Wednesday, 20 June 2018

KITTY CAT JACKET

Kitty Cat jacket - free crochet info from Sweet Nothings Crochet
This is a pretty cute crochet frilly 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.  I've used some Indian Baby Soft acrylic yarn with a 3 mm crochet hook
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. Thank you for joining me.

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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 sewing needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers 
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 : (Using U.S terminology)
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 
Magic circle :  https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro 
What is a slip stitch :  https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw
What is a chain stitch ?  https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY
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 
What is a chain stitch ?  https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY
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. 
the kitty cat jacket all done
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 here
.. 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 here

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)
hmm one hopes she'll (the cat) will grow to like her jacket
 Excuse me.. didn't I say NO photos yesterday ?? Mummmmmmm serrriously!! 😝

the model (cat) was not happy modellingand she's complaining about it too
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.
tweaked
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

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 
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

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 
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 ! 

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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  

























































1 comment:

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