If you share your home with a cat, you already know the truth: the cat owns the sofa, the best blanket and most of your heart. So it feels only fair that our crochet should celebrate them too, and a handmade crochet cat (or five) is the sweetest way I know to do it. They ask for so little yarn, they work up fast, and unlike the real thing, a crochet kitten will happily sit exactly where you put it and never once knock your coffee off the table.
I have gathered twenty of my favourite cat makes here, and every single one is a real, free pattern from a designer who shares her work generously. There are squishy amigurumi kittens and a no-sew loaf cat, chunky pillow cats and tiny keychain charms, flat appliqués for cards and blankets, cat-faced coasters for your coffee table and two gorgeous granny squares for blanket makers. I have noted the yarn, the size and the honest little details as we go — now choose your favourite colourway, and let's make something purr-fect.
1. The No-Sew Loaf Cat
We have to start with the cat shape the internet cannot stop making: the loaf, that glorious bread-shaped pose every real cat strikes when the paws disappear. Nicki's no-sew loaf cat is worked in one single piece from start to finish, with the little ears formed right inside a front-loop round and tiny bobble stitches popping out as the paws — there is genuinely nothing to sew on at the end. The full written pattern is free on her blog, and there is a step-by-step video tutorial there too if you like to crochet along. Because you can use any yarn weight, the same pattern makes a palm-sized desk cat in DK or a big squishy cushion in plush blanket yarn. Add embroidered whiskers and the classic little cross beneath the tail, and try not to make six.
Pattern: No-Sew Loaf Cat by Nicki’s Homemade Crafts — Get the free pattern
2. The Giant Kitty Pillow in Blanket Yarn
If you want a cat you can really hug, the Kiki Kitty Pillow is your project: a big, soft cat cushion worked in jumbo blanket yarn with an oversized hook, finishing around thirteen inches tall and twelve wide. The body is a simple stuffed circle construction, and the face is made from separate crocheted eyes and a tiny triangle nose that you sew on at the end, with the yarn tail cleverly guided down the back to become the cat's tail. The complete pattern is free on the Made with a Twist site, and because the stitches are huge, it grows astonishingly fast — a weekend is plenty. Made in soft grey, it is the cushion every cat lover's sofa is quietly asking for, and your real cat will claim it within the hour.
Pattern: Kiki Kitty Pillow by Made with a Twist — Get the free pattern
3. Magnus, the One-Piece Scrap-Yarn Kitten
Abbie designed Magnus for her "crazy cat lady sister," and he is exactly what a great gift cat should be: quick, simple and happy to be made entirely from scraps. The body is crocheted as one single piece in whatever yarn weight you have to hand — her sample uses DK with a 3 mm hook and only about eighty metres of yarn — and just the arms, legs and ears are sewn on afterwards. His face is simply embroidered, and the tail is nothing more than three strands of yarn tied together and chained to length, which is the kind of thrifty cleverness I applaud. The full pattern is free on her Abbie Knits site. Make him in tabby stripes, tuxedo black and white, or the exact colours of someone's real cat.
Pattern: Magnus the Kitty Cat by Abbie Knits — Get the free pattern
4. The Tiny Cat That Fits in Your Palm
Kristina Turner's Tiny Cat is the little amigurumi I recommend whenever someone asks for a first cat project that still looks polished. It is a small, sweetly shaped kitten with perky ears and a proper tail, designed to be quick to finish and endlessly giftable — the sort of make you can stitch in an evening and hand over the next day. The pattern is free on her Tiny Curl site, and she asks only that you keep the pattern itself for your own personal use; you are welcome to sell finished toys made from it in limited numbers, as long as you credit her as the designer. Work a whole litter in different colours and try to give them away before you get attached. It is harder than it sounds.
Pattern: Tiny Cat Amigurumi by Kristina Turner at Tiny Curl — Get the free pattern
5. The Pocket-Sized Cat With Bobble Paws
Ashley Parker's easy small cat was designed for her Amigurumi Advent Calendar crochet along, which means it is deliciously dinky — the finished kitty fits inside a three-inch box. It is worked from the top down in worsted yarn, the tail is crocheted straight into the body (no sewing a tail on, ever again), and the ears and little muzzle are the only pieces to attach; my favourite detail is the bobble stitches that pop out as front paws. The full written pattern is free on The Loopy Lamb, with a step-by-step video tutorial alongside it, and Ashley notes you can simply switch to bulky yarn and a bigger hook for a larger cat. The pattern is for personal use, though finished cats may be sold with credit to her; an ad-free PDF is available if you want a printable copy.
Pattern: Easy Small Amigurumi Cat by Ashley Parker at The Loopy Lamb — Get the free pattern
6. A Little Ginger Cat With a Ribbon
Every cat collection needs a ginger, and this little sweetheart from Amigurumi Today sits at just about eleven centimetres tall, worked in fine four-ply semi-cotton with a tiny 2 mm hook and finished with a satin ribbon at her neck. She has that classic seated amigurumi shape with white touches and ten-millimetre safety eyes, and the easy skill rating makes her a lovely evening make. Now the honest part: the free online version of this pattern unlocks when you sign in with a free Amigurumi Today account, and a printable PDF is sold separately in their shop — but the pattern itself costs nothing once you are signed in. Finished toys may be sold as long as you credit Amigurumi Today as the source. She is perfectly sized for party favour bags and stockings.
Pattern: Ginger Cat Amigurumi by Amigurumi Today — Get the free pattern
7. Cobweb, the Witchy Black Cat
Nicole Chase's Cobweb is a black cat dressed for spooky season in a tiny pointed witch hat, holding her own miniature broom, and I adore her beyond reason. The clever part is the construction: the legs, arms and tail are crocheted directly into the body as you go, and the head and body are worked as one continuous piece, so this charming cat is nearly no-sew. She sits at about five and a half inches tall in worsted yarn with a 4 mm hook, and the pattern is beginner-friendly while looking anything but basic. The full pattern is free on Nicole's blog; an ad-free printable PDF is available to buy if you prefer paper. Make her in black for Halloween, or in grey or calico for an all-year desk companion.
Pattern: Cobweb the Cat by Nicole Chase — Get the free pattern
8. The Kitten Hiding in a Pumpkin
Secret the Pumpkitten might be the cutest autumn decoration on this whole list: a little kitten poking her head out of the top of a plump orange pumpkin. The pumpkin itself is refreshingly simple — it begins life as a plain sphere, and the signature pumpkin grooves are created afterwards with some easy stitching that pulls the sides in tight, so if you can crochet a ball, you can make this pumpkin. The full pattern is free on the Little World of Whimsy blog, and there is an ad-free PDF in her Etsy shop if you want it offline. Work the cat in any fur colour you like — a black kitten for Halloween, or one that matches your own cat for the autumn mantelpiece. It is fall décor with whiskers, and I am here for it.
Pattern: Secret the Pumpkitten by Little World of Whimsy — Get the free pattern
9. The Cat-and-Donut Keychain
Some combinations are just meant to be, and a kitten clutching a sprinkled donut is absolutely one of them. Claire's little keychain cat is built from a round head and body with separate ears, arms and legs, plus a flat crocheted donut complete with dripping icing that the cat holds in front — the finished charm is pure kawaii. The pattern is rated beginner level, written in US terms, and it is completely free on her Claireabellemakes blog, donut and icing included. It uses only small amounts of yarn, so raid the scrap basket for the cat, the donut and three or four icing colours. Clip one to your keys, one to a school bag and one to a zip pull, and watch how many conversations they start.
Pattern: Cat and Donut Keychain by Claireabellemakes — Get the free pattern
10. One-Piece Cat Coasters With Long Tails
Cheryl Bennett's cat coasters are the ones I make in batches for gifts, because the whole cat — round body, pointed ears and that long curling tail — is worked in a single piece, which means no sewing whatsoever. The tail is simply fastened off long, woven under a few stitches and tacked into a pleasing curve, and you can embroider the sleepy face or leave the coaster plain and modern. The full pattern is free on Crochet 365 Knit Too, written for worsted cotton yarn (she suggests Lily Sugar 'n Cream), and she shows an optional felt backing for a really finished feel. A set of four in your friends' cats' colours is the most thoughtful small gift I know. Add a mug and a ribbon and you are done.
Pattern: Cute Crochet Cat Coasters by Cheryl Bennett at Crochet 365 Knit Too — Get the free pattern
11. The Classic Kitty Mug Coaster
This cheerful kitty face coaster starts as a simple double-crochet circle and then grows two neat little ears worked right into the final rounds, with a quick single-crochet edge around each ear to keep them crisp. It is an easy, relaxing pattern — the full instructions are free on My Crafts Inspirations — and it is a wonderful way to practise your basic stitches while making something genuinely useful for the kitchen table or your desk. In cotton yarn it is absorbent, washable and quick enough to finish while the kettle boils, almost. Make one in your cat's colours, one in the opposite colours just to tease her, and a whole rainbow set for your next craft fair table. Coasters this cute never stay in the drawer.
Pattern: Crochet Kitty Cup/Mug Coaster by My Crafts Inspirations — Get the free pattern
12. The Cheeky Cat Butt Coaster
Cat people, you know this view: tail straight up, dignity entirely optional. MummaJ's cat butt coaster turns that unmistakable feline pose into the funniest little drink mat in crochet — a round body in your cat's colours, a small pink centre, two back legs and a tail standing proudly to attention. The written pattern is free on her blog in UK terms, and there is a video tutorial as well, plus a separate video for a calico version; a low-cost, print-friendly PDF is available if you want it on paper. It works up quickly in cotton yarn and makes the sort of gift that has the whole room laughing before it has even been unwrapped. Model a set on every cat you know — likenesses will be recognised instantly.
Pattern: Cat Butt Coaster by MummaJ Crochet — Get the free pattern
13. The Sitting Cat Silhouette Coaster
If you prefer your cat makes a little more classic, this flat sitting-cat silhouette from Crochet 'N' More is a proper vintage-style pattern, worked in rows of single crochet that gradually shape a seated cat complete with a curled tail edge. It measures about five inches wide by eight inches tall at the widest points, in Peaches & Creme cotton with an H hook, so it sits generously under a teapot or a big mug — more hot-pad than coaster, in the best way. The pattern is free on their site, and one honest note: the designer asks that it be copied or printed for personal use only. In classic white it looks like a porcelain cat; in black, it is pure Halloween elegance.
Pattern: Cat Coaster by Crochet ‘N’ More — Get the free pattern
14. The Ten-Minute Kitty Appliqué
Alex's kitty appliqué is the little flat cat I reach for whenever a plain project needs saving — a beanie, a tote bag, a hook case, a baby blanket corner. The body and head are worked in one clever piece from a simple chain, the tail is a separate little chain of slip stitches, and at a G hook in Caron Simply Soft the whole thing measures only about two and a half inches tall and takes hardly any time at all. The pattern is free on her With Alex blog, and she includes a video tutorial too if you want to watch the shaping happen. Because it is flat and light, it is also perfect for greeting cards and gift tags. Make a tabby version with a few surface stripes and prepare to be asked for more.
Pattern: Kitty Cat Appliqué by With Alex — Get the free pattern
15. The Halloween Black Cat Appliqué
Elena at GoldenLucyCrafts is the queen of appliqués, and her black cat is a Halloween essential: a sleek sitting cat built from a separate body, head and curling tail, finished with googly eyes that give it that wide-awake, up-to-something expression. The pieces are quick rounds of half doubles and singles, blocked flat and sewn or glued together, so you can batch-make a whole clowder in an evening. The complete pattern is free on her site, like all of her appliqué designs. Sew one onto a trick-or-treat tote, a cushion or a child's October jumper, or string several along a ribbon for the easiest garland ever. A tiny bow at the neck turns spooky into sweet, if your Halloween leans that way.
Pattern: Black Cat Appliqué by GoldenLucyCrafts — Get the free pattern
16. The Santa Cat Appliqué
When December arrives, Elena's Santa cat takes over my craft table: a smart black cat wearing a proper little Santa hat with a snowflake button at its tip and a fringed red scarf folded around its neck. The body, head, hat and scarf are all simple pieces worked separately and assembled at the end, with googly eyes for that bright festive stare, and the full pattern is free on GoldenLucyCrafts. It is a small project with outsized charm — sew one onto a Christmas stocking, a gift bag, a table runner or the family cat's own little blanket, and it will make everyone smile every single year. I make a fresh one each season and date the back; they are becoming a tradition in their own right.
Pattern: Santa Cat Appliqué by GoldenLucyCrafts — Get the free pattern
17. Two Cats, One Moon, Intertwined Tails
This is the romantic one: two cats sitting on a branch beneath a full moon, their tails curled around each other. Elena designed it in two versions — the Cats in Love pair, one black and one white with their tails intertwined, and a Parent and Child pairing made by working one cat in thicker yarn with a bigger hook. The moon is a simple increasing circle, the branch is a long shaped chain, and the whole scene blocks into a beautiful flat appliqué that begs to be framed or sewn onto a cushion cover. The pattern is completely free on GoldenLucyCrafts. As a wedding or anniversary make for a cat-loving couple, I genuinely cannot think of anything sweeter. Frame it, and it becomes art.
Pattern: Cats and a Full Moon by GoldenLucyCrafts — Get the free pattern
18. The Minimalist Sitting Cat Motif
For a completely different appliqué mood, the OHCHIVES cat motif is a modern, minimalist sitting cat worked flat in rows of single crochet — no rounds, no separate pieces, just clever increases and decreases that sculpt the ears, head and haunches as you go. Their version uses DK cotton in black with natural-coloured yarn saved for stitching on the eyes and whiskers at the end, all with a 4 mm hook. The full pattern is free on the OHCHIVES site, chart-free and beginner-friendly. Because the silhouette is so clean, it looks stunning on a plain tote, a cushion or the pocket of a cardigan, and it works in any single colour. This is the appliqué for your minimalist friends who claim crochet is "too busy" — prepare to convert them.
Pattern: Cat Appliqué Motif by OHCHIVES — Get the free pattern
19. The Black Cat Granny Square
Melissa Hassler's black cat square uses the clever circle-to-square technique: you begin with a black circle that becomes the cat's face, then switch to a contrast colour — hers is a rich purple — and square the circle off with classic corner rounds until you have a proper granny square. The ears, eyes, pupils, nose and whiskers are added at the end, and the pattern is written in US terms with a magic-circle alternative if rings are not your friend. The complete pattern is free on Lovable Loops. Join a pile of them into a Halloween blanket, or make a single square the centre of a tote bag or cushion. Worked in orange with a black cat, it is autumn in a square; in pastels, it is nursery-sweet.
Pattern: Black Cat Granny Square by Melissa Hassler at Lovable Loops — Get the free pattern
20. The Grey Cat Square From the Halloween CAL
We are finishing where blanket makers will want to live: Maria's grey cat appliqué and granny square, created for her Halloween blanket crochet along. The cat face itself is a quick half-double-crochet circle with two little shaped ears, finished with six-millimetre safety eyes, a stitched nose and whiskers, and in the blanket it is sewn onto soft grey granny squares (with black ones for contrast). The full written pattern is free on Maria's Blue Crayon, with a video to help you along. Of course, nobody says you must make the whole blanket — one cat square becomes a cushion front, a trick-or-treat bag panel or a wall hanging all by itself. But fair warning: these faces are addictive, and a blanket is only a few evenings away.
Pattern: Halloween Cat Appliqué and Granny Square by Maria’s Blue Crayon — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
And that is twenty cats, my friend — loaves and pillows, pocket kittens and pumpkin cats, coasters for your coffee and squares for your blankets, every single one free and every single one far better behaved than the cat currently sitting on your yarn. If you are new to cat makes, start with the one-piece coasters or the ten-minute appliqué; if you want a whole afternoon of joy, the loaf cat and the Pumpkitten are waiting. My best tip: make the first one in your own cat's colours. The photograph of the two of them together is worth every stitch.
Now tell me — are you team amigurumi kitten or team cheeky coaster, and which of these twenty is going on your hook first? I read every comment, and I cannot wait to see your makes!
