amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Dannielle · 10-15-2003, 10:32 AM

kittens:

with an E or F hook and mohair yarn (can use thicker yarn and a bigger hook or double thickness of yarn and bigger hook for a mama cat)

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kitten body (mama cat)

ch12 (22), turn
HDC in 3rd ch from hook and to end of row, ch2, turn, hdc in next hdc and in each hdc until the end of the row. continue in this pattern until you have a perfect square (check by folding diagonally)
tie off with long yarn for sewing

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kitten head (mama)

ch 6 (11)
HDC in 3rd ch from hook and to end of row, ch2, turn, hdc in first hcd and in each following hdc until the end of the row.
continue in this pattern until you have rectangle that can be folded in half to make 2 perfect squares.
tie off with long yarn for sewing
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finishing body

the centers of all 4 sides meet in the middle to form legs. Pinch one corner at a time and stitch closed to middle. stuff with wool
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head

fold in half (fold is top of head). stitch both sides closed leaving bottom open. then make a running stitch from the center of one side up to the center-top...then back down to the center of the other side. pull to cinch...this forms ears.

stuff and close bottom with a running stitch that you cinch an bit to round out the face.

embroider eyes and nose or use glass beads for eyes or leave faceless

sew head to body.
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tail

with a yarn on hook slip your hook under a body-yarn where tail should be. make a sc. then ch 8-10 stitches. turn. sc in 2nd ch from hook and to end. tie off and tuck in all yarn ends.

Dannielle · 10-15-2003, 10:44 AM

with a hook that is one the small side for the yarn you have available...you want a tight-ish stitch so stuffing doesn't show much, if at all

Ch12, turn
HDC in 3rd chain from hook and to end of row, ch2, turn, hdc in first chain from hook
continue until you have a square

tie off with long end for sewing

fold in half diagonally...sew one side..stuff...sew second side closed.

poke needle up through center of the back and then straight down to the bottom point...pull a bit to make the back curve in. tie off and tuck in ends

stitch on a comb made from red felt and a yellow/gold beak (triangle)...embroider eyes...tie on tail feathers (yarn that gets fluffed out) if desired)

NEST:

ch 4..slip stitch into 1st ch to make a loop

ch2

3 dc in each ch (12 dc total)

sl st to connect to first dc

ch2,turn

2dc in each dc all the way around

sl st to connect to first dc in that row...ch2 and turn

sc in each dc. (if you know how to make loops with sc's then make loops with this round that you'll cut to make the nesty-fringe)

tie off, tuck in end of yarn.

if you didn't make loops with the last row of sc's then tie on yarn fringe,cut to length, and fluff

sahmfiberaddict · 10-15-2003, 11:58 AM

Thanks for posting these

huskrkid · 10-15-2003, 01:34 PM

Oooooooooh I love these! Thanks!!

branwyn · 10-15-2003, 01:36 PM

great! i have no idea how to knit but i can crochet pretty well, thanks!

Dannielle · 10-15-2003, 11:34 PM

you're all very welcome!

Branwyn...that's me too. I can crochet *anything* with or without a pattern but with knitting I'm still at the big needles and makin' square things stage. LOL!

It irritates me that all the waldorf craft books only have patterns for knitting animals. So I'm working on changing them to crochet since it's easier for me to make up a crochet pattern than muddle through a knit pattern.

I did make some ducks too...haven't perfected it yet but when I do I'll share

I want to tackle horses too.

LisaC · 10-16-2003, 07:27 PM

ugh, I can't knit or crochet. I don't know what it is but I lose track of stitches blech!!! I really want to knit though, I love the look.

Thanks for posting this your animals are adorable.

Nutmeg · 10-18-2003, 10:38 PM

OMG that is awesome! I haven't crocheted since I took up knitting but I may have to now darn you Danielle

RebeckaK · 12-23-2003, 02:32 PM

It might be my preggo brain but I am having some probs with this pattern. I can not get the head to look right in proprtion to the body.
Kitten body and kitten head are same width
Mama head is smaller than the kitten head but body size is much bigger.
I made one both ways, both mama and kitten have massive heads. Wahhhh, they look nothing like yours danielle. Is it possible that there is a typo? BTW, I wish I had a digital camera to post my results. the baby kitten has a head twice as big as the body and I didn't cinch the ears quite right so the big old head looks like it belongs on Mickey Mouse. I was gonna toss it but little West saw it and fell in love. made the second cat for Marcus and it turned out better but the head was still too big...

Also a pattern suggestion:
"HDC in 3rd ch from hook and to end of row, ch2, turn
continue in this pattern until you have rectangle that can be folded in half to make 2 perfect squares.
tie off with long yarn for sewing"
Should say:
"HDC in 3rd ch from hook and to end of row, ch2, turn HDCin first chain from hook
continue in this pattern until you have rectangle that can be folded in half to make 2 perfect squares."
Otherwise you end up with a major decrease...experienced crocheters will catch this but someone who is unexpereinced will get confuse.

Also danielle, Except for my big head problem thhis was the most fun and easy pattern I have ever used. It was so quick and I know a beginner could do it with no problems, maybe just a few more pattern clarifications. thank you for posting it. you might consider seeing if you can get it published.

Dannielle · 12-23-2003, 03:21 PM

aaargh! YES...there is a typo. The head should be half the width of the body.

I guess you're the first person to actually use the pattern. LOL!

RebeckaK · 12-23-2003, 04:36 PM

Ahhh, explains it. Thanks Danielle. I will have to save my big headed cat for you to see. I have actually made three today- two are normal headed

Oh, and it has been a while since I have read a pattern. The change that should be made is HDC in next HDC (I think). Not HDC in 1st chain from hook as I said before

tmrhopkins · 12-24-2003, 03:12 PM

What a fun project. I made one up from start to finish in about 1/2 and hour. Now I am going to have to make up a couple of more tonight to go with the wooden blocks my boys are getting for Christmas. This is a great project to use up all the small balls of yarn I have from other projects. I think I will make up a bunch when I have some "free time" and have on hand for last minute birthday gifts and such.

The pattern makes sense and with the changes I didn't get any big headed cats.

I can't wait until you post the duck and horse pattern!

Thanks Danielle for taking the time to figure it out and share with us all.

Tawnya

Dannielle · 12-24-2003, 03:57 PM

I haven't gotten around to the horse yet. Would you believe I did make some ducks but I didn't write down what I did! I do that all the time....arrrgh! I remember it wasn't too hard though so I should be able to figure it out again.