KITTY
CAT JACKET
This
is a pretty cute jacket for a little cat, isn’t it? A friend found a photograph on Pinterest and asked if I
could make it.. of course I can make it.. wellll, I can surely try .. and I love
challenges.
Come
along then and let’s see how we can get this done, shall we?
You
can work this pattern for any size, using any yarn with a suitable hook.
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Materials used : Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian Baby Soft acrylic yarn with a 3 mm crochet hook ; a little embroidery thread ; embroidery needle
For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well
General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.
International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn , Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.
Skill level : Intermediate
Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)
ch
: chain ch-sp
: chain space
sp
: space rep
: Repeat
fsc : Foundation single crochet
dc : Double crochet
Stitches used :
How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY
Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
How to change colors seamlessly : https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno
Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg
Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8
Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k
First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M
What is a chain stitch ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY
Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo
Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0
Triple Crochet : trc : wrap yarn twice around hook, insert hk into st ; yo (4 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] three times. One trc made.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/A0y4BbgDTbs
Instructions using U.S terminology
Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.
Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.
In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.
This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.
I
was not sure if I’d find a pattern and was all set to figure it out.. and then
a good search produced this pattern https://kawaiiblythe.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/free-crochet-baby-cardigan-pattern/
..
and I found that this wonderful designer has taken this baby dress and then made this for her kitty cat as well – and it was this kitty cat picture (link below) that my friend showed me too.. so yaay
This
is the link to her kitty cat page https://kawaiiblythe.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/free-crochet-cardigan-pattern-slightly-adapted/
But before we move on, let's check out what my disgruntled model thought of it. First of all, this cat does not like photos.. secondly (she's surely thinking) if this stuff ain't for me, then why am I modelling it?
This project has been created for a slightly larger cat and I am promised photographs .. (fingers crossed)
Excuse me.. didn't I say NO photos yesterday ?? Mummmmmmm serrriously!! :O
You're doing it again aren't you.. with that camera ?? !! ;)
And after this photo-bombing with this oh, so cute (and not camera friendly) kitty, let's get back to work..
The designer has not really given any instructions on what she did for her cat cardigan –
but the baby cardigan is a pretty easy pattern.
So
first I just followed the baby cardigan pattern, and worked the ‘bobble stitch
pattern’ for a total of 6 rows. It works well, but I was making my project for
a slightly larger cat and I had not get the sizing right – so I changed the
pattern a wee bit and got it right.
The bobble stitches uses up a lot of yarn but ends up with a super soft project. While I appreciate the softness that the stitch would give, I could not afford the extra yarn (loss) as I only had a limited amount in the colour my client asked. So here’s what I did.
My tweak notes :
I
started with 47 fsc just like the designer asked and continued increasing as
she has said till Row 5 (well, the designer has started with chain, but if you start with fsc then this is her start count). At that point I
needed to increase faster so I just went ahead and increased as much as I
needed, keeping a stitch count of multiples of 3.
Note that the stitch
count is for my pattern or rather for what I have done and not the
bobble stitch pattern.
So
how did I decide how much I needed?
I
took the ‘chest’ measure of the cat (22”) and then added the round armhole
measure (yes, cats do not have arms so no armholes, but that top part that will
go into the armhole ;) ). I added chest
measure and 2 x armhole measure.
So
I got a total of (22 + 12 = 34”)
Before
I divided for the armholes, I needed 34”.
Right
more calculations :
We
have to break the 34” into 2 front pieces, 2 armhole pieces and one back piece.
So back = 11” ; Fronts are 2 x 5.5” and armholes are 6” each.
Place
markers at 5.5” for one front ; then 6” for 1st armhole ; then 11”
for back ; then 6” for 2nd armhole.
You will have 5.5” left for the second front.
Now
all you need to do is work either my pattern or the bobble stitch pattern using
the markers.
Remember
for this pattern, our stitch count is in multiples of 3.
I
have used a ‘Shell stitch’ which is (2 dc ; ch 1, 2 dc) all in the same st or
ch-sp
Pattern Row 1 : dc in the 1st dc ;
*sk
next 2 dc, ‘Shell stitch’ in the next dc* ;
rep
*to* till the last 3 dc ;
sk
next 2 dc, dc in the last dc. Turn.
From
now on, we will work all our ‘Shell stitches’ in the ch-1 sp of the earlier
‘Shell st’.
Pattern Rows 2 - 5 : dc in the 1st
dc ;
*‘Shell
stitch’ in the next ‘Shell stitch’ * ;
rep
*to* till the last dc ;
dc in the last dc. Turn.
At
this point my project was just short of 7” (the length I was asked to make it),
so I stopped. In case you want a longer
skirt, go ahead with the same pattern.
For
our border, once again we will work all the stitches in the ch-1 sp of the
earlier ‘Shell st’.
We
will also work a ch-3 picot in the 3rd dc. The ch-3 picot is (ch 3, sl-st in the 3rd
st from hook).
How to work a picot stitch : Traditionally for a ch-3 picot, you work (ch 3, sl-st in 3rd ch from hook). For a ch-5 picot, you will do (ch 5, sl-st in 5th ch from hook).
Here’s a great video https://youtu.be/8s3zVaBcn4s
Border Pattern Row : sc in the 1st dc ;
sk
next 2 dc, (2 dc ; dc + picot ; 2 dc) all in the 1st ch-sp ;
*sk
next 2 dc, sc in the next space after these 2 dc and the next 2 dc ; sk next 2
dc, rep (to) once* ;
rep
*to* till the last dc ; sc in the last dc.
Optional final finishing :
1.
You
can run a round of sc all across the front lapels and the top of the project
(the neck).
2.
Attach
a button on the top so you can easily secure the jacket onto your furry feline.
3.
Slip
in a satin ribbon through the first row of dc.
And that’s done.. yet another project brilliantly executed !
Enjoyed
this ?? I sure did..come back right here for more freebie patterns
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Have a great day and see you soon.
I
have a few similar creations already made (more for animals :-/ ), and just
in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go
I have a few dresses already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go
