Introduction: A Teeny Cat That Peeks From a Pocket
This beginner-friendly knitting pattern recreates exactly what you see in the photo: a tiny blue cat peeking out of a small golden-yellow pocket, with a little tail dangling below. The project knits up quickly with scrap yarn, uses only basic increases and decreases, and finishes with simple seaming and a few embroidered features. It’s perfect as a keychain, zipper pull, bag charm, or a kawaii desk buddy. You’ll learn tidy toy-knitting habits (tight gauge, invisible seams, neat embroidery) while producing a charming result that matches the image.
Good to know: This pattern is small. Work with a firm tension so stuffing doesn’t show. Every row is written out so new knitters can follow step by step.
Finished Size & Gauge
- Finished size (approx.): Cat head 3–3.5 cm (1¼–1⅜”), pocket 3.5 cm wide × 4 cm tall (1⅜” × 1½”), tail 5–6 cm (2–2⅜”).
- Gauge (not critical for toys): ~34 sts × 46 rows = 10 cm (4″) in stockinette on 2.25–2.75 mm needles. Aim for a firm fabric; adjust needle size if your stitches are loose.
Materials
- Yarn: Fingering or 4-ply cotton or cotton-blend scraps.
- Cat: ~5 g light blue (or any cat color).
- Pocket: ~5 g mustard/golden yellow.
- Details: A strand of black cotton or embroidery thread for eyes; a strand of pink for the nose.
- Needles:
- 2.25–2.75 mm (US 1–2) straight needles or short circulars; pattern is written flat and seamed.
- Two DPNs in the same size for the i-cord tail (optional but handy).
- Notions & tools:
- Tapestry needle, scissors, small amount of fiberfill stuffing.
- 8–10 mm keyring + jump ring (optional) for keychain.
- Stitch markers and ruler (optional).
- Safety note: Embroidered eyes make this safer than plastic beads, but this tiny item still isn’t suitable for children under 3 years.
Abbreviations & Techniques
- RS/WS – Right side / Wrong side
- CO – Cast on
- BO – Bind off
- K – Knit
- P – Purl
- St st – Stockinette stitch (RS knit, WS purl)
- Garter st – Knit every row
- Kfb – Knit front and back (increase 1)
- K2tog – Knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
- SSK – Slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- I-cord – Knit tube worked on 2 DPNs
- PM/SM – Place/Slip marker
- Mattress stitch – Invisible vertical seam
- Whipstitch – Simple over-edge seam for small curves
- French knot / Satin stitch – For eyes and nose embroidery
Skills you’ll use: casting on, knitting/purling flat, simple increases/decreases, binding off in the middle of a row, making i-cord, seaming, and light embroidery.
Construction Overview
- Cat head (front & back) are knitted flat as two identical pieces with built-in triangular ears.
- Tail is a slim i-cord.
- Pocket is a small rectangle with garter edging; it’s folded and seamed to form a pouch.
- Assembly: Embroider face, seam head pieces with a little stuffing, sew tail to the back base of the head so it hangs outside the pocket, knit and seam the pocket, then sit the cat inside so it peeks out just like the photo.
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Step-by-Step Pattern (Row-by-Row)
A) Cat Head (make 2 identical pieces)
Yarn: light blue.
Needles: 2.25–2.75 mm.
Tension: firm.
You’ll start at the chin, widen for the head, then split to shape two ears.
CO 8 sts.
Row 1 (WS) Purl all. (8)
Row 2 (RS) K1, Kfb, K to last 2, Kfb, K1. (10)
Row 3 (WS) Purl. (10)
Row 4 (RS) K1, Kfb, K to last 2, Kfb, K1. (12)
Row 5 (WS) Purl. (12)
Row 6 (RS) Repeat Row 4. (14)
Row 7 (WS) Purl. (14)
Row 8 (RS) Repeat Row 4. (16)
Row 9 (WS) Purl. (16)
Row 10 (RS) Repeat Row 4. (18)
Work 4 rows in St st without shaping (Rows 11–14; RS knit/WS purl). Keep edges smooth.
Now split for ears. You’ll have 18 sts total.
Row 15 (RS) K6, BO 6, K6. You now have two groups of 6 sts (left ear and right ear) separated by a central bind-off gap.
Work Right Ear first on the last 6 sts you just knit:
- Row 16 (WS) P6. (6)
- Row 17 (RS) SSK, K2, K2tog. (4)
- Row 18 (WS) P4. (4)
- Row 19 (RS) SSK, K2tog. (2)
- Row 20 (WS) P2. (2)
- Row 21 (RS) K2tog. Fasten off.
Return to the remaining 6 live sts for the Left Ear. Re-attach yarn at the inner edge (near the central gap) so shaping mirrors:
- Row 16L (WS) P6. (6)
- Row 17L (RS) K2tog, K2, SSK. (4)
- Row 18L (WS) P4. (4)
- Row 19L (RS) K2tog, SSK. (2)
- Row 20L (WS) P2. (2)
- Row 21L (RS) K2tog. Fasten off.
Make a second identical head piece.
Tip: Lightly block the two pieces face-down under a damp towel for 10–15 minutes to relax the ear tips and make seaming easier.
B) Tail (I-cord)
Yarn: light blue.
Using two DPNs (same size as your main needles), CO 3 sts.
Work I-cord: K3, do not turn; slide stitches to the other end of the needle and pull yarn firmly from behind. Repeat until the cord measures 5–6 cm (2–2⅜”)—match the photo’s dainty, slightly flexible tail.
BO by threading yarn through the 3 live sts and pull snugly. Leave a 10–12 cm tail for sewing to the head later.
C) Pocket (worked flat, then seamed)
Yarn: mustard/golden yellow.
This is a neat rectangle with garter edges so the top has that tidy, slightly rolled look like the photo.
CO 18 sts.
Rows 1–4 (all knit) Garter stitch to form the top cuff. (18)
Rows 5–26 St st:
- RS rows knit, WS rows purl. Keep edges even. (18 sts each row)
This gives you the body of the pocket.
Rows 27–30 (all knit) Garter stitch again to form the bottom band.
BO knitwise on RS. Weave in the starting tail only (leave the final tail to help seaming if you like).
Make the pouch: Fold the rectangle so the two garter bands become top opening and bottom edge. Align sides; seam each side edge from bottom garter band up to just beneath the top garter band using mattress stitch for a clean finish. Turn RS out. The top remains open; the tiny lips you see near the opening in the photo are naturally formed by the garter/stockinette transition.
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Assembly & Finishing
1) Embroider the Face (before stuffing)
Take one head piece and mark the face: eyes sit roughly 1 row below the ear base and about 4–5 sts apart.
- Eyes: With black thread, work one small French knot or a tiny horizontal satin stitch for each eye.
- Nose: With pink, stitch a tiny upside-down V (three short satin stitches) centered between the eyes, 1–2 rows lower.
Secure the threads neatly on the WS.
2) Seam and Stuff the Head
Place the two head pieces RS together. Using blue yarn and mattress stitch (or whipstitch for the ear tips), seam from the tip of one ear around the head to the tip of the other ear, leaving the chin/bottom edge open.
Turn the head RS out through the bottom opening. Add a small pinch of fiberfill—just enough to give the head light dimension while keeping it flat enough to sit in the pocket as in the image. Close the bottom with a short, neat whipstitch, but slip the tail attachment into the same seam in the next step.
3) Attach the Tail So It Hangs Outside the Pocket
Position the i-cord tail at the center back of the head’s bottom (so when the cat sits in the pocket, the tail falls straight down the outside). Stitch the i-cord end securely into the bottom seam of the head with 4–5 tight over-stitches. Tug gently to confirm it’s secure.
Why here? In the photo the tail dangles below the pocket rather than popping out of the pocket opening. Sewing it to the back base of the head lets the tail hang flat along the pocket’s exterior for the same look.
4) Seat the Cat in the Pocket
Slide the head into the top opening of the mustard pocket so the ears and face peek out. If you want it non-removable, take a stitch or two through the back of the head and the inner back wall of the pocket to anchor it. Otherwise, leave it loose so you can reposition it for photos or play.
5) Optional: Add Keychain Hardware
With mustard or blue yarn, make a quick hanging loop inside the top edge at one corner:
- With a crochet hook or your needle, pull up a loop, chain/overcast 6–8 stitches, secure.
Attach a jump ring and keyring. Ensure all joins are firm.
Give the piece a gentle steam (don’t touch the iron to acrylic; with cotton you can lightly hover-steam) to smooth the pocket sides.
Troubleshooting & Polishing
- Ears too floppy? Add one extra decrease row to each ear or run a stabilizing stitch up the ear’s edge on the WS.
- Head too big for the pocket? Either knit the head again on smaller needles or add 2 rows to the pocket height before seaming.
- Pocket curls at the top. That slight curl is part of the look; the garter band reduces curling while keeping the soft lip you see in the photo.
- Visible seams? Use mattress stitch and pull just snug enough to close the ladder without puckering. Match yarn colors precisely.
Variations (Have Fun!)
- Colors: Copy the exact look (light blue cat, mustard pocket) or switch to grey/cream for classic kitties.
- Stripes or speckles: Work the pocket in leftover stripes every 2–4 rows.
- Cat expressions: Try sleepy eyes (short downward curves), a tiny smile, or whisker dots.
- Tail curl: Add a tiny wire inside the i-cord (adults only) or lightly twist-block the i-cord to hold a flick.
- Keychain vs. desk buddy: Skip the loop for a desk pal, or add the loop for bags and zippers.
- Mini gift set: Knit several pockets in different colors and swap the same kitty between them.
Care & Safety
Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. If it’s on keys or a backpack, expect a little fuzzing over time—trim with small scissors. Keep away from very young children because of the small size and hardware.
Row-by-Row Summary (Quick Reference)
Head piece (make 2)
CO 8.
R1 P.
R2 K1, Kfb, K to last 2, Kfb, K1 → 10.
R3 P.
R4 as R2 → 12.
R5 P.
R6 as R2 → 14.
R7 P.
R8 as R2 → 16.
R9 P.
R10 as R2 → 18.
R11–14 St st straight.
R15 K6, BO 6, K6.
Right ear: R16 P6; R17 SSK, K2, K2tog; R18 P4; R19 SSK, K2tog; R20 P2; R21 K2tog, fasten.
Left ear (mirror): R16L P6; R17L K2tog, K2, SSK; R18L P4; R19L K2tog, SSK; R20L P2; R21L K2tog, fasten.
Tail
CO 3, work i-cord to 5–6 cm, fasten off.
Pocket
CO 18.
R1–4 Garter (knit all).
R5–26 St st (RS knit / WS purl).
R27–30 Garter (knit all).
BO. Fold so garter bands are top/bottom; seam sides. Insert cat so it peeks out; tail hangs down outside.
Beginner Tips for a Professional Finish
- Tension matters: Toys look best with a firm fabric. If you can see stuffing through stitches, go down a needle size.
- Short tails, strong knots: Because this is a keychain-sized piece, bury ends well and secure knots inside seams.
- Plan the eyes: Use a scrap of contrasting thread to test eye placement before embroidering.
- Seam symmetrically: Count side rows when seaming the pocket so both sides match.
