Carl, the Potato Cat

Look who's been raiding my lunch bag today!

This is Carl, he's very friendly and curious. Keep away your peanut butter and apples from him!

There is an inexpensive add-free print-friendly pattern in my shops here:
Etsy
Ravelry 
Lovecrochet

CARL

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT:

1.         DK Weight Yarn in:

- rosewood (250 m/100 g) – 20 g

- beige (250 m/100 g) – 5 g

2.         Embroidery Floss or Lightweight Yarn in:

- black – 30 cm

- light pink – 30 cm

3.         2.5 mm crochet hook

4.         polyester fiberfill

5.         tapestry needle

6.         12 mm safety eyes

7.         scissors

ABBREVIATIONS:

ch. – chain

sc – single crochet

Rnd – round

st. – stitch

slip st. – slip stitch

incr – increase (2 sc worked into 1 ch)

decr – decrease (2 sc crocheted together)

BLO – back loop only

Note: simple decreasing is easier, but if you have already grasped the idea of invisible decrease, I suggest that.

The pattern is written in US crochet terms.

DESCRIPTION:

All details are worked in spiral rounds without joining, unless otherwise stated.

BODY:

Rosewood:

1 Rnd: 2 ch., 6 sc into the 2nd ch. from the hook = 6 sc,

2 Rnd: incr around = 12 sc,

3 Rnd: (1 incr, 1 sc) – repeat 6 times = 18 sc,

4 Rnd: (2 sc, 1 incr) – repeat 6 times = 24 sc,

5 Rnd: (1 incr, 3 sc) – repeat 6 times = 30 sc,

6 Rnd: 2 sc, (1 incr, 4 sc) – repeat 5 times, 1 incr, 2 sc = 36 sc,

7 Rnd: 12 sc, ch.-2, skip 2 sc, 8 sc, ch.-2, skip 2 sc, 12 sc = 32 sc, 2 ch.-2 spaces,

8 Rnd: Repeat 7 Rnd,

9 Rnd: 36 sc, working into BLO of ch.-2 spaces and both loops of scs,

10 Rnd: 36 sc,

11 - 13 Rnd: Repeat 10 Rnd,

14 Rnd: 15 sc, ch.-2, skip 2 sc, 4 sc, ch.-2, skip 2 sc, 13 sc = 32 sc, 2 ch.-2 spaces,

15 Rnd: Repeat 14 Rnd,

16 Rnd: Repeat 9 Rnd,

17 – 21 Rnd: Repeat 10 Rnd,

22 Rnd: 4 sc, (1 decr, 7 sc) – repeat 3 times, 1 decr, 3 sc = 32 sc,

23 Rnd: (1 decr, 6 sc) – repeat 4 times = 28 sc,

24 Rnd: 3 sc, (1 decr, 5 sc) – repeat 3 times, 1 decr, 2 sc = 24 sc,

Insert the eyes between 19 and 20 Rnds, 6-8 sts apart. Stuff the body.

25 Rnd: (1 decr, 4 sc) – repeat 4 times = 20 sc,

26 Rnd: 2 sc, (1 decr, 3 sc) – repeat 3 times, 1 decr, 1 sc = 16 sc,

27 Rnd: (1 decr, 2 sc) – repeat 4 times = 12 sc,

28 Rnd: (1 sc, 1 decr) – repeat 4 times = 8 sc,

slip st. into the next stitch, fasten off. Add the filling if necessary, sew the opening close, weave in the ends.

ARMS / LEGS:

Rosewood:

The paws are worked into the left sc of Rnd 7 and 14,

front loops of ch.-2 spaces of Rnd 8 and 15 and side sc before and after ch.-2 spaces (indicated with blue lines). Thus, the legs and arms will be worked on 8 sts each.

1 Rnd: Join yarn into any indicated st, work 8 sc around the base = 8 sc,

2 Rnd: sc around = 8 sc,

3 – 4 Rnd: Repeat 2 Rnd, finish off, leaving a long end for sewing. You can lightly stuff the legs/arms, but I prefer hiding the yarn ends after the openings are closed as they give the desired firmness. Sew the openings close, weave in the ends.

EAR (2 PIECES):

Rosewood:

1 Rnd: 2 ch., 4 sc into the 2nd ch. from the hook = 4 sc,

2 Rnd: (1 incr, 1 sc) – repeat 2 times = 6 sc,

3 Rnd: (2 sc, 1 incr) – repeat 2 times = 8 sc,

4 Rnd: (1 incr, 1 sc) – repeat 4 times = 12 sc,

slip st. into the next stitch, fasten off, leaving the long end for sewing. Sew the ears onto the top of the head using the photo as a guide.

TAIL:

start with Beige:

1 Rnd: 2 ch., 8 sc into the 2nd ch. from the hook = 8 sc,

2 Rnd: 8 sc, join Rosewood,

3 Rnd: 8 sc, change to Beige,

4 Rnd: 8 sc,

5 Rnd: 8 sc, change to Rosewood,

6 – 14 Rnd: Repeat Rnds 3 to 5 three more times, finishing Beige after Rnd 14,

15 Rnd: 8 sc, finish off leaving a long end for sewing. Sew the tail onto the body using the photo as a guide.

FINISHING:

Using the photo as a guide, embroider the stripes with beige if you want. Embroider the muzzle with a loose Fly Stitch and black yarn. Embroider the eyebrows with black and cheeks with light pink using the Satin Stitch. Voila!