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Free Plush Pattern: Tiny Kitty

August 28, 2013

Tiny Kitty

Meow! Tiny Kitty is here to say hello. She fits in a tea cup! Sew her from a single pattern piece. Yep, she’s made from a circle. So simple.

Tiny Kitty 2

Ready to make one? Here we go!

Supplies
Gather your supplies. Faux fur scraps are perfect, but fleece or wool work, too. If you don’t have safety eyes, use some black embroidery floss.

Download the pattern template
Tiny Kitty Pattern. You’ll see that it’s just a circle, with a half circle for the ears and tail!

Markings
Cut two circles. Transfer the markings for the eyes onto the back of one circle and the markings for the legs and neck onto the other.

Poke Hole
Use an awl or the tip of a scissors to poke holes for the safety eyes. Or embroider the eyes now if you’re not using safety eyes.

Slit Cut Eyes Attached
Attach the eyes. Cut the neck slit.

Now let’s make the ears and tail so they’ll be ready for later…

Cut 6 half circles. If you’d like, choose a different fabric to line the ears such as fleece or velveteen. The tail should be two layers of fur.

Ears and Tail
Sew two ears and one tail. Clip the seam allowances and turn them all right side out. Fold the raw edges under.

Running Stitch
Make a running stitch all the way around the circle with the eyes.

Stuffing
Roll some stuffing into a ball. Push it into the head. Pull the running stitches tight to gather and tie off the thread with a double knot.

Stuffed Head with Eyes
Now you have this! Use pink embroidery floss to satin stitch the nose, hiding the knots at the base of the head. If you want to sew the ears on now, go for it! I like to wait until the whole cat is assembled before I decide where to place them.

Time to work on the body…

Body Folded
Fold the body circle in half. Pin, then stitch, from the top down to the first mark.

Sewing 2nd Leg
Fold the stitched section to the center. Pin, then stitch.

Sewing 3rd Leg
Repeat for the bottom half of the circle. Here’s how it looks just before sewing up the last leg.

Clip the seam allowance. Turn the body right side out through the neck slit and stuff it firmly.Body Stuffed
Close the neck slit with ladder stitch. (Don’t worry if the stitches aren’t perfect. They’ll be covered up by the head.)

Pin the head to the body covering the neck slit. Ladder stitch in place. Pin the ears and tail to the body and ladder stitch those in place, too.

Pick up your Tiny Kitty and give her a tiny hug!

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A free pattern for a Tiny Kitty.

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Filed Under: Free Patterns, Sew With Me

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Comments

  1. KnittyNana144 says

    August 28, 2013 at 8:12 am

    You make it look so simple. I’m not a seamstress AT ALL but I believe I can make this! Thank you Abby!

  2. Betz says

    August 28, 2013 at 8:37 am

    Suh-weet! The brown one reminds me of Brownie Bite:
    http://cuteoverload.com/2010/10/30/brownie-bite/

  3. Tim says

    August 28, 2013 at 10:01 am

    This would be so great for a kids class intro to soft toys!

  4. Amanda says

    August 28, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    GET. OUTTA. TOWN!!! SHUT. THE. FRONT.DOOR!
    How clever is that?!!!!!
    2 circles.
    Who woulda thunk it?
    hmmm.
    flabbergasted.

  5. Abby Glassenberg says

    August 28, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    You’re so welcome! Enjoy!

  6. Abby Glassenberg says

    August 28, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Oh my goodness, you’re right! That website is way too full of cute. Hello Brownie Bite!

  7. Abby Glassenberg says

    August 28, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    It would! It’s simple and doesn’t require a lot of materials, but you still learn some great techniques like gathering, cutting a slit for turning, and using safety eyes!

  8. Abby Glassenberg says

    August 28, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    It was a kinda “ah ha!” moment when this occurred to me. I had seen a vintage pattern made from a square and a circle. I tried sewing it, but the square made the legs really pointy. I figured I was doing something wrong to so I tried again, but still pointy. Then I realized that the square should be a circle! And that using the same circle would make a big, super cute head. Hooray!

  9. Esther says

    August 29, 2013 at 6:41 am

    This is really sweet and clever!

  10. Anne Weaver says

    August 30, 2013 at 9:33 am

    Oh my goodness! What a cutie!! I’ve linked to your post over at Craft Gossip:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=66948
    As I type this, I have my own tiny kitty curled up in my lap. 🙂
    –Anne

  11. Abby Glassenberg says

    August 30, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    Thank you so much, Anne!

  12. Abby Glassenberg says

    August 30, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    Thanks, Esther!

  13. Caroline B says

    August 31, 2013 at 2:33 am

    Genius! Simplicity is the key – I shall keep this one in mind next time I have to organise a craft project at the infant school where I work as I think it would be fantastic.

  14. SewHappyMama says

    September 1, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    Hello,
    I really like your tutorial!!
    I tried to subscribe twice but I didn’t receive a confirmation email.
    I really would like to receive your newsletters.

  15. Kim says

    September 1, 2013 at 7:25 pm

    it’s so fluffy and adorable!!!! 🙂

  16. Abby Glassenberg says

    September 1, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    Hi,
    I’m sorry you were having trouble. I’ve added you manually so you should be all set now! Thanks so much for hanging in there,
    -Abby

  17. Ruth says

    September 2, 2013 at 7:18 am

    I love the design with the two circles – simple, yet ingenious. And it’s quick to make too – I made one over the weekend (you can see it on my website). You could easily adapt this to make other cute animals too – a puppy or a rabbit, anyone? Thanks very much for the tutorial!

  18. Abby Glassenberg says

    September 2, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    You’re totally right, Ruth! I’ll have to make a bunny in the spring. I love your Perry the Kitty!

  19. Marijke (Mippoos) says

    September 3, 2013 at 6:50 am

    Sooo cute!! 🙂

  20. Anshu says

    September 3, 2013 at 5:26 pm

    This looks easy and doable. Very clever pattern. I liked, plussed, pinned and tweeted 🙂

  21. Allison Dey says

    September 3, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    Oh! No way! That is just brilliant! I have an old boucle sweater piece just waiting to be upcycled. I may have to make this with an elf cap as a Christmas ornament for a swap I know is coming up. What a fabulous design. Thank you so much!

  22. sarvenaz says

    September 17, 2013 at 12:38 pm

    Merci,j’aime beaucoup !
    bonne journée

  23. Kim says

    September 26, 2013 at 11:26 am

    This is just brilliant! Well done! I know a bunch of little girls who will be receiving these for Christmas. Thanks for sharing!

  24. Ren says

    October 15, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    Thank you for the pattern! I made 5 little black cats to go in these little stuffed animal sleeping bags (http://applecyder.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/sleeping-bags/) for an upcoming camping trip. The kids will LOVE them!

  25. Shiau Ling says

    December 3, 2013 at 3:34 am

    Hello!!
    Thank you so much for the template! I made one and gave it to a friend (http://saphiracraftsanctuary.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/meoooowwwww/). She LOVED it! Thank you, once again!

  26. Rosemary says

    December 20, 2013 at 10:03 am

    I love making stuffed toys … Have for more years than I want to remember. Old, you know … LOL That is absolutely adorable!!!! Must make it!! Just found you via Sew Can She and am signing up for your newsletter! Thanks for sharing!!!

  27. Abby Glassenberg says

    December 20, 2013 at 10:33 am

    Great to connect with you, Rosemary! Thank you so much!

  28. Patricia says

    December 20, 2013 at 11:15 am

    Oh he’s so adorable. Thank you.

  29. Emma Grace says

    June 10, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    Awww! This is just so cute! I’d love to make one, but the pattern link isn’t working for me : (

    • Abby says

      June 10, 2014 at 8:49 pm

      Ack! I’ve just moved my site from Typepad to WordPress and it looks like this file didn’t come over. I’ve added it now so you should be all set! Thank you for your patience.

  30. lori says

    December 7, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    Hi!
    Love this Tiny Kitten pattern! I am attempting to make one, but the ear/tail piece seems really, really little, too little (for me) to sew/stuff. When I print, he circle comes out to about 5″. Did I print the pattern out incorrectly? Or can I just make the ear/tail piece bigger? I usually make quilts, so I’m new to stuffed things 🙂
    Thank you for any help,
    Lori

    • Abby says

      December 8, 2014 at 12:19 pm

      You’ve printed it properly. It’s very small! The kitty fits in the palm of my hand once it’s all finished. If you’d like to make the tail and ears larger, go for it! Or, print the entire pattern larger. That would work, too. Sewing small parts is often part of making softies and dolls. I love hemostats for turning and I use freezer paper for sewing. Take a look at the Softie Sewing Tutorials category under Sew With Me here on my blog for some tips. Thank you!

  31. LynW says

    November 24, 2016 at 10:46 am

    Sorry to necro this but I am looking to make around 30 of these for a kitten cam conference that we have every year. I’m struggling with the instructions for the body and the tail puzzles me as you don’t show it. A semi-circular tail?
    Can you remember this well enough to help?
    Thank you.
    Lyn

    • Abby says

      November 24, 2016 at 8:30 pm

      Hi Lyn, The body is made from a circle. There isn’t a tail in this pattern, although you could make one if you wanted to.

      • Lyn Wood says

        December 29, 2016 at 10:53 am

        Hi Abby, the tail is mentioned in several places – Now let’s make the ears and tail so they’ll be ready for later…

        Cut 6 half circles. If you’d like, choose a different fabric to line the ears such as fleece or velveteen. The tail should be two layers of fur.

        Pin the head to the body covering the neck slit. Ladder stitch in place. Pin the ears and tail to the body and ladder stitch those in place, too.

        • Abby says

          January 2, 2017 at 1:05 pm

          Ah, you’re right. Forgive me. I was replying quickly and didn’t take the time to really go back and look at this tutorial. The tail is the same as the ear. It is the same semi-circle template. I’m sorry that wasn’t clear!

  32. Mary says

    January 29, 2017 at 6:38 pm

    I’m having a lot of trouble with stitching the body- I get the corner stitch, but when I try to fold/stitch and turn it right side out, there seem to be stitches in places there shouldn’t be and the body comes out closed off and just wrong. I’m a beginner, but the head came out great!

  33. Jesse says

    October 4, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    I made two of these, (one long-hair, one short-hair,) for a couple of little girls’ birthday. But I used a slightly larger isosceles triangle for the ears & tail, instead of the half-circle. They were a hit.

    Sadly, I was running short on time & didn’t get pictures of them.

    • Abby says

      October 6, 2017 at 7:50 am

      Sounds adorable!

Welcome! I'm Abby Glassenberg and I'm glad you're here. While She Naps is a blog about designing and sewing stuffed animals and running a creative business.
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