Description and knitting patterns for original amigurumi cats

Each of us has seen funny knitted toys or little men with a disproportionate head and a small body. This style of knitting is called amigurumi, it came from Japan. Most often, toys are made in the form of cats, dogs, bunnies, as well as humanoid creatures or objects.

Amigurumi is knitted with both knitting needles and crochet. A characteristic feature of such toys is disproportion of the head to the rest of the body. The head should be large with huge eyes and a small mouth, and the body, on the contrary, should be small with small thin legs. The second feature is the size of the toy, it should not be more than 8-10 cm in length or width. The third difference between amigurumi is a special knitting technique - the toy is knitted in small pieces, which are then sewn together.

According to the classical scheme, toys are knitted spiral, for two loops and clockwise... Since the birthplace of such knitting is Japan, the prototypes for the first toys were anime or manga heroes, and the amigurumi cat could have the name of the corresponding hero.

For knitting toys, you need to carefully select the materials. The first thing we'll look at is yarn. For beginner craftswomen, it is best to use iris yarn, acrylic yarn is also ideal because of its softness, availability and a variety of colors. Experienced knitters can use fine cotton yarn, but given its "capriciousness" for ami-toys, it is less suitable.

For giving amigurumi weight, it is best to use semi-woolen or woolen thread. To give furry, you can knit with "grass" or mohair yarn, but then the toys should be knitted, and not crocheted. Want to get a stuffed animal? Take marshmallow yarn.

The second thing that is required for the manufacture of toys is small accessories in the form of eyes, spouts. Additional details can be knitted independently, or you can buy ready-made eyes with eyelashes. Some craftswomen make such elements from scrap materials, most often from buttons.

The third, but no less important, item is filler. Cotton wool, feathers and fluff, synthetic winterizer, holofiber, cereals and even silicone balls are used as a filler. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

• Cotton wool. The advantages of using only its availability. Cotton wool tends to clump, a toy with such a filler will very quickly lose its shape.

• Down and feather. Like cotton wool, it will not hold its shape. In addition, a product with such a filler will be difficult to wash.

• Sintepon... This synthetic fiber works well for stuffing, but it should be quite dense, as a synthetic winterizer, especially a cheap one, can roll into lumps.

• Holofiber. This is also a synthetic material. Due to the fact that holofiber in balls does not roll and keeps its shape well, it is an ideal filling for amigurumi.

• Cereals and silicone balls. They are not very common fillers. They are added for development toys. This type of filler develops tactile sensations in children.

To create toys, amigurumi is most often used hooks from No. 0.6 to No. 2.5, however, for novice craftswomen, it is most suitable hook number 1.5... For the required knitting density, the hook needs to be taken much less than is needed for knitting a particular yarn. The material from which the hook is made does not matter, it can be metal, plastic, wood or other material.

It is easier to use knitting needles for knitting additional pieces such as clothing or accessories. Of course, toys can also be knitted, but this is not very convenient due to the size of the parts. If you are more comfortable and more accustomed to knitting, it is better to use from No. 1.5 to No. 3. The scissors should be sharp enough to cut the thread effortlessly. You will also need needles to sew the pieces together and sew them together.

All knitting begins with an amigurumi ring, it is created from a sliding loop. When knitting, the loop is tightened so that the hole in the center does not remain. The ring is knitted in two ways. The first method is made according to the classic Japanese technology, with a double main loop, in which one thread is pulled up. The second method is to tie a simple ring. The difference between these methods is that with the second method you do not need to double the main loop.

It is not a problem to connect almost any toy with a diagram and description of work. Amigurumi can be not only a toy, but also in the form of a small pillow.

Naughty cats are common models for amigurumi, such as the cute long-legged cat.

Very popular knitted Hello Kitty cats in a dress and with a pink bow.

There are many original ideas for mating various models of cats, including a tabby cat or a completely black and fluffy cat.

Another good example is the antistress toy in the shape of a fat cat. There is a lot of information on knitting on the Internet, such as amigurumi books, schematics with descriptions, or master classes. You can start with a simple basic model and gradually knit what your imagination tells you.

For beginner knitters, we present a short master class (hereinafter MK) on knitting a simple cat toy. We will divide the whole process into several stages.

• Let's start with the head. We knit as standard, 6 columns in a ring. 2 chain - 6 extra columns (12 loops). 3 row - 6 increments, one column (18 loops). 4 chain - 6 increments of two columns (24 loops). 5 row - 6 increments of three columns (30 loops). 6 chain - 6 increments of four columns (36 loops). 7 chain - 6 increments of five columns (42 loops). We knit the eighth row in the same way as the seventh (42 loops). 9 chain - 6 increments of six columns (48 loops). We knit the tenth row in the same way as the ninth (48 loops). 11 chain - 6 increments of seven columns (54 loops). 12 row - 6 increments of eight columns (60 loops). The thirteenth row repeats the previous one (60 loops). 14 chain - nine columns 6 increments (66 loops). 15 chain - ten columns 6 increments (72 loops). We knit rows from 16 to 21 in the same way, 72 loops each. 22 chain - ten columns 6 decreases (66 loops). 23 chain - decrease by nine columns 6 times (60 loops). 24 row - decrease by eight columns 6 times (54 loops). 25 chain - decrease seven columns 6 times (48 loops). 26 row - decrease by six columns 6 times (42 loops). 27 chain - decrease by five columns 6 times (36 loops). 28 chain - decrease in four columns 6 times (30 loops). 29 chain - decrease three columns 6 times (24 loops).

• We knit the torso. 1 chain - standard ring. 2nd row - 6 columns of the increase. 3rd row - 6 increments in one column. 4th row - 6 increments of two columns. 5th chain - 6 increments of three columns. 6 row - 6 increments of four columns. 7 row - 6 increments of five columns. 8 chain - 6 increments of six columns. 9th row - 6 increments of seven columns. 10 row - 6 increments of eight columns. From 11 to 20 rows of 60 columns. 21 chains - 6 decreases in eight columns. 22 and 23 rows of 54 columns. 24 chain - 6 decreases in seven columns. From 25 to 26 rows of 48 columns. 27 row - 6 decreases in six columns. From 28 to 29 row 42 columns. From row 30 - 6 decreases in five columns. From 31 to 32 rows of 36 columns. With 33 rows - 6 decreases in four columns. From 34 to 35 rows of 30 columns. 36 chain - 6 decreases in three columns. From 37 to 38 rows of 24 columns.

• We knit the cat's lower paws... We start with the ring. 2nd chain - 6 increments. 3rd row - 6 increments one column at a time. 4th row - 6 increments of two columns. 5 row - 6 increments of three columns. 6 row - 6 increments of four columns. 7 to 10 rows of 36 columns. 11 row - three columns of a decrease. 12 and 13 rows are also knitted in 33 columns. 14th row - 6 columns of a decrease. 15 row - 3 columns of decrease. From 15 to 17 rows of 24 columns. 18th row - 6 decreases in three columns. 19 and 20 rows of 21 columns. 22 chain - 3 decreases in five columns. 22 and 23 rows of 18 loops. 24 row - 3 decreases in four columns. 25 chain - 15 columns. We knit the second foot in the same way.

• We knit the upper legs. We knit a standard ring. 2nd chain - 6 increments. 3 chain - 6 increments, one column. 4th row - 6 increments of two columns. From 5 to 9 rows of 24 columns. 10 row - 9 columns, then three decreases and 9 more columns. 11 row - 8 columns, three decreases and 7 columns. Rows 12 to 17 of 18 columns. 18 chain - decrease 1 column. 19 row - 17 columns. From 20 to 21 rows of 17 columns. 22 row - decrease and 15 columns. From 23 to 24 rows of 16 pillars. 25 row - decrease and 14 columns. Rows 26 to 27 of 15 columns. 28 chain - decrease and 13 columns. Rows 29 to 31 with 14 columns. Similarly, we knit the second upper leg of the cat.

• We knit a muzzle. We start, as always, with a standard ring. 2 chain - six increments. 3rd row - 1 column of the increase six times. 4 and 5 are chains of 18 columns. 6 row - 2 columns of the increase six times. 7 chain - 24 columns. 8 chain - 3 columns of the increase six times.

• The ears of the cat are knitted in two parts. The outer part of the ears, we knit in two parts... 1 chain - standard ring. 2 chain - 1 column of increase three times. 3rd row - 2 columns of the increase three times. 4 chain - 3 columns of the increase three times. 5th row - 4 columns of the increase three times. 6 row - 5 columns of the increase three times. 7 chain - 6 columns of an increase three times. The inner part of the ear is also knitted in the amount of two pieces. We start with 6 columns in a ring. 2 chain - 1 column. Row 3 - 1 stitch, chain stitch, 2 double crochet stitches, air loop, 1 stitch. 4 chain - 1 column. Row 5 - 1 stitch, chain stitch, 2 double crochet stitches, air loop, 1 stitch. 6 chain - 1 column. 7 chain - 1 stitch, chain stitch, 1 double crochet, chain stitch, 1 stitch.The last is the connecting column. The inside of the eyelet is sewn to the outside.

• We knit a tail, the length of the tail depends on your desire. 1 row - 6 columns of the ring. 2nd row - six increments. 3 row - 12 columns. 4th row - 1 column of the increase six times. 5th row - 2 columns of the increase six times. From 6 to 9 rows of 24 loops. 10 row - decrease six columns three times. From 11 to 13 rows of 21 loops. 12th row - 5 columns of decrease three times. From 15 to 19 rows of 18 columns. 20 row - 4 columns of a decrease three times. From 21 to 30 rows of 15 columns. 31 row - decrease, 6 columns. From 32 to 36 rows of 14 columns. 37 row - decrease 5 columns. 38 row - decrease 6 columns. From 39 to 40 rows of 13 columns. Then we knit from 12 to 20 rows additionally, up to the required tail length.

• Add filler... We glue or sew eyes on the face. Sew the head and body, sew on the ears. Approximately 7-8 rows from the center we sew the hind legs, sew the front legs higher, add a tail at the back. We knit a nose with a ball or embroider. We also embroider the eyebrows and the mouth. As a result, we have a happy cat.

Almost all toys are knitted in separate parts, which are then sewn together.

• Just look at ami toys, for example cat Basik or Simon... Cartoons give the craftswomen a lot of heroes and ideas.

• Another very good example is the photo Trinity of kittens Caramel, Cookie and Compote from the cartoon "Three Cats"... Children will absolutely love it!

• Also incredibly similar to its drawn prototype cat Matroskin from Prostokvashino.

• Wonderful kitten woof also looks lively and playful, moreover, it will be possible for him to pair Sharik's puppy.

Amigurumi is not only a type of knitting, but also a very exciting creative process.... You can show your imagination and knit a toy not just according to the scheme, but according to your inner vision.

Crochet pattern for crocheting an amigurumi cat with a description in the video below.