Roly Poly Kitty

This pattern is basically a knitted interpretation of puchitomato's crocheted Roly Poly Cats. Puchitomato kindly gave me permission to post my knitted version here.

Updated 2011/09/28! New portions are in RED!

Notes:

• Specific gauge is not important. The knitting needs to be very, very tight for the fabric to hold its shape and to keep stuffing from showing.
• Sample is DK weight yarn on US size 2 (2.75mm) double-point needles and stands about 2" (5cm) tall.
• All knitting is done in the round. Make sure you pull the yarn tight when moving to the next needle to prevent gaps.
• I used left- and right-leaning lifted increases, but any increase can be used. It will, of course, affect the finished appearance.

Materials:

• About 55 yards (about 50m) of main color and 5 yards (4.5m) of contrast color DK weight yarn. (Note, other yarn weights can be used, but length requirements may vary.) Additional yarn needed if you choose to make bigger ears or add a tail.
• Double-point needles in size to achieve very tight gauge.
• Safety eyes (optional)
• Fiberfill (stuffing)
• Black yarn for face embroidery
• Yarn needle
• Wire to make tail pose-able (optional)

Special abbreviations:

• RL - Right-leaning lifted increase (knit st, then knit through st 2 st below)
• LL - Left-leaning lifted increase (knit through st below, then knit st)

Now for the pattern!

Body:

Note: If using safety eyes, make sure to put them on before the opening gets too small. Place them on row 13 or so.

CO 6 st, divide evenly on 3 dpns

Row 1 and all odd rows: Knit

Row 2: (RL, LL) X 3 (12 st)

Row 4: (RL, k2, LL) X 3 (18 st)

*Increase in this way (incs at beginning and end of each dpn every even row) until you have 60 st (18 rows, 20 st on ea dpn)

Rows 19-23: Knit plain

Row 24: (SSK, k16, k2tog) X 3 (54 st)

Row 26: (SSK, k14, k2tog) X 3 (48 st)

** Do most of the stuffing when you have about 18 st left on needles. Stuff VERY firmly, molding it into a ball shape.

Continue dec at ea end of ea dpn every even row until 6 st rem

Add more stuffing as necessary before closing

Cut yarn, thread through yarn needle, and pull through rem st

Ears (x2):

Note: For bigger ears, add multiples of 4 stitches (4 stitches makes 2 additional rows; work decreases on even rows the same way as row 2)

CO 10 st

Row 1: knit

Row 2: (ssk, k1, k2tog) X 2 (6 st)

Row 3: knit

Row 4: (slip st, k2tog, pass slip stitch over) X 2

Cut yarn and draw through remaining 2 st

Legs (x4):

CO 12 st

K 3 rows

Change to white yarn

K 1 row

(ssk, k2tog) X 3 (6 st)

Cut yarn, draw through rem 6 st

Tail (optional):

Make several inches of 4-stitch i-cord or use a knitting noddy or knitting cord machine. If desired, insert wire or pipe cleaner in the i-cord for flexibility. Attach to center-bottom on the back.

Attach ears and legs to body using small whipstitches. Stuff the legs. Don't stuff the ears. Sew in yarn ends. Embroider on face using black yarn.

Alternate version, solid color, worsted weight, CO 14 st for ears, i-cord tail:

August 2009, updated September 2011

This pattern for "Roly Poly Kitty" is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Finished objects made from this pattern are for personal use only (to keep or to give as a gift). Neither the pattern nor finished objects made from the pattern are to be sold without written permission from the author. Please contact me by sending an email to gmail.com user knittincrap if you have questions.