At the Yarn Queen, we love cats (hi, Minerva and Monty!), and we love to make clothing and homewares that feature cats on them. For months, we’ve been curating a blockbuster list of cat knitting and crochet patterns, just waiting for International Cat Day on 8 August. (If you think “but I want things to make for my cat, not for me!” we also have a list of Knitting and Crochet Patterns Your Cat Will Love…or Hate.) Knit cat socks or mitts, crochet cat scarves, knit or crochet cat sweaters, blankets, cushions and more with the patterns below.
Did we miss your favourite cat pattern? Send us an email and let us know if there is something we should add here!
Cat Clothing Patterns
Free Cat Sweater Knitting Pattern
How on trend is The Cheshire Cat Pullover knitting pattern by Manuela Cecchetti? Let us count the ways! It has balloon sleeves and it’s embroidered! It calls for a bulky knit yarn and you can make this extra snuggly by using Wool and the Gang’s Alpachino Merino.
Free Cat Scarf Crochet Pattern
Carrie adapted the Kittens in a Row Scarf pattern from an afghan pattern, but it’s even better as a scarf! The way the cats peek over each other in the “stripes” is truly adorable. It uses three different colours of yarn. For snuggly fluffy cats, Zealana Heron Worsted would be a great choice.
Cat Sweater and Cardigan Crochet Patterns
Crocheted Sinister Cardigan
Intimidate everyone with the judgy cats staring out from the yoke of this cardigan! With the Crocheted Sinister Cardigan, Diana Bensted has adapted Marna Gilligan’s Sinister Catigan knitting pattern (see below) for crochet. This yoked cardigan has colourwork and ribbing and is worked all in one. It uses a lot of unusual techniques, and includes video tutorials for each one, so it is a great way to learn a lot of new skills! You’ll even learn to steek this…yes, you can steek crochet! You can even add pockets. Make those colour contrasts pop by using Malabrigo Mechita.
Three Black Cats
Grace Tompkins has created a Maud Lewis inspired, challenging, and satisfying embroidered crochet sweater pattern called Three Black Cats. It is a size-inclusive pattern with that oversized, cropped shape that is so popular right now. If you’ve never embroidered before, this pattern has videos to show you how! You will need to be familiar with reading crochet patterns, working the half double crochet stitch, changing colours, and seaming. The pattern is easy to follow, and is great for adventurous beginner or intermediate crocheters looking to stretch their skills. It will be gorgeous and oh-so-snuggly in Zealana Heron.
Cat-digan
Cover yourself with a cardigan full of cats when you make Komélia Holoda’s Cat-digan crochet cardigan pattern. While Holoda designed it as an oversized S cardigan, because the pattern repeats, you can adjust it to whatever size you need. The pattern will give you a chance to use knit stitch, chain, slip stitch, and to do colour changes. Because it is multicoloured, this is a fantastic scrapbuster. But if you do not have scraps to work with, then Urth Harvest DK has the wide range of colours you’ll want for this one.
Cat Sweater, Cardigan and Cowl Knitting Patterns
Sinister Cat-digan (knitted version)
Don’t be judgy — let the cats on the yoke of this cardigan judge everyone for you! Marna Gilligan’s Sinister Catdigan knitting pattern has rows of cats along the circular yoke looking skeptically at the world. (And if you want a crochet version, see Diana Bensted’s Crocheted Sinister Cardigan above!) This pattern is steeked. If you’ve never steeked a sweater before, it’s a great chance to start, because reviewers say this pattern is exceptionally clearly written. You can knit it to be fitted or to be loose. And it has instructions both for adapting the fit and for adapting it into a sweater. Urth Yarns 16 Fingering has plenty of glorious colours to choose from to create great contrast.
If you want to go all out with this motif, Gilligan also has The Sinister Catsock knitting pattern, The Sinister Catcowl knitting pattern, and The Sinister Cat Hat. (Gilligan designed the hat for humans, not for cats — see our other article for hats for your cat.) Marna Gilligan is known for her cat-inspired patterns and has created many more. We have Marna Gilligan’s Cat Knits in the store for you, featuring 16 patterns for garments in accessories in different yarn weights using a range of cat motifs!
Cats in the Garden
Katherine Paddison’s Cats in the Garden sweater knitting pattern is a perfect Mommy-and-me design, because it offers sizing from newborn to 137 cm. Paddison has created 18 different cat designs that you can mix and match on the schematic colourwork section of the sweater. This means your version of the sweater can be entirely unique. If you are a little intimidated by the amount of choice involved, don’t worry — reviewers have given this pattern top marks for clarity. (She has also made a similarly well-written raglan version with even more cat options!) Malabrigo Rios yarn will give the kind of stitch definition that helps these cats stand out, and yet be oh-so-soft on the skin.
The Cat Lady Sweater
The Cat Lady Sweater knitting pattern by Tonje Haugli has adorable cats around the yoke. It’s worked in the round from the top down and it’s seamless. The pattern offers several different options. You can have wide sleeves, short sleeves, a shaped waist or a straight waist, and you can also adjust it in many different ways. Sizes range from 87cm to 148.5cm. Wool and the Gang’s Alpachino Merino will bring maximum snuggliness to this pattern.
Cat Sock, Scarf and Mitten Knitting Patterns
Celtic Cat Scarf
Combine your love of cats with the flow of Celtic knotwork when you knit Nifty Knitter’s Celtic Cat Scarf. This scarf is double knit and fully reversible. The colourwork design is in a chart, so you will need to be able to read a chart, or be willing to learn how, to make this one. The pattern also includes a phototutorial that will help you on your way! You can make this in two solid colours or in a solid plus variegated yarn. For solids, we would recommend Urth Harvest. If you want a variegated yarn as your second yarn (which would look amazing) we’d recommend Urth Spiral Grain Sport.
Kitty Cat Socks
Kitty Cat socks by Sandrine Vos is a challenging stranded colourwork pattern. In order to knit these socks, you must be adept at knitting in the round, basic sock knitting, stranded knitting, and grafting. If you aren’t solid in those skills yet, bookmark this pattern for later! If you are up for the challenge, you’ll be rewarded with a lovely combination of stripes, ribbing and, of course, cats. The sample uses both solid and variegated yarn,. We would recommend Anzula Haiku, which combines bamboo and merino with a touch of nylon for socks you can wear for a long time.
Cat Socks
If you want all-out cat socks, Aud Bergo’s Cat Socks knitting pattern uses stranded colourwork for its fun mirrored pattern. Bergo mirrored the pattern on the two socks, which have cats in many different poses. While the pattern comes in only two sizes, the length is adjustable, so you can better fit it to your foot. For a sock meant to make your foot as cozy as this, we would recommend Zealana Cozi Sock yarn.
Herding Cats Kitten Mittens (and Socks)
Herding cats is never fun, but Herding Cats Kitten Mittens sure are! This fingerless mitten knitting pattern by Stone Knits are knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up and have a repeating cat motif. The pattern uses stranded colourwork and reviewers say it is moderately challenging and extremely clearly written. A combination of Urth Spiral Grain Light Worsted and Urth 16 would produce some eye-catching mitts. If you love these, make the Herding Cats Socks too!
Sassy Cat Mitts and Sassy Cat Socks
Keep coordinating your hands and feet with Stone Knits’ Sassy Cat Mitts and Sassy Cat Socks. These may not be scrapbusters, but they’re definitely scrap-nibblers. Your hands will have cute cat faces across your fingers and paw prints on your wrists, while your feet will have cat faces around your leg and pawprints across your toes. Use Hedgehog Fibres Sock Yarn for both and you can colour match them!
Cat Mittens (and Hat and Socks)
Jorid Linvik used traditional Norwegian designs as her inspiration for her Cat Mittens pattern, which includes a bonus cat hat if you buy it direct from her site! (The hat is not included on Ravelry, and the pattern is more expensive when purchased through Ravelry as well.) Work these mittens from the bottom up in the round. If you knit these in Broadway Purely Wool Baby, they will be soft, warm and budget-friendly. Her site also offers a coordinating Cat Socks pattern if you want your hands and feet to match!
Cat Blanket and Pillow Patterns
Free, Customizable Cat Afghan Square Pattern
We love Pony McTate here at The Yarn Queen, and not just because she’s a Kiwi like us! So when we saw she had designed a free, customizable stashbuster cat afghan square pattern, we knew it had to go on our list! McTate shows off the Many Cats Square as part of a cushion. But you could make even more squares and turn it into a blanket or anything else you might turn afghan squares into! If you are an adventurous beginner, you can make this. Use different colours to memorialize the various cats in your life. Keep this 100% pure New Zealand by using Broadway Purely Wool DK.
Cats in Queues Blanket
The Cats in Queues Blanket crochet pattern by Vivian Clothilde is a multi-size blanket with a repeating Escher-esque cat motif. Because it is a join-as-you-go pattern you won’t have to manage multiple skeins. And because you work it continuously you’ll only have two ends to weave in for each row! It comes in sizes from “catghan” (38cm x 38 cm) all the way up to king size. It is worked flat with a written pattern. This would be soft and snuggly in Broadway Merino DK.
The Cat’s Meow Blanket
This crochet blanket pattern is The Cat’s Meow! Sweet Potato 3 designed this reversible crochet blanket. It’s a challenging pattern that will give you an opportunity to stretch your skills and learn a unique stitch! The pattern package includes a written pattern and a phototutorial. It also has a “Halloween” variation that adds cat eyes to the pattern. We recommend Urth Harvest Worsted for solid colours. If you would like either the main or the background colour to be something that changes, Urth Monokrom Worsted works well with Harvest.
Cat Noir Cushion
If you are ready for some advanced crochet, the popular Cat Noir cushion crochet pattern by Alexis Sixel should whet your appetite! It is based on the cat on the famous “Tournée du Chat Noir” advertising poster created by artist Théophile Steinlen in 1898. This pattern uses overlay mosaic crochet and a chart to create its magic. Reviewers say the pattern is very clear, and the detailed photo tutorials and video tutorials will help you along the way. This pattern was made for Malabrigo Rios yarn (literally — it is the yarn Sixel suggests for the pattern).
Cat-Shaped Toy Patterns
TEAROOM Cat Doll
Susan Hickson has designed the TEAROOM Cat Doll knitting pattern as part of her extensive Tearoom collection of dolls and accessories. So once you make this, you’ll find booties, dresses and more than you can make for your cat doll! This is knit on single-pointed knitting needles; even the eyes are knitted. The pattern includes a step by step guide with photos, useful tips, links to resources and more!
You can make this out of scraps, if you have enough for a 27.5cm doll (reviewers say it takes 1-2 skeins to make the body), or you can buy yarn specifically for the toy. The body calls for worsted weight yarn. If you want to get fancy, you could use Malabrigo Rios, as Hickson recommends Malabrigo worsted for the body. If you choose to purchase a yarn to make the clothes, Hickson recommends a 100% merino fingering like Broadway NZ Baby Merino.
The Cat Stack
The Cat Stack knitting pattern by Claire Slaide is another great stashbuster project. The cats are knit flat with short rows and then seamed. The pattern supports both solid and stripey cats. It includes three different sizes for even better stacking, and has a photo tutorial along with the pattern. Slaide designed this for DK weight yarn, and if you don’t have enough scraps we recommend Broadway NZ Merino DK.
Purrfect Cat Stacker
Want a crocheted cat stack? Crochet at Teri’s has designed the Purrfect Cat Stacker for you! These cats are actually rings that can be stacked on a crocheted scratching post. It is the perfect gift for a newborn or small child. The pattern fully integrates the legs and tails, so there is almost no sewing to do on this one! DMC’s Happy Cotton has all the colours you need to make this eye-catching for a tiny tot.
Cat & Bed Playset
The Cat & Bed Playset crochet pattern by Laura Sutcliffe gives you a cat and everything it needs for its entertainment. The designer’s crocheted cat was 10.5cm tall. The pattern also includes a cat bed, a bowl of milk, a toy mouse and a blanket. Because it uses many different colours, it’s a great chance to use up a DK stash. Or you can use DMC Happy Cotton to get just the colours you want!
Note: As always, our project list exceeds our time available, and we haven’t made all of these patterns. Therefore, we can’t guarantee that every pattern is perfect. But we do read reviews, comments and posts on each pattern before we include it. If you spot any issues with these, please let us know!
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