The amigurumi cat is a favorite because the shape is simple and instantly recognizable: a rounded head, a small body, two triangle ears, and a tail. With the magic ring and the invisible decrease you can make a sitting kitten in an evening, and the same shapes scale up to a larger plush or down to a keychain.
Cats give you room to add personality. Stripes from color changes make a tabby, a long tail and tufted ears make a lynx, and embroidered details turn a plain kitten into a specific breed. Most cats are worked in continuous rounds of single crochet so the stuffing stays hidden.
What you need
- Yarn
- Amigurumi cotton or worsted (CYC 4) with a 3.0 mm hook, one size down from the label. About 100 yards.
- Skill
- Beginner to intermediate. The magic ring, increases, and invisible decreases cover almost every cat.
Cat projects to make
- 1Sitting kitten. A round head and body with triangle ears, worked in one evening. Teaches spheres and ear shaping.
- 2Tabby cat with stripes. Color changes every few rounds. Teaches clean color joins in continuous rounds.
- 3Sleeping cat. A curled, flat shape with no standing parts. A relaxing, beginner-friendly make.
- 4Keychain kitten. A miniature in fine yarn or thread. Fast, giftable, and great decrease practice.
Where to find free cat patterns
Amigurumi cats are well covered by the free-pattern community. Ravelry filters cats by free, and amigurumi blogs publish detailed photo tutorials. Look for round-by-round stitch counts and a photo of each stage so you can check your shaping.
Stitches you will use
- Single CrochetUS: sc / UK: dc
- Chain StitchUS: ch / UK: ch
- Slip StitchUS: sl st / UK: ss
Looking for more? See all crochet amigurumi patterns.