Janice (a free knitting pattern for a plush cat)

This pattern is in memory of our cat, Janice, who was solid black. I made this stuffed cat for my 3-year old son. The face could look better, but I'm not very talented at that part yet :)

The cat is knitted from the top down, seamlessly, and then the ears are worked last.

Here is a printer-friendly version of the pattern!

Materials:

• TLC Amore yarn in black (or whatever your color preference)... I would not substitute yarn here, unless you pick something with a lot of texture to it. There are a lot of increases and decreases, and this yarn hides ALL of that, including any flaws.
• US size 5 dpns (or long circular for magic loop, which is what I used)
• contrasting yarn for the face
• stitch markers
• stitch holders (I just used scrap yarn)
• tapestry needle
• polyester fiberfill (batting)

Gauge:

• not important

Stitch Abbreviations:

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• Sts: Stitches
• KFB: Knit front & back--Knit the stitch like you normally would, only don't slide it off the left needle. Now knit through the back loop and slide off.
• PM: Place marker.
• SM: Slip marker.
• K2tog: Knit the next two stitches together.

Directions:

CO 6 sts, then knit one row as if you were doing an i-cord. Divide the sts to work in the round, marking beginning of round.

Rnd 1: KFB all sts
Rnd 2 (and all even rnds): Knit.
Rnd 3: (K1, KFB) around. 18 sts total.
Rnd 5: (K2, KFB) around. 24 sts.
Rnd 7: (K3, KFB) around. 30 sts.
Continue increasing 6 sts per round in this manner, until there are 54 sts on the needles.
Knit 4 rounds even.

Begin decrease...
Rnd 1: (K7, K2tog) around.
Rnd 2 (and all even rnds): Knit.
Rnd 3: (K6, K2tog) around.
Rnd 5: (K5, K2tog) around.
Decrease in this manner until you have 24 sts.

Neck & Shoulders...
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: (K2, KFB) around (32 sts)
Rnd 3: (K3, KFB) around (40 sts)
Rnd 4: (K4, KFB) around (48 sts)
Rnd 5: K2, PM, K20, PM, K4, PM, K20, PM, K2
Rnd 6: K1, KFB, SM, K20, SM, KFB, K2, KFB, SM, K20, SM, KFB, K1
Rnd 7: K2, KFB, SM, K20, SM, KFB, K4, KFB, SM, K20, SM, KFB, K2
Rnd 8: K3, KFB, SM, K20, SM, KFB, K6, KFB, SM, K20, SM, KFB, K3

Rnd 9: K5, then move those sts to a st holder. K20, Sl next 10 sts to another holder, K20, place next 5 sts onto the first st holder. You should have 10 sts on each of the two st holders.
Rnd 10: Knit (40 sts)
Rnd 11: (K4, KFB) around (48 sts)
Knit 3 rounds even
Rnd 15: (K5, KFB) around (56 sts)
Knit 3 rounds even
Rnd 19: (K6, KFB) around
Knit 3 rounds even

Begin Decrease...
Rnd 1: (K6, K2tog) around
Knit 3 rows even.
Rnd 5: (K5, K2tog) around
Knit 3 rows even.
Rnd 9: (K4, K2tog) around
Knit 3 rows even.

Form tail...
Rnd 13: K3, K2tog, K3, PM, K4, PM, K1, K2tog, (K3, K2tog) to end.
Rnd 14: K7, SM, KFB, K2, KFB, SM, K to end.
Rnd 15: K7, sl 6 sts between markers onto st holder, K to end. (29 sts)
Rnd 16: Knit.

Form legs...
Rnd 1: K1, PM, K12, PM, K4, PM, K to last 3 sts, PM, K3
Rnd 2: KFB, SM, K12, SM, KFB, K2, KFB, SM, K9, SM, KFB, K2
Rnd 3: K2, SM, K12, SM, K3, KFB, K1, KFB, K9, SM, KFB, K1, KFB, K1
Rnd 4: K2, SM, K12, SM, K3, KFB, K2, KFB, K1, SM, K9, SM, KFB, K2, KFB, K to end.
Rnd 5: K2 and slip those two onto a st holder, SM, K12, Sl 10 sts between markers onto st holder, knit to last marker, slip last 8 sts onto the first st holder.


At this point, stop and fill with the batting (not too full, because you'll distort the shape).

Legs & Tail:
Slide the sts from the holder onto the needles, and pick up 2 sts (or more, to avoid leaving a hole). Work stockinette stitch in the round until desired length. Fill with batting (I left the tail empty), break yarn, and pull through remaining sts. Pull tight and using the tapestry needle, weave in the ends.

Ears (make 2):
CO 12 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl to last st, then turn.
Row 3: K1, then pass the unworked st from the right needle OVER the one you just knitted and off the needle (decrease made). Knit across to last 2 sts, K2tog.
Repeat rows 2-3 until there are 2 sts left. K2tog, BO.
Using the tapestry needle, place the ears into position and sew into place.

Face:
Like I said, I'm no expert with this part :) Just embroider or duplicate stitch a face on your kitty.

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Tooth Fairy Pillow: A free knitting pattern

When I was a kid, my mom had sewn a tooth-shaped pillow out of white fur, with a little pocket to put our teeth while waiting for the tooth fairy to come. I now know that she did this so we didn't lose the tooth before she could swap it with a dollar bill. I decided to create a knitted version. Here is my pattern...

Here is a printer-friendly PDF copy!


Materials:

• worsted weight yarn in white, red, and blue. Not sure how much of the white yarn I used, but I would estimate maybe 80 yards? The red and blue were just scraps.
• US 5 double-pointed needles
• 1 US 5 circular needle (for holding stitches--if you don't have one, you could thread a piece of yarn through the stitches to hold them)
• crochet hook for provisional cast-on
• yarn markers
• tapestry needle
• batting for stuffing the pillow

Gauge:

• not important

Abbreviations:

• PM- place marker
• KLL- knit left loop: with your left needle, pick up the left loop of the stitch TWO ROWS below the last completed stitch, and knit it through back loop (an increase made)
• WNKS- wrap next stitch: turn the work, then slip the first stitch on the right hand needle to the left hand needle. Send the working yarn back between the needles, then slip that unworked stitch back onto the right hand needle. Then bring the yarn forward to purl.
• WNPS- wrap next purl stitch: turn the work, then slip the first stitch on the right hand needle to the left hand needle. Bring the working yarn forward between the needles, then slip that unworked stitch back onto the right hand needle. Then send the yarn to the back again.
• K2tog- knit the next two stitches together.
• KWS- knit wrapped stitch: insert your right needle under the "wrap" first, then the stitch that it is wrapped around. Knit them both together.

Directions: (you'll be casting-on just below the "crown" and working down. Then later, you'll work the crown)

Provisionally cast-on 40 sts, divide evenly on dpns, and join to work in the round. PM to mark beginning of each round.

Rnds 1-5: Knit.
Rnd 6: *K8, K2tog* Repeat from * around.
Rnd 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: *K7, K2tog* Repeat from * around.
Rnd 9: Knit.
Rnd 10: *K6, K2tog* Repeat from * around. (You should have 28 sts)
Rnd 11: Knit.
Rnd 12: *K7, KLL* Repeat from * around. (Don't forget to KLL after the very last stitch of the round--you'll have 32 sts now)
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: *K8, KLL* Repeat from * around. (36 sts)
Rnd 15: Knit.
Rnd 16: *K9, KLL* Repeat from * around. (40 sts)
Rnds 17-19: Knit.

Rnd 20: K the first 20 sts with the circ needle (or use dpns and slip the 20 sts onto a stitch holder or slide a scrap piece of yarn through the sts) Let these hang around, you'll be working them later. K the last 20 with the dpns--you'll be working these sts now.

CO 2 sts, and join into the round (22 sts on the dpns now).
Rnds 1-2: Knit.
Rnd 3 (short rows): K18, WNKS. P14, WNPS. K9, WNKS. P7, WNPS. K7, KWS, K4, KWS, K3 (you should be at the end of the round now).
Rnd 4: Knit, KWS as needed.
Rnd 5-6: Knit.
Rnd 7: K to last 4 sts, *K2tog* twice. (you should have 20 sts)
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: *K3, K2tog* across.
Rnds 10-11: Knit.
Rnd 12: *K2, K2tog* across.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: *K1, K2tog* across.
Rnd 15: Knit. Break yan, and thread remaining yarn through sts and pull tight.

Using the stitches from the circ needle (or holder) join yarn and knit around. CO 2 sts and join in the round. Repeat rounds 1-15 above. Sew the opening between the legs.

Working the "crown":
"Unzip" the provisional cast-on carefully, slipping each stitch onto a dpn. PM at the beginning of the round, and after the 20th stitch to mark the center. (I used 4 dpns, with 10 sts on each needle)

Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2 (short rows): *K14, WNKS, P8, WNPS, K8, KWS*, K to middle PM. Repeat between *, then K to start of round (KWSts as needed).
Rnd 3: Knit around, KWSts as needed).
Rnds 4-5: Repeat rnds 2 and 3.

You may want to stop here and fill the pillow with the batting before going on. I used a pencil eraser to stuff it into the "legs".
Rnd 6: *K2, K2tog* around.
Rnd 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: *K1, K2tog* around.
Rnd 9: *K2tog* around. Break yarn, and draw through remaining sts. Make sure you have as much stuffing as you want, then pull tight and weave in ends.

Pocket:
CO 10 sts with red (or whatever color you want).
Rnd 1: Sl1, *P across*
Rnd 2: Sl1, *K across*
Repeat for 7 rows. BO. Sew the pocket onto the tooth pillow.

For the face, you can embroider eyes and a mouth (I just used scrap yarn for this).

(Copyright notice: This is an original pattern created by myself, and may not be distributed without my written consent. You may link to this pattern, and use the photos with a link back to the pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or republish the pattern in any way. Thank you!)

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