a SL ST.

FO and weave in ends.  Using a piece of yarn in Colour B that’s approximately 15” long, secure the end of the yarn to the back, center point of the Bow. Wrap the yarn around the center of the Bow a few times to create the center “knot”. 

When done wrapping, secure the yarn in the back of the Bow with a small knot and use the remaining length of yarn to sew the Bow onto the Head.

Nose

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, working from one side to the other.  FO.

Mouth

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.

Eyelashes

Using the black yarn, embroider some eyelashes next to each eye. 

Start in the stitch directly next to the center/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 eyelash.  Repeat with the other eye.

I’d love to see your crochet creations made with my free crochet cat pattern! Share your cute crochet cat with me on social media by tagging me @theloopylamb or using #theloopylamb in your posts.

Join The Loopy Lamb Crochet Community Facebook Group to connect with other crafty friends and share your fabulous projects made with this free crochet cat amigurumi pattern.

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If you like to make amigurumi patterns, 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.