Clone Your Cat Head Shaping: A Photo Tutorial

This photo tutorial accompanies the instructions found after round 6 of the head of my Clone Your Cat pattern. (Currently in testing) Now available!


After round 6, you should have a cup shape. Remember it should be inside out relative to most amigurumi, with the more ridged side in.

 Start threading your 8" length of yarn through the inner loops, up through the middle of the stitch, counterclockwise around the circle. With a contrasting yarn as shown here, you get a striped candy cane effect. I'm using pink here so it's easy to see.

 Pull both ends out about 1.5" and tie a knot, leaving a 5" circumference ring that won't stretch out. Here I took a picture of the final version, using the same yarn as the rest of the body.

The ring should lay smoothly along the inner loops, so you can work round 7 normally, inserting the hook under both loops and the retaining ring.

January Doldrums Promotion

For the remainder of January get Sitting Pretty Kitty free with the coupon code BONUSKITTY and the purchase of any other pattern in the Ravelry shop. Ends midnight Jan 31 CST.

These little kittens fit in the palm of your hand. At 32 yards each, they are perfect for using up those awkwardly sized balls left over from previous projects.

Now Available: Sitting Pretty Kitty

This crochet pattern is now for sale for $3.00 USD through Ravelry. Kitty is approximately 3.5" tall seated.

Materials
32 yards worsted weight yarn
1 pair 9mm cat eyes
embroidery floss (nose/mouth)
needle for embroidery
small amount stuffing
size E crochet hook
wire slicker brush (optional)
Fur texture is created by brushing finished pieces with a slicker brush (found in pet stores). Fur texture is similar to the halo of the yarn used. Most soft, glossy-finish acrylic yarns will fluff up nicely without stretching out the stitches.

*Fennec Fox is delayed, but still coming!* 

Tabby Stripes Tutorial

This tutorial is an accompaniment to my Tabby Cat pattern to assist with stripe placement.

Before

After

 Stripes are added using a fabric marker. Pick one that does NOT need heat to set the ink.

The most important part of the striping to get a recognizable tabby is to draw a "M" on the forehead. There are usually a few additional stripes parallel to the legs of the "M"

Many tabbies also have winged "eyeliner" that follows the edge of the nose, across the top of the eye, and around to the side of the head.

Color the remainder of the body with varying thicknesses of stripes. Most stripes will not go entirely around the body or leg. Stripes can be multiple colors.

Blended black and brown stripes

For sharply defined stripes, smooth fur flat and draw across the top with short strokes in the direction of the fur.

Black stripes only

For softer stripes, tipping, and shading, fluff the fur up and draw marker through the fluffed part. The marker should never touch the stitches themselves.



Note: Depending on the yarn and marker, some of the ink may come off. Be sure to let ink dry completely, then rub gently with a paper towel to check. Remove excess by rubbing parallel the to stripes. Rubbing perpendicular to the stripes may transfer ink to unmarked areas.

Custom Cat Eye Tutorial

Most craft store cat eyes come in two colors: gold and green

Well, these "gold" eyes are more of an artificially flavored mac'n'cheese orange.

Solution: recolor them. Note: This only works on eyes with painted backs, not colored resin.

Step 1:
Gather materials:

• Cat safety eyes
• Assorted colors of permanent markers
• Metallic permanent marker
• Yarn needle
• File or sandpaper
• Paper towel

Step 2:
To remove the original paint, either file away the back of the eye or scrape the paint off with a needle with strokes radiating from the center. The eye on the left has had most of the paint scratched off with a needle. The eye on the right has been filed down. After filing, the eye can be scraped with a needle to add texture.

Step 3: 
Color the back of the eye with a permanent marker. I usually start with a light color. Let dry.


 

Step 4:
Lightly apply a second coat of a different color. Push the post of the eye through the paper towel and spin the eye against the surface of the towel. This rubs some of the wet ink off the ridges. Let dry.

Step 5:
If the background is a light color, stopping at step 4 is okay. However, the translucent marker ink is hard to see against dark colors. Apply one last coat of ink with a metallic permanent marker. Let dry

Done!

Now Available: Tabby Kitten

This crochet pattern is now for sale for $4.00 USD through Ravelry. Kitten is approximately 6" tall when standing.

Materials
90 yards worsted weight yarn
1 pair 6mm cat eyes
embroidery floss (nose/mouth)
needle for embroidery
stuffing
size E crochet hook
wire slicker brush (optional)
fabric marker (optional)

Fur texture is created by brushing finished pieces with a slicker brush (found in pet stores). Most soft, glossy-finish acrylic yarns will fluff up nicely without stretching out the stitches. If you choose to use a fabric marker to draw stripes, pick one that does not need heat to set the ink.

Coming Soon: Tabby Kitten

This pattern will soon be available on Ravelry.