Simple Knit Cat in Chunky Yarn

I just love these simple but cuddly cats. They were made with the same knitting needles using the same number of stitches but the difference in the yarn, though both bulky, greatly influenced the end result.

This guy has embossed metal buttons for eyes. He's made with Wool-Ease yarn using size 15 circulars. I will make and attach a tail but not any arms or legs. He is tagged for a gift for a two-year old child, so cuddle factor is the desired impact.

This guy is used with leftover Rustic chunky yarn that I used to make a winter rolled brim hat last winter. He almost looks more like a dog, doesn't he? There isn't enough yarn to give him a tail so he will have to remain ambiguous.

They make me happy. They're so cute and sweet and cuddly. I started out with casting on 4 stitches and steadily increasing until the head was the size that I wanted and then worked around straight (no increases) for the length of the body. It's worked in stockinette until the length was reached and then I worked two rows of garter before starting the abrupt decreases for the bottom. The garter helps turn in the fabric and the abrupt decreases creates a flat bottom so the cats can sit. Fun and simple for a child's gift.

The ears are crocheted. I mix crochet and knitting quite often. It's quite simple, 5 dc, turn, a 5 dc decrease (start dc but don't pull through last two loops until the very end when you pull through all the partially worked dcs at the same time) to create a pointed top.

The muzzle is knit and worked flat. Started out with a cast on a few stitches and increased at first and last stitch of every other knit row, purling on rows without increases then worked a few rows without increases then decreased in the same way as the increases until I was back to the original number of stitches that were cast on. After binding off the the last row, cut a long tail and use tapestry needle to wind through edge, add some stuffing, and pull up tight. Wrap yarn around center of muzzle to create those fun puffy cheeks and whip stitch muzzle onto front of cat's face.