Meet Your Next Pocket-Size Knit

This beginner-friendly project turns a small amount of yarn into an adorable cat keychain with a round body, perky ears, embroidered whiskers, and a sweet ribbon bow—just like the one in the photo. The pieces are quick to knit, the shaping is simple, and the finishing is fun. You’ll practice basic increases and decreases, knit an i-cord tail, and assemble a neat, sturdy charm you can hang from keys, zippers, or backpacks.

The instructions below are written for knitting in the round so your cat is smooth and nearly seamless. A brief flat-knit option is included in the tips section if you don’t have circulars/DPNs yet.

Finished size (approx.): 7–9 cm / 2.75–3.5 in tall (without keyring).
Skill level: Confident beginner.
Gauge: Not critical, but aim for a dense stockinette fabric so stuffing doesn’t peek through (about 24 sts × 32 rnds = 10 cm/4 in in stockinette on 3.25 mm needles with DK yarn).

Safety note: This is a small decorative item. If gifting to children under 3, replace safety eyes/beads with embroidered eyes and secure all parts firmly.

Materials & Tools

• Yarn (DK/Light Worsted, Category 3):
  1. Main color (MC): Bright orange, ~20–25 g (acrylic or cotton/acrylic blend works great).
  2. Contrast colors:
     • Black scrap for whiskers and mouth (embroidery thread or fine yarn).
     • Pink scrap for nose.
• Needles:
  1. 3.25 mm (US 3) double-pointed needles (set of 4 or 5) or a 60–80 cm circular for magic loop.
  2. Optional: 3.25 mm straight needles if you plan to knit the ears flat.
• Notions:
  1. 6 mm black safety eyes (2) or small black beads (sew on tightly).
  2. Stuffing/fiberfill.
  3. Tapestry needle.
  4. Stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
  5. Small ribbon (6–10 mm width) for the bow.
  6. Keychain hardware: split ring + jump ring or lobster clasp.
  7. Small scissors, pins, and a tiny drop of clear-drying fabric glue (optional) for knots.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• CO – cast on
• BO – bind off
• k – knit
• p – purl
• kfb – knit into front and back of the same stitch (increase 1)
• k2tog – knit 2 stitches together (decrease 1)
• ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease, used in ears)
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• PM/SM – place/slip marker
• rep – repeat
• cont – continue
• yo – yarn over (not used in body but sometimes handy)

Techniques Used: knitting in the round (on DPNs or magic loop), simple increases/decreases, i-cord, mattress stitch/whip stitch for seaming small parts, basic embroidery (straight stitch/ satin stitch), attaching safety eyes and keychain hardware.

Construction Overview

• Body: Knit in the round from the bottom up, increasing to a bulb shape, knitting a few plain rounds, then decreasing and closing.
• Head: Knit separately in the round and stuffed; safety eyes and embroidery added before closing.
• Ears: Knit as tiny garter-stitch triangles (flat) for crisp edges.
• Tail: Quick i-cord.
• Assembly: Sew head to body, attach ears and tail, embroider face details, tie ribbon, and add the keychain ring.

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Step-by-Step Pattern (with Stitch Counts)

Work at a firm tension so stuffing stays inside. Unless stated, all rounds are worked in stockinette (knit every round).

Body (work in the round)

CO 6 sts in MC. Distribute on DPNs, PM, join without twisting.

• Rnd 1: kfb around — 12 sts.
• Rnd 2: k around — 12 sts.
• Rnd 3: (k1, kfb) rep 6× — 18 sts.
• Rnd 4: k around — 18 sts.
• Rnd 5: (k2, kfb) rep 6× — 24 sts.
• Rnd 6: k around — 24 sts.
• Rnd 7: (k3, kfb) rep 6× — 30 sts.
• Rnd 8: k around — 30 sts.
• Rnd 9: (k4, kfb) rep 6× — 36 sts.

Shape height:

• Rnd 10–16: k around — 36 sts each round (7 rounds total).

Decrease and close:

• Rnd 17: (k4, k2tog) rep 6× — 30 sts.
• Rnd 18: k around — 30 sts.
• Rnd 19: (k3, k2tog) rep 6× — 24 sts.
• Rnd 20: k around — 24 sts.
• Rnd 21: (k2, k2tog) rep 6× — 18 sts.
• Rnd 22: k around — 18 sts.

Stuff firmly with fiberfill, shaping into a neat sphere/oval. Add a little more as needed as you finish.

• Rnd 23: (k1, k2tog) rep 6× — 12 sts.
• Rnd 24: (k2tog) rep 6× — 6 sts.

Cut yarn, thread tail through remaining 6 sts, pull tight to close, and secure inside. Weave in any ends that will be hidden.

Head (work in the round)

CO 6 sts in MC. Distribute on DPNs, PM, join.

• Rnd 1: kfb around — 12 sts.
• Rnd 2: k around — 12 sts.
• Rnd 3: (k1, kfb) rep 6× — 18 sts.
• Rnd 4: k around — 18 sts.
• Rnd 5: (k2, kfb) rep 6× — 24 sts.
• Rnd 6: k around — 24 sts.
• Rnd 7: (k3, kfb) rep 6× — 30 sts.
• Rnd 8–11: k around — 30 sts each round (4 rounds total).

Add eyes now: Insert 6 mm safety eyes (or sew beads later) between Rnd 7 and Rnd 8, approximately 5–6 sts apart, centered relative to your round marker. If desired, lightly tack a small pinch between the eyes inside with a stitch to create a subtle muzzle.

• Rnd 12: (k3, k2tog) rep 6× — 24 sts.
• Rnd 13: k around — 24 sts.
• Rnd 14: (k2, k2tog) rep 6× — 18 sts.
• Rnd 15: k around — 18 sts.

Stuff head: Add fiberfill and shape into a slightly smaller ball than the body.

• Rnd 16: (k1, k2tog) rep 6× — 12 sts.
• Rnd 17: (k2tog) rep 6× — 6 sts.

Cut yarn, thread through remaining 6 sts, pull tight, and secure.

Ears (make 2, worked flat)

Use 3.25 mm straight needles and MC. Work garter stitch (knit every row) for cute, sturdy triangles.

• CO 8 sts.
• Row 1 (WS): knit — 8 sts.
• Row 2 (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 — 6 sts.
• Row 3: knit — 6 sts.
• Row 4: k1, ssk, k to last 3, k2tog, k1 — 4 sts.
• Row 5: knit — 4 sts.
• Row 6: k1, ssk, k2tog, k1 — 2 sts.
• Row 7: k2tog — 1 st. Cut yarn and pull through to fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Pinch the base slightly when sewing to give a cat-ear curve.

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Tail (i-cord)

With DPNs and MC, CO 4 sts. Work i-cord:

• Slide stitches to the other end of the needle, pull yarn across the back, k 4.
• Repeat until the tail measures 6–7 cm / 2.5–3 in.

BO all sts. Thread the yarn tail through the tube end to close and leave a tail for sewing.

Assembly & Finishing Touches

1. Join Head to Body
   Position the head on top of the body (closed ends facing out). With MC and a tapestry needle, whip stitch or mattress stitch around the edges, adding a tiny bit of stuffing at the neck if needed. Pull stitches snug for a clean join.
2. Place the Ears
   Pin ears on top of the head—one to the left and one to the right—about 1–1.5 cm from the center. Angle them slightly outward to match the photo. Sew along the base with small, secure stitches. Hide tails inside the head.
3. Attach the Tail
   Sew the i-cord at the lower back of the body. Stitch across the base of the i-cord several times for durability. A tiny dab of clear-drying fabric glue on the knot inside can add security (optional).
4. Embroider the Face
   • Nose: With pink yarn or embroidery thread, work a little satin-stitch triangle centered between the eyes.
   • Whiskers & Smile: With black thread/yarn, stitch three short straight lines on each side for whiskers. Add a tiny “smile” curve if desired. Keep stitches shallow so they don’t tug.
5. Add the Bow
   Tie a neat bow from your ribbon and place it where the head meets the body. Trim the ends at an angle to prevent fray. You can secure the knot with one invisible stitch.
6. Attach Keychain Hardware
   Stitch a small loop of strong yarn at the top of the head, or pass a jump ring under a firm stitch near the crown. Add your split ring or lobster clasp. Tug gently to make sure everything is secure.
7. Weave in Ends & Fluff
   Bury all yarn tails inside the toy. Roll the body between your palms to smooth the stuffing and even the shape.

Helpful Tips for Beginners

• Dense Fabric Wins: If stuffing peeks through, drop down a needle size (e.g., 3.0 mm) or knit a bit tighter.
• Markers Are Your Friend: Keep the round marker at the back of the piece so facial features stay centered.
• Seam Confidence: When sewing the head, go stitch-by-stitch through the edge “V’s” for a nearly invisible join.
• Child-Safe Version: Skip safety eyes and embroider eyes with tiny satin stitches.
• No DPNs? Try Magic Loop: A long circular (60–80 cm) works perfectly for tiny circumferences.
• Flat-Knit Option (Quick Guide): Work each piece flat in stockinette (knit RS, purl WS). Replace each “increase round” with an RS row where you space kfb increases evenly across the row (same total increases), purl all WS rows, and replace decrease rounds with RS rows where you space k2tog decreases evenly. Leave long tails and seam up the back edges. The stitch counts at the end of each RS row should match the round counts given.