***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Etsy HERE and on LoveCrochet HERE! This beautifully formatted PDF includes the step-by-step pictures and is a total of 7 pages including the cover page!
Meet Chester, our curious Christmas cat who loves hiding in stockings! His arms and tail have wire in them so they are bendable! Chester can pivot backwards, so this stocking is functional as you can stuff special goodies in it!
***Please follow along with my step-by-step blog post HERE to see more detailed photos and to read the story behind Chester!
Materials:
- red yarn (I used Lion Brand Yarn’s Vanna’s Choice in Scarlet), 38 g
- white yarn (I used Lion Brand Yarn’s Vanna’s Choice in White), 20 g
- fuzzy white yarn (I used Lion Brand Yarn’s Homespun in Hepplewhite), 13 g
- light grey yarn (I used Lion Brand Yarn’s Vanna’s Choice in Silver Heather), 55 g
- dark grey yarn (I used Lion Brand Yarn’s Vanna’s Choice in Charcoal Grey), 4 g
- 2.75 mm Clover Amour crochet hook (with red, dark grey, and light grey yarn), 4 mm Clover Amour crochet hook (with fuzzy white yarn)
- Yarn needle (bent tip helpful for attaching amigurumi parts- see HERE)
- fiberfill
- pink felt (for lining of ears)
- 9 mm safety eyes
- black embroidery floss or thin cotton yarn
- glue gun
- decorative floral wiring (12 gauge)
- Clover lock ring stitch markers
- dog slicker brush (optional)
Note:
- I worked in continuous rounds (vs. joined rounds) unless otherwise indicated.
- For a cleaner colour change, when working last stitch in old colour: work as if typical single crochet until two stitches are left on the hook (i.e. insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop). Use new colour to yarn over and pull through both loops. Work slip stitch in next stitch using new colour. Then continue crocheting single crochets as normal with new colour.
Finished Dimensions:
- Stocking: 10″/25.4 cm long (top of fuzzy rim to bottom of toe), 10″/25.4 cm circumference at upper stocking; 7″/17.8 cm from tip of toe to back of heel
- With cat inside: 17″/43 cm (top of curved tail to tip of toe)
***STOCKING:
We will begin with the toe of the stocking. Using white yarn and 2.75 mm hook,
Round 1: 6 sc in Magic Ring. (6 sts)
R2: Inc around. (12 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, Inc*, rep 6 times. (18 sts)
R4: *Sc 2, Inc*, rep 6 times. (24 sts)
R5: *Sc 3, Inc*, rep 6 times. (30 sts)
R6: *Sc 4, Inc*, rep 6 times. (36 sts)
R7: *Sc 5, Inc*, rep 6 times. (42 sts)
R8-15: Sc 42
R16: Sc 6. Switch to red yarn, Sc 36. (42 sts)
R17-18: Sc 42
R19: *Sc 20, Inc*, rep 2 times. (44 sts)
R20-24: Sc 44
Place stitch marker in last stitch of round (1st stitch marker- green in pic below). DO NOT CUT RED YARN (we will continue working with this after the heel is complete). Count 17 stitches clockwise and place stitch marker (2nd stitch marker- peach in pic). This 2nd marker is where we will begin working in turned rounds to make the heel!
We will be working back and forth in turned rows for this part.
Using white yarn, join in stitch where second stitch marker (peach) is located,
Row 1: Sc 22.
Rows 2-7: Chain 1, turn. Starting from second chain from hook, Sc 22.
Chain 10, slip stitch to first single crochet of Row 7.
Now we will begin working in continuous unjoined rounds to form the back heel of the stocking:
Round 1: Single crochet around heel, then back loops of Chain 10 (i.e. Sc 21, Sc 10 in back loops only, Sc 1) (32 sts)
R2: *Sc 2, Dec*, rep 8 times. (24 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, Dec*, rep 8 times. (16 sts)
R4: *Dec*, rep 8 times. (8 sts)
R5: *Dec*, rep 4 times. (4 sts)
Fasten off.
Now, we will begin the upper body of the stocking! Work in continuous unjoined rounds.
Starting in the stitch where you placed the 1st stitch marker (green) and where working red yarn is located.
Round 1: Sc 44 (my numbers were: Sc 16 for the red part, Sc 22 for the white part [using resultant front loops], Sc 6 for the red part).
R2-22: Sc 44 (44 sts)
Fasten off.
Fuzzy rim of stocking:
Using fuzzy white yarn and 4 mm hook,
Chain 31, slip stitch to first chain to join.
Round 1: Chain 1 (counts as 1 sc), Sc 30, sl st to join. (31 sts)
R2-6: Repeat R1.
Fasten off, leave long end for sewing. When working with fuzzy yarn, the “wrong” side is fuzzier. Thus, ensure that the wrong side is facing outwards.
Sew fuzzy rim to top of stocking so that first round of fuzzy rim overlaps with last round of red stocking.
Optional: Use dog slicker brush to brush the yarn to make it even fuzzier.
Stuff stocking with fiberfill to help it keep its rounded shape.
***CAT
Head:
Using light grey yarn and 2.75 mm hook,
Chain 7 (this is the foundation chain).
Round 1: Starting from second chain from hook, Sc 6 in back loops of foundation chain. Turn and Sc 6 in front loops of the foundation chain [we are making an oval by crocheting around the chain]. (12 sts)
***To see a step-by-step tutorial on how to crochet around a foundation chain, please see HERE!
R2: Inc, Sc 4, Inc x 2, Sc 4, Inc. (16 sts)
R3: Inc x 2, Sc 5, Inc x 3, Sc 5, Inc. (22 sts)
R4: Inc x 3, Sc 7, Inc x 3, Sc 9. (28 sts)
R5: Sc 1, Inc x 3, Sc 11, Inc x 3, Sc 10. (34 sts)
R6: Sc 2, *Sc 4, Inc*, rep 6 times, Sc 2. (40 sts)
R7-16: Sc 40
R17: *Sc 3, dec*, rep 8 times. (32 sts)
Insert 9 mm safety eyes between rounds 13 and 14, 8 stitches apart. Embroider nose and whiskers using black embroidery floss or thin cotton yarn. Embroider nose between rounds 13 and 14. Embroider 2 whiskers on each side between Rounds 13/14 and 14/15 Begin stuffing head.
R18: *Sc 2, dec*, rep 8 times. (24 sts)
R19: *Sc 2, dec*, rep 6 times. (18 sts).
R20: *Sc 1, dec*, rep 6 times. (12 sts)
Continue stuffing.
R21: *Dec*, rep 6 times. (6 sts)
Fasten off.
Stripes (make 3):
Using dark grey yarn and 2.75 mm hook,
Chain 18. Fasten off and leave long end for sewing. Each stripe measured 3.15″/8 cm . Sew stripes on top of cat’s head using tapestry needle. We placed them so that the fronts of the stripes are located between Rounds 8 and 9.
Ears (make 2):
Using light grey yarn and 2.75 mm hook,
Round 1: 4 sc in Magic Ring.
R2: *Inc*, rep 4 times. (8 sts)
R3: *Sc 1, Inc*, rep 4 times. (12 sts)
R4: *Sc 3, Inc*, rep 3 times. (15 sts)
R5: *Sc 4, Inc*, rep 3 times. (18 sts)
R6: *Sc 5, Inc*, rep 3 times. (21 sts)
Fasten off and leave long end for sewing. Cut triangles out of pink felt and hot glue onto ears as lining. Sew ears onto head of cat.
Arms (make 2):
Using dark grey yarn and 2.75 mm hook,
Round 1: 5 sc in Magic Ring. (5 sts)
R2: *Inc*, rep 5 times. (10 sts)
Optional: Embroider three black lines onto paws to form claws after Round 3.
R3-5: Sc 10 (10 sts).
Switch to light grey yarn,
R6-14: Sc 10 (10 sts)
Fasten off and leave long end for sewing. Cut decorative floral wiring and bend tip. Insert into arm so that bent tip is at paw. Gently stuff.
Attach onto bottom of cat’s head as pictured below.
Shape arms into S curve.
Tail:
Using dark grey yarn and 2.75 mm hook,
Round 1: 4 sc in Magic Ring (4 sts).
R2: *Inc*, rep 4 times (8 sts).
R3-7: Sc 8 (8 sts).
Stuff lightly as you go.
Switch to light grey yarn,
R8-47: Sc 8 (8 sts)
My finished tail measured 10.5″/26.7 cm. Keep adding rounds to desired length.
Fasten off and leave long end for sewing. Cut decorative floral wire and insert into tail.
Attach 1.25″/3 cm of tail to inside of stocking using fuzzy white yarn (so that seam is not visible from outside of stocking).
Carefully position cat’s head onto tail and attach 1.5″/3.8 cm together using grey yarn. The bottom of our attachment started between Rounds 13/14 (between same rounds as where safety eyes are positioned). Check to make sure that the cat’s head and arms will cover the opening of the stocking at resting position.
Cat’s head should be able to pivot up and down so that items can be placed in the stocking.
Here is a video showing how functional Chester can be!
Congratulations, your Chester the cat is complete! Enjoy bringing him out every Christmas, and make him as special gifts for all the cat lovers in your life!
{This post is sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn! I’ve loved working with their yarn throughout the years and I’m thrilled that I get to collaborate with them every month!}
This pattern is an original pattern by Stephanie Lau of All About Ami. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but please DO NOT sell the pattern or distribute it.
You may sell products made from this pattern but please clearly credit the design to me, Stephanie Lau of All About Ami, and provide a link to my blog www.AllAboutAmi.com. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you for being respectful and for your understanding!
