It's been a few years since I posted my Sleepy Cat free pattern and since then, I've learnt a few new things. I thought it was time to give this cat a bit of a refresh - updating it to US terminology and taking some new photos. You can find the original pattern in UK terminology here.
If you're sharing it on Instagram, please tag me @handmade__byani or use the hashtag #handmadebyani! If you have any questions about the pattern, please leave a comment below.
Anika x
Sleepy Cat Pattern
Note: Please do not sell or claim this pattern (whole or in part) as your own. You may sell finished items from this pattern - if you do, please credit Handmade by Ani as the designer. You may share this pattern via a link to this post. If you would like to translate this pattern into other languages, I would appreciate if you could please send an email to handmadebyani2017@gmail.com
This pattern uses US terminology and is worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise specified. I recommend using a stitch marker or a scrap piece of yarn to mark the first stitch of each round.
See my blog post here on how to convert US terminology to UK terminology.
The cat will measure approx. 8cm when using similar yarn and hook size.
Materials
- 8 ply (DK) cotton in light brown and white
- 3mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Polyester fibrefill stuffing
- Black embroidery thread to embroider eyes and mouth
- Pink embroidery thread to embroider nose
Abbreviations (US terminology)
- sc: single crochet
- inc: single crochet increase
- dec: single crochet invisible decrease
- R: round
- st(s): stitch(es)
- ch: chain
Note: I have used "x-shaped" stitches (i.e. yarn under and then yarn over) instead of regular "v-shaped" stitches (i.e. yarn over both times) for my single crochet stitches. You can find out more on this YouTube video here (I'm not affiliated with this video).
Head (make 1)
8 ply cotton in light brown
R1: 6 sc in magic circle [6 sts]R2: (inc) x 6 [12 sts]R3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 [18 sts]R4: (sc 1, inc, sc 1) x 6 [24 sts]R5: (sc 3, inc) x 6 [30 sts]R6: (sc 2, inc, sc 2) x 6 [36 sts]R7: (sc 5, inc) x 6 [42 sts]R8: sc in each st [42 sts]R9: (sc 3, inc, sc 3) x 6 [48 sts]R10 - R15: sc in each st i.e. 6 rounds [48 sts]R16: (sc 3, dec, sc 3) x 6 [42 sts]R17: (sc 5, dec) x 6 [36 sts]R18: (sc 2, dec, sc 2) x 6 [30 sts]R19: (sc 3, dec) x 6 [24 sts]R20: (sc 1, dec, sc 1) x 6 [18 sts]
Begin stuffing
R21: (dec) x 9 [9 sts]
Finish stuffing
Fasten off and leave a long thread. Thread the yarn through the front loops of the 9 sts and pull to close. Weave in the end.
Sew sleepy eyes over round 11. The edges of my eyes are approximately 6 sts apart.
Hint: Use pins to mark where you want the stitches to be
Body (make 1)
8 ply cotton in light brown
R1: 6 sc in magic circle [6 sts]R2: (inc) x 6 [12 sts]R3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 [18 sts]R4: (sc 1, inc, sc 1) x 6 [24 sts]R5 - R7: sc in each st i.e. 3 rounds [24 sts]R8: (sc 3, dec, sc 3) x 3 [21 sts]R9: (sc 5, dec) x 3 [18 sts]
Stuff the body
Fasten off and leave a long thread for sewing.
Ears (make 2)
8 ply cotton in light brown
R1: 4 sc in magic circle [4 sts]R2: (sc 1, inc) x 2 [6 sts]R3: (sc 1, inc) x 3 [9 sts]R4: (sc 1, inc, sc 1) x 3 [12 sts]
Do not stuff
Fasten off and leave a long thread for sewing.
Muzzle (make 1)
8 ply cotton in white
R1: ch 4
You will be crocheting around this chain.
R2: starting in second chain from hook, sc 2, 3 sc in last st. Continuing on the other side of the chain, sc 1, inc in last st [8 sts]R3: inc, sc 1, (inc) x 3, sc 1, (inc) x 2 [14 sts]
Fasten off and leave a long thread for sewing. Make an invisible finish on the muzzle and leave the remaining thread to sew the muzzle onto the head.
Embroider nose and mouth onto the muzzle.
For the nose, I made 3 horizontal stitches across 2 stitches.
Tail (make 1)
8 ply cotton in light brown and white
Starting in white
R1: 6 sc in magic circle [6 sts]R2: (sc 1, inc) x 3 [9 sts]R3: (sc 1, inc, sc 1) x 3 [12 sts]R4 - R5: sc in each st i.e. 2 rounds [12 stss]R6: (sc 1, dec, sc 1) x 3 [9 sts]
Change to light brown, fasten off white
R7 - R16: sc in each st i.e. 10 rounds [9 sts]
Stuff lightly
Flatten the tail and sc ends together [4 sts]
Fasten off and leave a long thread for sewing.
R1: 6 sc in magic circle [6 sts]
R2: (sc 1, inc) x 3 [9 sts]
R3: (sc 1, inc, sc 1) x 3 [12 sts]
R4 - R5: sc in each st i.e. 2 rounds [12 stss]
R6: (sc 1, dec, sc 1) x 3 [9 sts]
Change to light brown, fasten off white
R7 - R16: sc in each st i.e. 10 rounds [9 sts]
Stuff lightly
Flatten the tail and sc ends together [4 sts]
Fasten off and leave a long thread for sewing.
Putting it all together
- Using the tail from the body, sew the body between round 20 and 21 of the head, lining up the stitches. I like to use mattress stitch.
- Sew the muzzle between the eyes using a seamless stitch. My muzzle spanned rounds 12 to 15 of the head.
- Flatten the ears and sew them to the head using a whip stitch. I sewed my ears over rounds 4 to 8 of the head, with the bottom of the ears approximately 5 stitches away from the edge of the eyes.
- Sew the tail to the body using a whip stitch. I like to place the flat part of the tail at the centre of the back of the body. I also added a few stitches to attach the end of the tail to the front of the body so that it stays in one place. Before sewing the tail in place, make sure your cat can sit up 😉
Refer to this blog post for information on the different sewing techniques.
Your sleepy cat is now complete! I hope you enjoyed making it!
Remember to tag me on Instagram @handmade__byani so I can see your cats x
Your sleepy cat is now complete! I hope you enjoyed making it!
Remember to tag me on Instagram @handmade__byani so I can see your cats x
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