Saturday, June 20, 2015

Van the Cat *crochet pattern

Van the Cat
Van the Cat is dear to my heart and a labor of love.  My kittles are always watching me work.  As I sat around trying to decide on my next pattern I looked at Mr Bigglesworth and thought a cat would be nice!
***Pattern is untested as I type, if you find any errors I would greatly appreciate a heads up!***
Mr Bigglesworth (Bigs) and Van the Cat

My sweet kittles Alice was started awake by the flash :3



Materials:

F hook (or hook needed to obtain a tight fabric)
0 steel hook (for nose)
ww yarn in your choice of colors (I used Red Heart Super Saver in White, red & black )
Small amt of black (for mouth)
pink embroidery floss for nose
24mm safety eyes  (You can always embroider this!)
20mm doll joints (you can use safety eyes, or sew in place!)
tapestry needle (to attach limbs etc)
fiberfill


Abbreviations:

MR: magic ring
sl: slip
st: stitch
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
sc3tog: single crochet 3 stitches together
hdc: half double crochet
5 dc bobble: insert hook into st draw up a loop, pull through 2 loops, repeat 4 more times in same st, yo draw through all loops on hook
f.o.: finish off
BPSC: back post sc
FPSC: front post sc

Note:
I use American terminology.  Be sure to read through the pattern before you begin.  If the pattern reads, "sc, 2sc, sc2tog" it would be read as "single crochet, 2 single crochet in next stitch, single crochet the next 2 stitches together".   Unless a specific repeat amount is written (ex: x3) you will repeat instructions given until end of each round. I like to use "invisible decreases"- use FLO, it helps the fabric lie smoother.  Stuff your project as you progress.  Unless noted otherwise Van the Cat is worked in amigurumi style in the round without joining. Make sure you mark your rounds, a scrap piece of contrasting yarn works great!
 Any Van the Cat's you make from my pattern are yours to do with as you please.  I ask that you please not distribute or represent my pattern as your own.  If you feel like sharing, please direct people to my blog :)  I like visitors!

Arms: x2

using F hook & color of your choice, change colors whenever you want, make your Van the Cat to your liking!  Stuff firmly as you work, I stuff a little lighter towards top of arm.

1: Mr 6 (6)

2: 2sc (12)

3: sc, 2sc (18)

4: sc2, 2sc (24)

5-7: sc (24)

8: sc12, 5dc bobble, sc11 (24)

9: sc (24)

10: sc2, sc2tog (18)

11: sc, sc2tog (12)

12-14: sc (12)

15: sc3, 2sc (15)

16-18: sc (15)

19: sc4, 2sc (18)

20-22: sc (18)

23: sc8, 2sc (20)

24-28: sc (20)

29: sc3, sc2tog (16)

30: sc (16) I placed the joint between rows 29/30 of arms they will attach to body between rows 65/66

31: sc2, sc2tog (12)

32: sc, sc2tog (8) f.o. leave a long tail, you may find you can't manipulate the joints well if you finish last round, if this is the case leave a a small amt of yarn extra and f.o. at round 31, after you have joint in place finish crochet rnd 32 :) leave open end until later on


Feet: x 2

Toes: make 3 per foot do NOT f.o. 3rd toe

1: Mr 6 (6)

2: sc, 2sc (9)

3: sc (9) f.o. toes 1 & 2

Begin foot/leg- see photos below if you need help with rnd 4


4: sc4, sk last 5 sts, sc4 in next toe, sk last 5 sts, sc9 in last toe, (I pick up a loop in 1st sc space of this toe as if doing a decrease to avoid sewing areas between toes closed) sc5 in next toe, (pick up loop in 1st sc space of the toe) sc 5 to marker. (27) you will have created a single round from 3 toes

5-6: sc (27)

7: *sc6, sc2tog* x3, sc3 (24)

8-9: sc (24) be sure to stuff as you work!

10: sc4, sc2tog (20)

11-13: sc (20)

14: sc3, sc2tog (16)

15-16: sc (16)

17: sc8, BPSC 8 (16)

18: FPSC 8, sc 8 (16)

19: sc9, hdc6, sc (16)

20-21: sc (16)

22: sc3, 2sc (20)

23-24: sc (20)

25: sc4, 2sc (24)

26-30: sc (24)

31: sc5, 2sc (28)

32-34: sc (28)  f.o. leg one continue with leg 2

Look at your cat feet, add a stitch or two to keep feet flat or you can leave loose, they will naturally bend a bit on their own.  Find the sides of the legs and line up the inner thigh center stitches, a count of mine may not help you as tension can have us in different places.  I place a piece of yarn as a marker to indicate these sts.

35: sc to first marker, sk remaining sts of this leg and begin to crochet in first leg, sc28, (pick up a loop in 1st st of this leg and continue to next leg) sc in sk sts of leg 2 to marker. (56)

36: sc6, sc2 (64)

37: sc (64)

38: sc7, 2sc (72)

39-49: sc (72)

50: sc7, sc2tog (64)  make sure you're stuffing firmly!

51-55: sc (64)

56; sc6, sc2tog (56)

57-58: sc (56)

59: sc5, sc2tog (48)

60-61: sc (48)

62: sc4, sc2tog (38)

63-64: sc (38)

65: sc3, sc2tog (30) joint will go between 65/66

66-69: sc (30)

70: sc3, sc2tog (25)

71: sc (25)

72: sc6, sc2tog, sc17 (24)

73-74: sc (24)

75: sc, 2sc (36)

76: sc5, 2sc (42)

Find side of head, place a marker in the center side sts (3 markers- inc/dec markers x2 and rnd marker)

77: sc to st before first marker, 2sc x3 (place marker in first sc of 1st 2sc, you will use this marker to indicate where increases and decreases are-continue to mark rounds!) sc to st before next marker, (move marker as with first increase) 2sc x3, sc to beginning of round (rnd marker)  (48)

78: sc (48)

79: sc to fist inc/dec marker: 2sc, sc x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc, 2sc x3, sc to rnd marker (54)

80: sc (54)

81: sc to inc/dec marker: 2sc, sc2 x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc2, 2sc x3, sc to rnd marker (60)

82: sc (60)

83: sc to inc/dec marker: 2sc, sc3 x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc3, 2sc x3, sc to rnd marker (66)

84: sc (66)

85: sc to inc/dec marker: 2sc, sc4 x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc4, 2sc x3, sc to rnd marker (72)

86: sc (72)

87: sc to inc/dec marker: 2sc, sc5 x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc5, 2sc x3, sc to rnd marker (78)

88-90: sc (78)

91: sc to inc/dec marker: sc2tog, sc5 x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc5, sc2tog x3, sc to rnd marker (72)

92: sc to inc/dec marker: sc2tog, sc4 x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc4, sc2tog x3, sc to rnd marker (66)

93: sc to inc/dec marker: sc2tog, sc3 x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc3, sc2tog x3, sc to rnd marker (60)

94:sc to inc/dec marker: sc2tog, sc2 x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc2, sc2tog x3, sc to rnd marker (54) 

95: sc to inc/dec marker: sc2tog, sc x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc, sc2tog x3, sc to rnd marker (48)

96: sc to inc/dec marker: sc2tog, x3, sc to next inc/dec marker: sc2tog x3, sc to rnd marker (42)

97-98: sc (42)

99: sc5, sc2tog (36) Place eyes now if using safety eyes between rnds 92/93 (I think) look for best spot!

100: sc4, sc2tog (30) keep stuffing!  Stuff the neck firmly to help hold shape

101: sc3, sc2tog (24)

102: sc2tog (12)

103: sc, sk 1 st (6) f.o.

Nose: with embroidery thread and size 0 steel hook

ch6
1: in 2nd ch from hook sc and in the next 4 ch (5) ch1 turn

2: sc2tog, sc, sc2tog (3) ch1 turn

3: sc3tog, ch1 f.o. leaving a tail to attach nose to face

Tail

with F hook and color of choice  stuff tail lightly as you progress

1: Mr4 (4)

2: 2sc (8)

3-42: sc (8) f.o. leaving a long tail for attaching to body  

Ears x2

with F hook and color choice Do NOT stuff

1: MR 4 (4)

2: 2sc (8)

3: sc (8)

4: 2sc, sc (12)

5: sc (12)

6: 2sc, sc2 (16)

7: sc (16)

8: 2sc, sc3 (20)

9: sc (20)

10: 2sc, sc4 (24)

11: sc (24) f.o. leaving a long tail for attaching ears to head


Collar

with F hook in color choice

ch35

1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (34) f.o. leaving a tail to sew collar to cat


Finishing


Cut 12 pieces of yarn approximately 6 inches long for hair tufts in ears and cheeks (3 per location) I used my tapestry needle to separate the yarn and trimmed to desired length after on Van.  I used a latch hook style knot to attach the hair.  

Sew tail to back of cat in location you like best.  

Attach the collar around neck of Van with a a few stitches.  

Sew smile on Van using black embroidery floss or yarn.  

Go nuts, give him whiskers or a mustache or anything you like!

Rnd 4 photo help:

Rnd 4: sc4

Rnd 4: sc 4 in next toe


Rnd 4: sc 9 in last toe

Rnd 4: pick a loop in first sc space

Rnd 4: continue to sc 5 in next toe 

Rnd 4: completed 1st st on 2nd toe

The black yarn in my "marker".  I place it before the first st of rnd 2 and carry back and forth as I complete each rnd, an easy way to quickly count rnds!

End of rnd 7


As I said above this pattern was written as I made Van and may have errors, if you need help or find an error please contact me I will be glad to help and fix any problems!

As always Happy Hooking!

Change colors whenever you like or not at all!

Thanks for visiting!




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