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.
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!
Shelly Morgan says
This is so cute and my six year could totally make this! She has been wanting to sew softies but we haven’t found an easy enough pattern. This is perfect! Pinned for later <3
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
The response has been so awesome – someone on IG had their kiddo just draw the face on and it was so cute! Hope you try it 🙂
Louise Scotton says
Hi there stephanie, im have been looking absulutely everywhere for the printable of the felt pocket kitties, and i can’t find them! do you know where i can find them? It would be great! I really love sewing so it would amaze to find these little cuties and sew them! Thanks so much! Bye,
Lousie scotton.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
emailed it to ya!
Michelle says
These are adorable! Thank you for sharing!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thank you Michelle!
Jen says
These are so cute – and with the heart shapes, a perfect DIY valentine gift! I can see them being really useful soothing separation anxiety in little ones.
Lynn says
Hi, I cannot find the pattern anywhere for the kitty! Can you help me?
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
just checking in that you got this figured after my email?
Kim Coffin says
What a cute idea, my daughter would love this pattern!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Kim!!
trixi symonds says
Stephanie, your pocket kitty is so so sweet!! I want to make some for myself 🙂 What a perfect project to kick off Sew a Softie for Valentines. Thanks again for joining in. Must try Fabri-Solvy too
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Trixi, I’m so glad you gave me the motivation to create it!
Anne Weaver says
Oh my goodness, those are the sweetest little kitties!!!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow morning that features your free pattern: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=91498 –Anne
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thank you Anne!
Pam @Threading My Way says
Super, super cute, Stephanie! A perfect project for a child learning to hand sew. I do hope you’ll add this to the Softies link party.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thank you Pam! Working on it, I even set a reminder to add things to your awesome link up on my calendar so I don’t forget all the time 🙂
Sue says
Oh my goodness! These are adorable! I hadn’t thought of using my hemostats for stuffing. They would be terrific for those hard to reach places.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Yes, they are so nifty for that! Thank you for the kind words, Sue!
Patty says
Oh my gosh!! This is soooooo cute!! I totally want to make these!! Thank you for sharing.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Patty!!
Teresa Leigh Oduor says
I live in El Paso, TX and our church has recently began participating in receiving refugees as they travel from S. and C. America, through Mexico and across the border. We help them with a warm shower and bed and food and help them with scheduling their trip to their final destinations. The congregation helps with providing new clothes and other essentials, I am a part of the Child Care team in our church, I thought this would be a great opportunity to teach the children about giving so they drew pictures and then I made felt figures and then softies to give the refugee kids as they go on their last leg of the journey. Here is one of them:
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Wow, what amazing work you are doing! What a gift! Emailing you in order to try and see that softie 🙂
Karen says
Could not be any cuter! Thanks so much for the pattern <3
Reece says
Oh my goodness, these are so cute!
Natalie says
Love your kitty! Especially the heart-face is very cute
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thank you Natalie!
Kristina says
This looks so easy. I will let my younger one give it a try.
Cheryl says
Fabulous pattern! I made a few. 🙂
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Eek they are so cute!!
Deanna says
Love, love, love! I included a link in my recent blog post! 🙂
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Deanna!!
Nena says
Adorable. Great gift or stocking stuffer for my granddaughters. Also make great tree ornaments or gift package decoration. Great job designing these cuties!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks so much Nena!
Sewing Machine says
This is very well explained article. Thanks for sharing.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks! I will delete any links you include so don’t bother trying to boost your SEO leaving generic comments on my website.
Joy Chang says
Just made as a Christmas ornament for my son – he loves cats and picked this pattern. I’ll attach a ribbon to the back for hanging. Thank you!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Oh how fun! I’d love to see it if you get a chance to send a picture, I hope he adores it 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
JunieK says
I sew love these. I m making them for my little ones on my bus. I give all my students on my school bus little handmade gifts for all the holidays. I know the little ones will love these. This will be my last year of driving as I will be retiring when school ends. Want them to have something nice to remember me by. Thank you for the idea.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
This comment makes me SO HAPPY, what a very sweet idea. I’d love to see them when you sew them up! Thanks for the work you do driving kids to school safely 🙂
Doris Driver says
Thank you! this is so cute. My granddaughters will love these.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
I’d love to see them if you stitch any up!
Lori Morton says
Thank you sooo much for sharing this Kittie pattern with us!! Going to be a project with the Grangirlie when she comes this weekend! 🙂 Off to get supplies today!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
I hope you had a lot of fun sewing it together!
Emilie says
I just started making these little kitties! I decided to try making the faces free hand, and they came out adorable. Thanks so much for the pattern!
jennifer says
Love this so much thanks for sharing myth too todders will love these. did you make the hearts too? if so please share how you made them too?thanks! also my sewing isn’t great so i may try to hot glue the cat together and if it is terrible i will try to sew:)thanks again!.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Hi Jennifer, do you mean the hearts on her shirt? There is a tutorial here! https://swoodsonsays.com/felt-heart-diy-valentines-day-shirt/
carolyn ruban says
Is there a charge to sign up for your newsletter? Carolyn
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Nope, it is free 🙂
Kay Bussjaeger says
These are adorable. I am starting to make them and wonder how many strands embroidery thread you used in eyes n nose
Thank uou
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Kay, I’m so sorry, this got kicked to spam and I’m just now seeing it. I usually use Sulky Cotton Petites which are single strand but about the width of 2 strands of regular floss.
Robert says
Very Helpful and Informative post.
Amy M says
I love this! I’ve been trying to subscribe to your newsletter for this pattern and others but haven’t gotten any confirmation emails. Can you please help me with this? Thank you!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Sent you an email!
jean smith says
I want to print the pocket kitty pattern exact dimentions and can`t find it.
thank you I am subscribed.I want to sew several for my grandaughter,they are so cute.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Hi jean, I emailed you a while back, did you get this figured out?
Beckie says
Hello! I have subscribed to your newsletter but am still unable to find the pocket kitty pattern. Can you help me? 🙂
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Hi Beckie! Did you get the newsletter confirmation email? It has a link and password to the page where all the PDFs are 🙂