Kill ‘em with cuteness this Halloween. This cat sweater is crocheted mostly using the tunisian method, giving the appearance of knitted fabric. Make in the color scheme shown for a spooky, yet adorable black cat.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 3-6 mo (12-18 mo, 2-3 year, 4-5 year, 6-7 year, 8-9 year) to fit chest 17.5 (19.5, 21.5, 24.5, 27.5, 30.5)”
Shown in size 2-3 years
Gauge: 16 sts and 22 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Tunisian knit stitch after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Universal Yarn Deluxe DK Superwash (100% Superwash Wool; 284 yards [260 meters]/100 grams): 835 Ebony (MC, 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4) balls), 828 Pulp (CC1, 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) balls), 818 Dusty Blue (CC2, 1 ball all sizes)
Hook: US size H/8 (5.0 mm) Tunisian; US size G/6 (4.0 mm) (regular hook)
Notions: Tapestry needle
Abbreviation
Fphdc = Front post half double crochet
Special Stitches
Work Loops off Hook: Yo, pull through 1 lp on hook, (yo, pull through 2 lps on hook) across. Last lp on hook counts as first lp of next row.
Tunisian Knit Stitch (TKS): Insert hook through work from front to back between strands of next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through.
Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern
Row 1:
Pick-up Pass: (First lp on hk counts as a st) TKS to end of row.
Return Pass: Work Loops off Hook.
Rep Row 1 for patt.
Left Dec: (Worked on a Return Pass) Yo, pull through 1 lp on hook, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook. (1 st dec’d)
Right Dec: (Worked on a Return Pass) Yo, pull through 3 lps on hook. (1 st dec’d)
Pattern Notes
Each row of Tunisan Knit Stitch Pattern consists of two passes: a pick-up pass and a return pass. The right side is always facing.
The cat motif on the front of the sweater is worked using the intarsia method.
Each square on the chart counts as one row of Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern / 2 passes.
When switching to a new color, bring the new color up and around the old color to prevent holes from forming in the work.
This sweater is worked in pieces and seamed.
Pattern
Back
Hem
With MC and smaller hook, ch 13.
Row 1 (RS): Working through bottom bumps, sc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn. (12 sc)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, hdc in blo of each st across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in blo of each st across, turn.
Rows 4-37 (41, 45, 51, 57, 63): Rep Rows 2-3. Do not turn at the end of the last row.
Main Back
Slide Tunisian hook through live loop. This counts as one st.
Row 1: Insert hook through next row and pull lp through; rep from * across. (37 (41, 45, 51, 57, 63) sts on cable)
Work Return Pass of Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern.
Rows 2-48 (56, 66, 76, 86, 98): Cont in Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern.
Fasten off.
Hem Edging
Row 1 (RS): With CC2, work 37 (41, 45, 51, 57, 63) sc along lower edge, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, fphdc in each sc across.
Fasten off.
Front
Hem
With CC1, work as for Back.
Main Front
Work as for Main Back through Row 24 (28, 32, 38, 44, 50).
Begin Chart
Work Rows 1-12 of Cat chart. Each row of chart counts as 2 pass/1 row of Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern.
Cut CC1, continue in MC only.
Work 4 (8, 12, 16, 20, 24) rows even in Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern.
Shape Left Neck
Row 1: Work Pick-up Pass of Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern over 14 (15, 17, 19, 21, 24) sts, leaving rem 23 (26, 28, 32, 36, 39) sts unworked, work Left Dec, work Return Pass to end. (1 st dec’d; 13 (14, 16, 18, 20, 23) sts rem)
Row 2: Work 1 row even in Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern.
Rep Rows 1- 2, 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5) more times. (10 (11, 12, 14, 16, 18) sts rem for Shoulder)
Fasten off.
Shape Right Neck
Skip center 9 (11, 11, 13, 15, 15) Neck sts, join yarn to next st.
Row 1: Work Pick-up Pass of Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern over 14 (15, 17, 19, 21, 24) sts, work Return Pass to last 3 sts, work Right Dec. (1 st dec’d, 13 (14, 16, 18, 20, 23) sts rem)
Row 2: Work 1 row even in Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern.
Rep Rows 1-2, 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5) more times. (10 (11, 12, 14, 16, 18) sts rem for Shoulder).
Fasten off.
Hem Edging
Row 1 (RS): With CC2, work 37 (41, 45, 51, 57, 63) sc along lower edge, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, fphdc in each sc across.
Fasten off.
Sleeves
Cuff
With MC and smaller hook, ch 7.
Row 1 (RS): Working through bottom bumps, sc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn. (6 sc)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, hdc in blo of each st across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in blo of each st across, turn.
Rows 4-21 (23, 25, 27, 27, 29): Rep Rows 2-3. Do not turn at the end of the last row.
Main Sleeve
Slide Tunisian hook through live loop. This counts as one st.
Row 1: Insert hook through next row and pull lp through; rep from * across. (21 (23, 25, 27, 27, 29) sts on cable)
Work Return Pass of Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern.
Inc Row: With first lp on hook, Inc, work Pick-Up Pass to last st, Inc, pick up last st. (2 sts inc’d; 23 (25, 27, 29, 29, 31) sts)
Work Return Pass.
Rep Inc Row every 6 rows, 3 (4, 5, 6, 8, 9) more times. (29 (33, 37, 41, 45, 49) sts)
Work even in Tunisian Knit Stitch Pattern until Sleeve meas 6 (7, 8 ½, 10, 11 ½, 13)” from bottom edge of Cuff.
Fasten off.
Cuff Edging
Row 1 (RS): With CC2, work 21 (23, 25, 27, 27, 29) sc along lower edge, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, fphdc in each sc across. Fasten off.
Finishing
Block pieces to finished measurements.
Cat Face
With MC, follow Cat Face chart for working duplicate stitches as noted. Center the chart across the black cat outline on the Front piece.
For whiskers, use a single strand of line embroidery.
Sew shoulder seams. Sew sleeve and side seams.
Neck Edging
Attach CC2 to Back Right neck with sl st.
Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, work sc evenly around neck opening, working 1 sc for each sc and each row, join with sl st to beg sc turn.
Rnd 2 (WS): Ch 1, fphdc in each sc around, join with sl st to beg hdc.
Fasten off.
Weave in ends. Steam seams.