What’s better than a free cat sewing pattern? A free cat sewing pattern that fits in your pocket! My two year old is obsessed with her new kitty-cats; I’m sharing this pattern as a fun, easy thing to sew up by hand for Valentine’s Day. It is simple enough to sew with older kids too, I designed it as a part of the ongoing Sew A Softie Day project. The kitties slip right inside a child’s pocket as a little friend, and are super quick to make. They are the perfect size for toddler hands to hold and carry, without being so small that they’re easily lost- measuring approximately 2.25″ wide and 3.75″ tall.
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The cat’s face is a heart, and so is the nose! The facial features are very simple to embroider, but they could also be drawn on with a fabric pen.
I turned this cat into an ornament a few years after the original post, see more details here with the cat ornament tutorial!
This was been one of my most popular patterns, and I love seeing how people stitch it up!
“My kitties!! I love them!” she says; I can’t get over how cute they look, hanging out of her pocket.
I also have a DIY altoid tin bed tutorial that the kitty fits into, check it out here.
I made both of these, including taking pictures, while watching a movie (The Imitation Game, which I’d never heard of and found quite fascinating) so I’m confident in saying they’re a fast project. I can see this cat as an ornament, an applique, maybe even a garland of cool cats?
See how many kitties were sewn up and sent to a children’s hospital, in this post! Since this post was originally written, I have had so many people say they sewed up a little pocket kitty for their kiddo to take to school with them when they’re feeling anxious, it warms my heart.
Pin this free cat sewing pattern for later, using this link or photo:
How to make a free cat sewing pattern
Supplies
- Small amount of stuffing
- Transfer method for the pattern (I love Fabri-Solvy, see a blog post about how to use it, here!)
- Needle – I like these
- Embroidery floss or thread
- Scissors with a micro tip – these are my favorite
- Chopstick or hemostats* for stuffing
- Wool blend felt – 2 8 X 10″ sheets of each main body color, will leave enough coordinating for the faces if you want. These are all from my favorite, Benzie Design.
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Free cat sewing pattern –sign up for my newsletter and get the free download once you confirm your subscription! If you’re already a subscriber, you can access the pattern with the password in each newsletter, in the resource library.
Steps
Step 1- Cut two body pieces, 1 face, and stitch the eyes and nose. You can get creative but I used a back-stitch for the eyes and a satin stitch for the nose.
Step 2-Center and sew on the heart face piece, I used a running stitch.
Step 3- Sew on the whiskers! I used perle cotton for these with one big stitch, and love how they look. If you used Fabri-Solvy like me to transfer the pattern, now is the time to wash it all off!
Step 4- Sew around about 1/8″ from the edge, with the two body pieces wrong sides together. Leave a small gap, stuff, and then finish sewing it up. I used a running stitch.
Read to sew your own? I’d love to see them if you make any pocket kitties!
Tiff
Monday 1st of April 2024
Cute little kitty buddies! Email me your pattern, please? Thank you!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Monday 1st of April 2024
Hi Tiff! All my patterns are in one spot, a password protected resource library for newsletter subscribers - the link is under 'supplies' :) let me know if you have trouble finding it!
sue
Monday 9th of October 2023
I have not received my pattern or code for the cat with the heart face. Is this still a working site?
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Monday 9th of October 2023
hi sue! the PDF pattern is free for newsletter subscribers, you have to get into the resource library to download it, which is linked under 'supplies'. did you get signed up and confirm your subscription?
barbara
Monday 10th of July 2023
You have made my day! My volunteer sewing group makes stuffed animals for our local hospital. For once, we are being organized and recognizing that we need to start getting ready for Halloween in August. I already have a cat pattern, so I headed over to Pinterest with the idea of seeing if somebody had a bat pattern. I didn't even get to type anything in, and what was the first thing that showed up for me? Your cat!!! I had kind of accepted the fact that I wouldn't be able to put faces on the Halloween cats because they wouldn't be visible on most of my Halloween print fabric, but when I saw that you had the face on a heart, I thought it was a brilliant idea!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Wednesday 12th of July 2023
aw that sounds lovely! thanks for sharing and thanks for making some love to send into the world :)
Diane Evans
Thursday 23rd of February 2023
I couldn’t find the free pattern
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Tuesday 4th of July 2023
steps for getting the pattern are linked under 'supplies'!
Cynthia West
Monday 16th of January 2023
I would love to have this kitty pattern for a altoid tin project. Please.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Thursday 9th of February 2023
Hi cynthia! all you have to do is sign up for my newsletter, link under the supply list!