🐱 Tiny Cat – Free Knitting Pattern (Step-by-Step Guide)
🪡 Introduction
This Tiny Cat knitting pattern is a fun and relaxing project for knitters who enjoy creating small, adorable decorations. With only a few yards of yarn and basic knitting stitches, you can craft a soft, tiny cat that sits perfectly on your desk or window sill.
It’s worked in the round using double pointed needles (dpns) and simple techniques like knit, purl, and make one. Even if you’re new to 3D knitting, this pattern is easy to follow and makes a wonderful handmade gift for cat lovers.
🧶 Materials You’ll Need
- Sport weight yarn – 20 yards (18 meters)
- Size US 1 (2.25 mm) double pointed needles
- Darning needle
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Thread or embroidery floss for the face
💡 Metal needles are recommended because the stitches are tight and wooden needles might break.
🛍️ Shop This Pattern
All materials for this project are available at Armonisa Hobby:
✂️ Abbreviations Used
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| CO | Cast on |
| dpn | Double pointed needle |
| K | Knit |
| P | Purl |
| st / sts | Stitch / stitches |
| M1 | Make one stitch |
| K2tog | Knit two together |
| SSK | Slip, slip, knit |
| PU | Pick up a stitch |
Special Notes:
- M1 (Make one stitch): Lift the right “leg” of the next stitch (the right side of the stitch directly below the next stitch on your left needle), place it on the left needle, then knit it as you would any other stitch.
- Metal needles are recommended because the stitches are worked tightly and wooden needles may break.
Body, Neck, and Head:
Work starts at the bottom. CO 28 sts onto 3 dpns, join in the round, and K all sts for 1¼ inch (3 cm).
Then work the following rounds:
(K2tog) 2X, K20, (SSK) 2X (24 sts)
K all sts
(K2tog) 2X, K16, (SSK) 2X (20 sts)
K all sts
(K2tog) 2X, K12, (SSK) 2X (16 sts)
K all sts
K2tog, K12, SSK (14 sts)
K all sts
K5, SSK, K2tog, K5 (12 sts)
(M1, K5, M1, K1) 2X (16 sts)
K all sts
(M1, K7, M1, K1) 2X (20 sts)
K all sts
K all sts
(K2tog, K5, SSK, K1) 2X (16 sts)
K all sts
Ears:
Each ear is shaped from 6 sts, with 4 sts between the two ears (2 in front, 2 in back).
Slip the first 3 sts in the round onto a dpn without knitting them. Slip next 10 sts onto a piece of scrap
yarn for working later. 6 sts remain on two dpns. Move some to a third dpn and join in the round.
Work the following for the first ear:
K all sts
K all sts
(K2tog) 3X (3 sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch (30 cm) tail. Thread through the remaining 3 sts and pull closed. Weave the loose end down the side of the ear, and slip the first two sts from the scrap yarn onto it. These 2 sts form the area between the ears at the front of the head.
Now work the second ear. Arrange the next 6 sts from the scrap yarn onto 3 dpns. Join in the round and repeat the steps above using the tail from the first ear. Weave the loose end down the side of the ear and thread through the last 2 sts from the scrap yarn. These 2 sts form the area between the ears at the back of the head.
Pull the center sts closed; weave in loose ends or run them down through the body of the cat. Seam any small holes at the base of the ears.
Base of Cat:
With the inside of the cat facing you, PU 28 sts in the original CO sts. This creates a round of purl stitches on the right side, helping to differentiate the body from the base and stabilize the cat when standing. Then work the following rounds:
(K2, K2tog) 7X (21 sts)
K all sts
(K1, K2tog) 7X (14 sts)
This is a good time to stuff your cat if you haven’t already.
K all sts
(K2tog) 7X (7 sts)
Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts and pull closed. Weave in the loose end.
Tail:
The tail can be worked as an icord or in the round. CO 6 sts all on one dpn, or onto 3 dpns if workingin the round.
Knit all sts until the tail is 2½ inches (6.5 cm) long, then work the following rounds:
(K2tog) 3X (3 sts)
K all sts
Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, and pull closed. Seam the CO end to the side of the cat with the decreases, beginning at the base. The tail can also be tacked to the side of your cat about halfway up to create a curve.
🧩 More From Armonisa
Explore more creative tutorials and handmade projects:
💕 Follow Armonisa Hobby
We love seeing your handmade creations!
Share your finished Tiny Window Cat and tag us on social media 💜
Leave a comment