Crochet Halloween Pumpkin Cat

"When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween!"

What screams Halloween more than jack-o'-lanterns?

Hello! Today I'd like to share with you all a crochet pumpkin cat plush/decoration! I find it to be the perfect ratio of cat to pumpkin. XD Last year, I made several crochet pumpkins so I figured I'd mix it up a little with this fuzzy fella! :)

Enjoy!

Supplies:

• Red Heart Super Saver Yarn, 4 ply ( In green, orange, white, pink and black )
• Yarn Needle
• Scissors
• Pins (optional)
• Stuffing or scrap yarn
• 13-15mm plastic safety eyes
• Stitch marker or scrap yarn
• Pipe-cleaner (optional)

Note: I highly suggest the pipe-cleaners even though they are optional because without them you cant really see the tail when looking at the cat from the front.

Also, if you are going to purchase stitch markers I suggest not getting the plastic ones.

Difficulty:

Intermediate (5/10)

Abbreviations:

Sc = Single crochet

Dec = Decrease

Inc = Increase

Ch = Chain

Slst = Slip stitch

Hdc = Half-double crochet stitch

BLO = Back loops only

Dc = Double crochet

Note:

The instruction photos were done with a purple yarn for the cat because the black yarn was hard to see in photos.

(In the main color)

Row 1: 6 Sc in a magic ring

Row 2: *Inc* around x6 (12)

Row 3: *Sc1, Inc* around x6 (18)

Row 4: *Sc2, Inc* around x6 (24)

Row 5: *Sc3, Inc* around x6 (30)

Row 6: *Sc4, Inc* around x6 (36)

Row 7-16: Sc 9 rows

Add the eyes between rows 10-11 and 5 stitches apart as seen in the photo (if the eye placement doesn't look right, it might be the gauge or the type of yarn you used so feel free to adjust them how you like.)

Row 17: *Sc4, Dec* around x6 (30)

Row 18: *Sc3, Dec* around x6 (24)

Row 19: *Sc2, Dec* around x6 (18)

Row 20: *Sc1, Dec* around x6 (12)

Fasten off and stuff the head generously. Leave a long 4-5" tail for sewing later. You will leave this gap open underneath as the head will be sitting on top of the pumpkin and will not be seen.

(In the pumpkin color)

Row 1: Ch 26

Row 2-20: BLO, Dc 18 rows

Row 21: Fold your piece in half as shown in the 3rd photo and single crochet both sides together forming a long tube shape.

Fasten off and cut a long 5-6" tail. Begin to pick up and grab stitches along the top side (the side where the tail yarn you left starts) and cinching it along like a draw string bag. Do this on both sides and stuff firmly before ending and closing off the last side.

(In the main color)

(M2)

Row 1: 6 Sc in a magic ring

Row 2: Sc 1 row

Row 3: *Sc1, Inc* around x6 (9)

Row 4: Sc 1 row

Row 5: *Sc2, Inc* around x6 (12)

Row 6: Sc 1 row

Fasten off and leave a 3-4" tail for sewing later

(In brown)

Row 1: 6 Sc in a magic ring

Row 2: *Sc1, Inc* around x6 (9)

Row 3: *Sc1, Dec* around x6 (9)

Row 4: Single crochet 1 row

Fasten off and leave a 2-3" tail for sewing later.

(In green)

Row 1: Ch 5

(Row 2 is done on both the front and back side of the foundation chain, which makes for a total of 10 stitches around.)

Row 2: Sc1, Inc1, Hdc1, Inc1, Ch 2, (going into the next stitch on the opposite side of the foundation chain ->) inc1, Hdc1, Inc1, Sc1, Slst1

Fasten off and leave a 1-2" tail for sewing later.

(In the pumpkin color)

Row 1: 6 Sc in a magic ring

Row 2: *Inc* around x6 (12)

Row 3: *Sc1, Inc* around x6 (18)

Fasten off and leave a 2-3" tail for sewing later.

(In the main color)

Row 1: 6 Sc in a magic ring

Row 2: *Sc1, Inc* around x6 (9)

Row 3-28: Sc 25 rows

Fasten off and leave a 2-3" tail for sewing later.

Additions to the pumpkin:

Before attaching all of the pieces, you will need to form the ridges on the pumpkin. To do this just take a long 6-7" spare piece of pumpkin color yarn and pull a strand vertically across over every 2nd row. You have to pull these strands tight to get that pumpkin ridged look so be sure to secure this strand firmly before sewing. This process makes it look more like a pumpkin and less like an orange apple. XD

The Assembly:

Begin by pinning all of your parts together on top and around the pumpkin as shown in the photo.

( The tail (base) will be pinned behind the body, but will be sewn facing forward. )

Before sewing the tail on, I suggest you add a pipe cleaner (I didn't stuff the tail but you can if you would like to) inside of it so it can bend forward and be seen from the front. Also, when sewing the tail on you will want to flatten the base and add it as if it were not tube shaped (flat).

On every individual piece you should have a yarn tail for sewing into the pumpkin that was left over, be careful not to cut it.

after sewing a part in place, pull the yarn through to another part of the body to then cut and hide (this prevents you from having to tie any bulky and unnecessary knots).

The Facial Additions:

Nose:

(With pink yarn)

Sew a dash 1 stitch below the eyes placed horizontally. Then with the same yarn you will come out about 1-2 stitches (depends on your preference) underneath the dash. Then bring that yarn upwards and join in the middle of the dash above, this should look like a "T" shape.

Eyes:

(With white yarn)

As close as the eye as possible, place one stitch on the top, outer-side of the eye. You will bring the yarn back down and once again place the stitch as closely to the eye as possible, place this stitch on the bottom lower side as shown in the photo above. This should be repeated twice per eye to form a "C" shape that cuffs the outer part of the eye.

Congratulations!

You have just completed your very own pumpkin kitty plush!

Please share the finished photo of your project below, I'd love to see what you made!