Cat Squish

The Cat Squish is a cuddly calico kitty, and a very squishy, free crochet pattern on Moogly! Featuring Bernat Blanket, this pattern will sink its claws right into you - in the most delightful way!

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Yarnspirations.

Part of the 2023 Softie Crochet Along on #CALCentralCrochet!

How the 2023 Softie CAL Works

Every Monday from March 20 to June 26, 2023, we’ll share a free crochet pattern for a softie. You can make these softies to keep, for gifts, or to donate to charity while chatting with other crocheters in our groups and sharing your projects to win giveaway prizes!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway in this post on Underground Crafter by Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

How To Join the 2022 Softie CAL

• Sign up for Crochet Along updates and the Underground Crafter newsletter to get regular updates, including an update as each CAL pattern is released - and some amazing bonuses! 
• You can join in by crocheting the patterns as you have time.
• Share your progress and post pictures of your finished projects. Tag your projects and posts #CALCentralCrochet on all social media.
• If you’d like to chat with other crocheters, join the CAL Central Facebook group or visit this thread in the CAL Central Ravelry group.

Visit Underground Crafter to learn more about the prizes, enter the end-of-CAL giveaway, and to get links to each Softie CAL post as it is released.

Grab that Bernat Blanket!

I love using Bernat Blanket for my large amigurumi squishes, and the Cat Squish is no exception! For this one I used a standard skein of the white color, and then grabbed an O'Go for the other colors, which I needed just a bit of.

Of course, you can use leftover bits of whatever colors you like to create your own custom cat! And any worsted or bulky weight yarn you have works great for the whisker and mouth details - but I think Bernat Maker Home Dec is purr-fect!

Cute and Cuddly for Kids and Adults

This crochet cat pillow is fun to make - and pet and squeeze! I used safety eyes, but this pattern has not been tested for safety for children under 3 years of age. If you are crocheting it for a baby or toddler, you may wish to embroider on the face and make sure that the pieces are sewn on quite securely. If using it as a photo prop, be sure not to leave the toy with a baby unattended.

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Cat Squish

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8.0 mm hook, Susan Bates

235 yds Bernat Blanket (6 - Super Bulky; 100% polyester; 300g/10.5 oz; 201 m/220 yds)
A - Bernat Blanket: Whipped Cream ( less than 1 ball) - white
B - Bernat Blanket O'Go: Biscotti - light brown (less than 1 O'Go)
C - Bernat Blanket O'Go: Biscotti - dark brown (less than 1 O'Go)

2 yds Bernat Maker Home Dec (5 - Bulky; 72% cotton, 28% nylon; 250g/8.8 oz; 317 yds/290 m)
D - Black

10" Microbead Pillow Ball or fiber fill

2 Safety Eyes - 24mm

Safety Nose – 15mm

Stitch Markers

White Felt (1.5" square)

Gauge: 5"/10cm across after Rnd 3.

Size: approx 10" across/tall excluding ears, feet, and tail

HELPFUL LINKS AND TUTORIALS

Cat Squish Tutorial

Crochet Abbreviations

Magic Circle

Working in a Spiral

Hdc - half double crochet

Hdc2tog - hdc decrease

Seamless Finishing

Whip Stitch Seaming

NOTES:

Rnds are worked in a spiral.

Do not ch 1 at the beginning of a rnd or join any rnds with a sl st unless specifically directed in the pattern.

Move a stitch marker along the first st of each rnd as you work to keep track of your progress.

When changing colors, finish the last stitch of the previous color with the new color.

Please note that some pieces switch between Rows and Rounds.

CAT SQUISH INSTRUCTIONS:

Body - Colors A, B, and C

NOTE: For the Body, crochet OVER color A, but BREAK color B/C and rejoin for each round.

Rnd 1: With A, make a magic circle, ch 1, sc in the ring, 9 hdc in the ring. (10 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 hdc in each st around. (20 hdc)

Rnd 3: *Hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. (30 hdc)

Rnd 4: [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 6 times, with B [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 2 times, with A [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 2 times. (40 hdc)

Rnd 5: [Hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 5 times, hdc in the next 3 sts, with B 2 hdc in the next st, [hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st ] 2 times, hdc in the next st, with A hdc in the next 2 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st. (50 hdc)

Rnd 6: [Hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts] 5 times, hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, with B [hdc in the next 4 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 3 times, with A hdc in the next 4 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts. (60 hdc)

Rnd 7: Hdc in the next 5 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, [hdc in the next 9 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 2 times, hdc in the next 6 sts, with B hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 9 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 6 sts, with A hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in last 4 sts. (66 hdc)

Rnd 8: [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 10 sts] 3 times, 2 hdc in the next st, with B [hdc in the next 10 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 2 times, hdc in the next 2 sts, with A hdc in the last 8 sts. (72 hdc)

Rnd 9: Hdc in the next 8 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 17 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 11 sts, with B hdc in the next 6 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 17 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next st, with A hdc in the last 8 sts. (76 hdc)

Rnd 10: Hdc in the next 41 sts, with B hdc in the next 26 sts, with A hdc in the last 9 sts.

Rnd 11: Hdc in the next 42 sts, with B hdc in the next 24 sts, with A hdc in the last 10 sts.

Rnd 12: Hdc in the next 43 sts, with B hdc in the next 22 sts, with A hdc in the last 11 sts.

Rnd 13: Hdc in the next 45 sts, with B hdc in the next 18 sts, with A hdc in the last 13 sts.

Rnd 14: Hdc in the next 47 sts, with B hdc in the next 14 sts, with A hdc in the last 15 sts.

Rnd 15: Hdc in the next 16 sts, with C hdc in the next 4  sts, with A hdc in the next 30 sts, with B hdc in the next 8 sts, with A hdc in the last 18 sts.

Rnd 16: Hdc in the next 11 sts, with C hdc in the next 6 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 6 sts, with A hdc in the next 11 sts, hdc2tog, [hdc in the next 17 sts, hdc2tog] 2 times. (72 sts) 

Rnd 17: Hdc in the next 10 sts, with C hdc2tog, hdc in the next 10 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in the next st, with A hdc in the next 9 sts, hdc2tog, [hdc in the next 10 sts, hdc2tog] 3 times. (66 sts) 

Rnd 18: Hdc in the next 5 sts, hdc2tog, with C hdc in the next 9 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 8 sts, with A hdc in the next st, hdc2tog, [hdc in the next 9 sts, hdc2tog] 3 times, hdc in the last 4 sts. (60 sts) 

Rnd 19: Sc in next st, sl st in next st, break yarn and finish off with seamless join.

Tail - Color A and C

Rnd 1: With C, make a magic circle, ch 1, 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts) 

Rnd 2: Sc in each st around, finishing last st with A. Break C.

Rnds 3 - 6: With A, sc in each st around.

Rnds 7 - 9: Loosely sl st in next 2 sts, sc in next 4 sts. After Rnd 9, break yarn leaving a long tail for sewing, and seamless join.

Ears (make 2) - Make 1 in B and 1 in C

Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1, sc in the ring, 5 hdc in the ring. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: *Hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. (9 sts)

Rnd 3: *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts; rep from * around. (12 sts)

Rnd 4: *Hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts; rep from * around. (15 sts)

Rnd 5: *Hdc in the next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around. (18 sts)

Rnd 6: Sc in the next st, sl st in next st, break yarn leaving a long tail for sewing, and seamless join.

Feet (make 4) - Make 3 in Color C and 1 in Color A, with Toe Beans in Color B

Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1, sc in the ring, 6 hdc in the ring. (7 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 hdc in each st around. (14 sts)

Rnd 3:  Hdc in next st, sc in next 5 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in the next 5 sts, hdc in next st. (14 sts) Secure active loop with a stitch marker and weave in your first end now.

Add Toe Beans (optional): With Color B, cut a 12" length of yarn. Using a stitch marker, sew three small dashes on one side of the foot, as shown. Weave in ends.

Row 4: Fold piece flat, ch 1, sc through next st and last st, sc through next 6 sets of sts; break yarn and finish off.

Cat Squish Belly - Colors C and A

NOTE: For the Belly Rnds 4-6, crochet OVER color C, but BREAK color A and rejoin for each round. 

Rnd 1 - 3: With Color C, rep Rnd 1 - 3 of Body. (30 hdc)

Rnd 4: [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 6 times, with A [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 2 times, with C [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 2 times. (40 hdc)

Rnd 5: [Hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 4 times, with A [hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 5 times, with C hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the last st. (50 hdc)

Add Feet: Place stitch markers at st #3 and 9 (first foot - brown), 15 and 21 (second foot - brown), 28 and 34 (third foot - white), and 40 and 46 (fourth foot - brown). Use these stitch markers to attach the last row of each foot to the RS of the belly. Make sure the toe beans face the same direction as the belly.

Rnd 6: Working through both layers as needed, [hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts] 3 times, hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts, with A hdc in the next st, *hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts; rep from * around, finishing last st with C. (60 hdc) Break A leaving a long tail for sewing.

Rnd 7: With C, sc in next st, sl st in next st, break yarn and seamless join, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Ears, Face, and Tail to Body Assembly

NOTE: Orient the Body so that Rnd 19 is in front. The sc st should be in the center front. 

1 - Add Safety Eyes:  Add safety eyes to body, around Rnds 13 and 14. Use the sc to help with placement.

2 - Add Nose: Add safety nose to body, around Rnds Rows 14 and 15. Use the eyes to help with placement. Tip - if you find your safety nose wants to pull out of the fabric, try adding a small square of felt behind the Body, and before adding the backing.

3 - Add Whiskers and Mouth: Use Color D and a yarn needle to add whiskers and mouth to the face, as shown above.

4 - Sew on Ears: Use the long tails to sew the Ears to opposite sides, around Rnds 5-8. Put the B ear on the same side as the B spot, and the C ear on the same side as the C spot. Sew them on "flat" so that they look like cat ears, with a slight curve if desired. See below for reference.

5 - Sew on Tail: Use the long tail to sew the Tail to back of the Body, around Rnd 17. See below for reference.

Final Cat Squish Assembly

1 - Insert stuffing into body.

2 - Use stitch markers to attach Belly to Body, with the colors mostly matched (A with A, C with C). Adjust as needed so feet look correctly oriented.

3 - Using long tails of Belly, sew Belly to Body with whip stitch in matching colors.

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Meow you doin’?

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The Fine Print

Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram! Thank you to Yarnspirations for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2023, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.

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