If you or someone you know is a cat lover and you’re looking for an easy crochet cat pattern, you’re in the right place! My easy, small amigurumi cat free crochet pattern was designed to minimize the number of pieces to sew on and it includes a step-by-step video tutorial to walk you through the process of making your own tiny cat.
Be sure to check out my tips for customizing your adorable amigurumi cat to mimic the look of real cats as well as how to make a bigger cat with the same pattern and some slight adjustments.
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This pattern is Week 17 of the 2023 Amigurumi Advent Calendar Crochet Along and the finished cat should fit inside a 3″ square box.
Want to learn more about the Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL? Check out the 2023 Amigurumi Advent Calender Crochet Along home page that contains the pattern release schedule and a rundown of everything you need to know! All the free patterns in the CAL include video tutorials.
For the 2023 Amigurumi Advent Calendar Crochet Along, we’re making an amigurumi boy doll named Advent Adam (or Advent Addy) and then enough different outfits and adorable accessories to fill a DIY advent calendar – it’s the perfect gift to give that will engage children’s imaginations for hours of doll play.
Where Can I Get a Printable Copy of This Amigurumi Cat Pattern & All the CAL Patterns?
- Grab an ad-free PDF, printable version of the complete doll pattern (all three parts of the doll together) and 1 full outfit pattern in one convenient pdf file in my Ravelry and Etsy shops
OR - Buy the 2023 Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL Bundle in my Ravelry or Etsy shops and get this pdf pattern download of this and all the CAL patterns in printable bundle files PLUS the following bonus patterns exclusive to the bundle:
- Extra hair cap pattern & added embroidery instructions to make Advent Addy (a female doll) with photo tutorials.
- Chef’s Hat & Apron pattern for the dolls
- Swim top pattern (for Advent Addy)
- Frog Bucket Hat
- Mini Crochet Frog Toy
- Additional, exclusive bonus patterns with the release of each part of the bundle (there will be a minimum of 8 bonuses this year! (incl. the above-listed bonuses))
- Extra hair cap pattern & added embroidery instructions to make Advent Addy (a female doll) with photo tutorials.
My Easy, Small Amigurumi Cat free pattern is an easy pattern that uses very simple stitches but be sure to check out the Special Stitches and Techniques section before getting started because two special stitches are used to create the paws of our toy.
This toy is worked from the top-down, meaning that we start working from the head of the toy, down to the bottom of the toy. The tail is crocheted as part of the body of the toy and the ears and muzzle/nose are crocheted and sewn on separately.
How Can I Change the Size of This Cute Cat Crochet Pattern?
This project makes a great gift to give to a cat-loving friend or family member but some folks would prefer larger cats over the small cat that is shown here. To make this toy bigger, use a heavier yarn weight and a bigger hook.
For example, by using a size 6 bulky weight yarn and an 8 mm hook, the end result will be a significantly larger toy. Just remember that when you change the size of the toy, you’ll need to adjust the size of your safety eyes as well.
To make a smaller toy, use a lighter weight yarn (like a 2 or 3) and a smaller hook size.
Ways to Customize This Pattern
Here are some quick and simple suggestions for ways to customize your crochet toys to look more like realistic cats:
- Use different colors to make different cats: use black yarn to make a black cat, orange yarn to make a tabby cat, etc.
- Try using different yarns like variegated yarns to give your toy some unique flair or using a different yarn color for one or both the ears
- Use black embroidery floss or black thread to add whiskers
- Add some detail to your cats by adding stripes
Check Out These Free Cat Crochet Patterns While You’re Here!
Important Note About The Supply List for this Small Amigurumi Cat Free Crochet Pattern:
We will not be utilizing all of the supplies listed in the supplies list this week. We will be using them to complete our crochet doll outfits and accessories that we will crochet for our amigurumi doll over the coming weeks.
This is not an exhaustive list of all of the supplies we will need. This is everything we will need for Weeks 12 – 20 of the 2023 Amigurumi Advent Calendar Crochet Along.
Disclaimer:
Feel free to sell the finished item 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, 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:
- US terms
Supplies:
- E / 3.5 mm Crochet Hook (or whatever sized hook needed to match gauge)
- WeCrochet Brava Worsted Weight Yarn (100% Premium Acrylic Yarn, Worsted Weight (4), 218yds/200m, 100g/3.5oz), 1 skein each of:
- Colour A: Almond (or preferred skin colour)
- Colour B: White
- Colour C: Gingerbread for Adam, Paprika for Addy (or preferred hair colour)
- Colour D: Denim
- Colour E: Black
- Colour F: Red
- Colour G: Celestial
- Colour H: Avocado
- Colour I: Marina
- Colour J: Clarity
- Colour K: Cornflower
- Colour L: Dove Heather
- 2 – 8mm Black Safety Eyes
- 2 – 9mm Green Safety Eyes – I used Lime Green Glitter Eyes from Chateau Bornais Crochet
- 2 – 12 mm Black Safety Eyes
- 9 – 9 mm Buttons in preferred colour(s)
- Polyester Stuffing (also available at Michaels
- Tapestry Needle / Yarn Needle
- Multiple Stitch Markers
- Pink Embroidery Thread
- Scissors
- Sewing Thread and Needle
- Sewing Pins (optional but helps make the assembly process easier)
Abbreviations:
- BLO = Back Loop Only
- BOB = Bobble (See Special Stitches)
- CH = Chain
- CH SP(s) = Chain Space(s)
- DC = Double Crochet
- DC2TOG = Double Crochet 2 Stitches Together in the same ST (See Special Stitches)
- FLO = Front Loop Only
- FO = Finish Off
- HDC = Half Double Crochet
- MC = Magic Circle / Magic Ring
- PM = Place Marker/Stitch Marker
- RS = Right Side
- SC = Single Crochet
- SC3TOG = Single Crochet 3 Stitches Together (see Special Stitches)
- SCDEC = Single Crochet Decrease
- SCINC = Single Crochet Increase/ 2 SC STs in the same ST
- SK = Skip
- SL ST = Slip Stitch
- SP(s) = Space(s)
- ST(s) = Stitch(es)
- WS = Wrong Side
- YO = Yarn Over
Special Stitches and Techniques:
- Bobble (BOB): YO, insert hook into indicated ST, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through first two loops on hook, *YO and insert hook back into the same ST, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through first two loops on hook, repeat from * one more time. You should have 4 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all loops on hook.
- Double Crochet Two Stitches Together in the same ST (DC2TOG): YO, insert hook into indicated ST, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through first two loops on hook, YO and insert hook back into the same ST, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through first two loops on hook. You should have 3 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all loops on hook.
- Invisible Finish/Join: FO leaving a long tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle. Skip a stitch and place the tapestry needle through the top of the next stitch from front to back and pull through. Place tip of needle into top of the last ST worked under the back loop of the stitch and pull through to the back of the work. Weave in the end. Learn how to do this with my invisible finish/join tutorial.
- Single Crochet (SC) Join: With a slip knot already on the hook, insert the hook into the designated stitch. YO and pull up a loop. YO and pull through both loops on the hook. View the SC Join tutorial here.
- Single Crochet 3 Together (SC3TOG): Insert hook into the first St, YO and pull up a loop, *insert hook into the next ST, YO and pull up a loop, repeat from * one more time. There should be 3 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all three loops. View the SC3TOG tutorial here.
Finished Size:
- To fit Advent Adam & Addy dolls – 10” tall dolls
Gauge:
- Clothing: 4 sts across x 6 rows = 1” square
Notes:
- These clothing and accessory patterns are designed to fit my Advent Adam and Addy dolls. Gauge is important for ensuring that your doll clothes fit your doll appropriately. If you don’t plan to match gauge, ensure that you maintain a consistent tension throughout each project. Using the same yarn line and hook throughout each project can also assist with minimizing gauge/tension changes.
- For a cleaner SCDEC on pieces worked in continuous rounds, do your SCDEC under the front loops only of each ST rather than under both loops. This is often referred to as an invisible decrease. Check out my invisible decrease tutorial on to see it done.
- For pieces worked in turned rows, use a normal SCDEC stitch instead of the invisible decrease.
- Colour changes are done using the last YO of the previous stitch (except where otherwise indicated).
You can purchase an inexpensive ad-free PDF version of this pattern with all three parts of the doll together + 1 outfit in one convenient file in my Ravelry and Etsy shops
OR
Buy the 2023 Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL Bundle in my Ravelry or Etsy shops and get updates in your Ravelry library or Email (for Etsy buyers) when new parts
Easy Small Amigurumi Cat Free Crochet Pattern Video Tutorial
Amigurumi Cat Free Pattern
(Worked in a continuous spiral)
Round 1: Using Colour L make a MC and work 6 SC into the MC. (6)
Round 2: (SCINC) x 6. (12)
Round 3: (SC, SCINC) x 6. (18)
Rounds 4 – 8: SC around. (18) Place 9mm eyes in STs 4 and 8 of Round 5.
Round 9: (SC, SCDEC) x 6. (12) – Start stuffing, continuing to add more stuffing as you progress through the piece.
Round 10: (SC, SCINC) x 6. (18)
Round 11: SC around. (18)
Round 12: SC 13, (SCINC, SC) x 2, SCINC. (21)
Round 13: SC 7, SCINC, SC 13. (22)
Round 14: (SCINC) x 3, SCDEC, SC 6, SCDEC, (SCINC) x 3, SC 6. (26)
Round 15: SC 2, (SCINC) x 2, SC, SCDEC, SC 4, SCDEC, SC, (SCINC) x 2, SC 3, SCDEC, SC, CH 12, SC in the 2nd CH from the hook and in the next 10 CHs, SCDEC in Round 14, SC in the last 2 STs.(37)
Round 16: SC 7, BOB, SC, DC2TOG, SC 2, DC2TOG, SC, BOB, SC 8, SK CH for tail, SC in last 3 STs. (26) – Use finger to pop BOB and DC2TOG stitches to the RS of the fabric.
Round 17: SC 3, SCDEC, (SC 2, SCDEC) x 5, SC. (20)
Round 18: SCDEC,(SC, SCDEC) x 6. (13)
Round 19: (SCDEC) x 6, SC. (7)
FO. Weave tail through FLO and cinch hole closed. Weave in ends.
If your toy unable to stand up on its own, follow these steps to create a small indent in the bottom of the toy which will help it stand up.
- Thread a tapestry needle with a length of matching yarn and tie a knot in the end. Insert the needle into the toy on the back and bring the needle out through the middle of the last row in the base. Pull the knot inside the toy to hide it.
- Insert the needle back into the toy, slightly off-centered, and out through the back of the toy (making sure to pull it through a hole and not through the yarn), pulling to create an indent. Tie a knot or two, close to the fabric.
- Insert the needle back into the toy to pull the knot(s) inside the toy. Weave in end and FO.
Ears (Make Two)
(Worked in a continuous spiral)
Round 1: Using Colour L make a MC and work 6 SC into the MC. (6)
Round 2: SC around. (6)
Round 3: (SC 2, SCINC) x 2. (8)
FO leaving a long tail for sewing. Flatten piece. Do NOT stuff. Use yarn tail to sew an ear to either side of the head.
Muzzle
(Worked in a continuous spiral)
Round 1: Using Colour L make a MC and work 6 SC into the MC. (6)
Round 2: (SC 2, SCINC) x 2. (8)
FO with invisible finish (see special stitches/techniques), leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the muzzle onto the face, adding a small amount of stuffing as you sew. Use pink embroidery thread to embroider a triangular nose onto the muzzle, using photo as reference.
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed making these mini amigurumi cats! Stay tuned for the next free pattern in the 2023 Amigurumi Advent Calendar CAL on July 21st for the release of the next free pattern release of the crochet along. Until then, happy crocheting!
I’d love to see your crochet creations! Share your adorable mini crochet cats with me on social media by tagging me @theloopylamb or using #theloopylamb in your posts.
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