Knitted Kitty Head
The Knitted Kitty Head is an adorable and charming craft project that brings joy to knitters and cat lovers alike. With its soft yarn and intricate details, it's a delightful combination of creativity and cuteness. This lovable feline creation makes a perfect gift for friends, family, or even as a treat to yourself. Whether you're a knitting enthusiast looking for a fun new project or simply appreciate handmade items, the Knitted Kitty Head is sure to bring a smile to your face. So grab your knitting needles and get ready to craft your very own purrfect companion!
The Cat Head measures approx 6cm across, finished.
Materials
Scraps of DK / 8ply yarn in
- body colour
- pale pink for ears, nose, mouth
- eye colour
- white or black for the whiskers - I unravel 1 or 2 strands from 8ply yarn and use this thinner thread to sew the whiskers.
- gold thread for hanging
- a little stuffing
- 3.25mm knitting needles
- A press type music box small enough to fit inside the cat head. The ones I used are 3.5cm across, but they are quite thick and just fitted with a little bit of stuffing around them.
CAT HEAD - Make 2, front & back
With 3.25mm needles and cat colour,
Cast on 8sts, leaving a long thread at the start for sewing up later. The whole cat is worked in st st starting with a K row.
St st 2 rows
Row 3 - Inc each end of row - 10 sts
Rows 4 and 5 - Inc each end of row - 14 sts
Row 6 to row 14 - St st.
Row 15 - Dec each end of row - 12 sts
Row 16 - P
Row 17 - Dec each end of row - 10sts
Row 18 - Dec each end of row - 8 sts
Row 19 - Dec each end of row - 6sts.
Cast off.
Do another to match.
EARS - Make 2
Using the Cat Colour,
Cast on 8sts leaving a long thread for sewing
St st 2 rows
Row 3 - Skpo, K to last 2 sts, K2tog - 6sts
Row 4 - P
Repeat last 2 rows until 2sts remain.
P2 tog
Fasten Off.
INNER EARS - Make 2
With pale pink, co 6sts leaving a long thread for sewing
St st 2 rows
Decease the same as for the ears, again ending with 2 sts,
P2 tog, fasten off.
MAKE UP
Sew in all ends not needed for sewing.
Place an inner ear on each ear, with the bottom edges aligned and both right sides facing forward. The inner ear will sit just inside the ear. Lightly stitch it in place, picking up small stitches on the ear, making sure the stitches don't show through on the back of the ear.
Place the cat heads together, right sides facing in. Starting from one side (leaving the bottom edge open) stitch up and around cat using a backstitch and very small seam allowance, stopping 1/2 way down the other side.
At this stage, if you're not using a music box, leave a little of the side seam open and the bottom edge to make it easier to turn right side out and stuff. Continue finishing the seam with mattress stitch and stuff. Use a chopstick to help. Sew across the bottom edge.
Sew on the ears and embroider the facial features see the pics for guidance. For the eyes I made two lazy daisy stitches for each eye, one inside the other, and one stitch of black yarn vertically.
If you're using a music box, it's important to embroider the face and sew on the ears before putting in the box .
Again leave half the side seam open, checking to see you have enough room to slide in the music box, then turn the cat right side out.
Sew on the ears, and embroider the face. Leaving the side seam partly open helps to do this.
Place a little stuffing in the top of the head, then insert the music box, and some stuffing around the sides to give the cat some padding. Finish sewing up the seam from the outside now with a mattress stitch, stuffing as you go, if you need a little more. Sew across the bottom edge to finish.
Attach a gold thread for hanging and you're done