You Will Need

100gr aran yarn 4mm needles Stuffing Yarn for mouth Buttons for eyes (or more yarn for embroidered eyes) Yarn needle

A Note about Needle Sizes

The original cat was knitted in aran weight wool, but if you choose a DK yarn drop down a needle size or two and double the yarn if needed to give a denser fabric so the stuffing doesnt show through. Sometimes it helps to double the yarn only in the neck /head area to keep the head form being floppy.

Abbreviations
k p st/sts st st k2tog rs ws foll inc rpt rem Knit Purl Stitch/stitches Stockinette Stitch Kit two together (decrease) Right side Wrong side Following Increase (by Knit Front and Back or kfb) Repeat Remaining

How To Make: Legs

First Leg Cast on 10 sts. Row 1 and every foll ws row - p Row2 *k1, inc in next st, rpt from * to 3 sts remaining then inc2 k1(15sts) Row4 *k2, inc in next st, rpt from * to 3 sts then k1 inc1 k1(20sts) Row6 k Row8 *k2, k2tog, rpt from * to end of row (15sts) Comm p row, work 21 rows st st**. Break yarn and leave sts on the needle (slide to the end).

Second leg -

Cast on to needle that doesnt have leg 1 on it already (if you do this then both legs end up on the same needle, facing the same way and ready to go when you start the body) Work as first leg until **.

Body
Work across top of legs, knitting them together into one piece. Row 1 *k2, inc in next st, rpt from * until 3 sts rem in first leg then k1 inc1, then resume * across second leg until last st and k1 (40 sts) (the goal is to avoid inc where the two legs meet) Row 2 and every foll ws row p Row3 *k3, inc in next st, rpt from * to 4 sts rem and k2 inc1 k1 (50sts) Row5 k Row7 *k4, inc in next st, rpt from * to 5 sts rem and k3 inc1 k1(60sts) Row9 k Row11 k Row13 k Row 15 *k3, k2tog, rpt from * to 5 sts rem and k2, k2tog, k1 (48 sts) Row17 k Row 19 *k2, k2tog, rpt from * to 4 sts rem and k1, k2tog, k1 (36 sts) Row21 k Row 23 *k1, k2tog, rpt from * to 3 sts rem and k2tog, k1 (24 sts) Row25 k Row27 k Row 29 *k2, k2tog, rpt from * to 4 sts rem and k1, k2tog, k1 (18 sts) Row 31 *k1, k2tog, rpt from * to 3 sts rem and k2tog, k1 (12 sts) Row33 k

Head
Row 35 *k1, inc in next st, rpt from * to end of row (18 sts) Row 37 *k2, inc in next st, rpt from * to end of row (24 sts) Row 39 as row 37 (32 sts) Row 41 *k2, inc in next st, rpt from * to last 2 sts, k2 (42 sts) Comm p row, work 13 rows st st. Cast off.

Arms (make 2)
Cast on 8 sts. Row 1 and every foll ws row - p Row2 *k1, inc in next st, rpt from * to 3 sts remaining then inc2 k1(12sts) Row4 *k2, inc in next st, rpt from * to 3 sts then k1 inc1 k1(16sts) Row6 k Row8 *k2, k2tog, rpt from * to end of row (12sts) Comm p row, work 17 rows st st. Cast off.

Tail
Cast on 7 sts on dpn and knit icord for 13 rows row 14 k2 k2tog k2 (6 sts) comm icord for 3 rows row 18 k2 k2tog k2 (5 sts) comm icord for 3 rows row 21 k2 k2tog k1 (4 sts) comm icord for 2 rows Bind off and sew loose ends back into tail

Putting your Yarncat together

Use mattress/ladder stitch throughout. Sew inside leg seams up to body, then sew centre back to approx. 1 in from neck. Stuff legs and body, then continue sewing seam. Add extra stuffing at the neck area if it seems floppy. Continue sewing seam to top of head. Stuff head. Sew seam across top of head, making sure that seam is placed at centre back of head. Stitch large end of tail securely in place. Stuff arms and attach firmly to body. Give Yarncat a face by embroidering his nose and mouth. Sew on button eyes or embroider. Copyright Lauren Wasinger 2010