Happy Friday! And a free pattern release Friday at that!

Meet Callie the Calico! She's full of energy and loves to play with yarn, don't we all?

Callie's pattern was inspired by a special request from one of my niece's for her birthday. I made her in such a hurry for the party that I didn't get a chance to take my normal step by step photos to share the pattern with you.

But I did keep my notes and knew that someday I would make her again.

That someday came faster than I anticipated when another niece shared her sweet cat had 3 kittens. To my surprise one of the kittens looked just like my first make and was the perfect time to work her up again.

Callie is part of my mini crochet patterns and makes a great size for gifting, cuddling and playing. She comes in about 8 inches tall with the legs, body and head made in one piece.

You can find more mini patterns below -

Mini Crochet Cow

Mini Crochet Pig

Mini Crochet Zebra

Mini Crochet Reindeer

Mini Crochet Llama

Mini Crochet Snowman

Mini Crochet Penguin

Mini Crochet Lamb

New to amigurumi? Check out our Tips page here! I'll walk you through the basics and common methods used in the pattern below.

Want to stay in touch? Follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Join the Grace and Yarn Crochet Group on Facebook or join our newsletter to make sure you don't miss any giveaways, events or new pattern releases!






Materials -

• Size 4 worsted weight yarn (50g of white; small amount of 2 accent colors referred below as Accent A and Accent B)
• 3.5 mm crochet hook (these are the hooks I use and love!)
• 12mm safety eyes
• Black crochet/embroidery thread for eyelashes/eyebrows/whiskers
• Pink crochet/embroidery thread for the nose
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle (bent tips work great for amigurumi)
• Stuffing
• Stitch markers

Abbreviations - US terminology

MC- Magic circle

SC- Single crochet

SC INC- Single crochet increase

INV DEC- Invisible decrease

St(s)- Stitch(es)

Finished mini cat measures approximately 8 inches tall.


NOTES -

- Slowly stuff as you go, you want it to be firm but not stretched. You will be working in the round; I like to use a stitch marker at the beginning of each round.

- The legs, body and head will be made as one piece.


Nose –

With Accent A

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each st (12)

Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Round 4: SC in the first 2 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 5: SC in the first 7 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (27)

Round 6: SC around (27)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing onto the head. With a small piece of pink crochet thread and tapestry needle, pass through 3 sts between the 3rd and 4th rounds approximately 5 times. (Pass through more or less for a bigger/smaller nose). Create a straight line down 2 rows from the center to complete.



Legs - Make 2

Starting with Accent A (first leg only)

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each st (12)

Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Rounds 4-5: SC around (18)

Change to white

Rounds 6-12: SC around (18)

Fasten off on the first leg. Your 2nd leg will be made in white only, no color change is needed. When you complete the 2nd leg continue to round 13 to join the legs. If you are new to joining legs in amigurumi check out this video tutorial here.

Round 13: SC in the next 7 sts (this will align our color changes to be at the back when our join is complete). Chain 3 and attach to the first leg with a SC. SC in the remaining stitches around the leg. When you reach the chain make a SC across each of the 3 chains. SC in the remaining stitches of the next leg and SC across each of the 3 chains again. You will have crocheted on each side of the chain. (42 SC) This completes your join and is where your next round will start.





Rounds 14-24: SC around (42)

Round 25: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 26: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 27: SC around (30)

Round 28: SC in the first 3 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 29: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (18)

Here is where we will start the head.

Round 30: SC in the first 2 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (24)

Round 31: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 32: SC in the first 4 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 33: SC in the first 5 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (42)

Round 34: SC in the first 6 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (48)

Round 35: SC in the first 7 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (54)

Rounds 36-43: SC around (54)

Round 44: SC in the first 7 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (48)

NOTE: Here is where we will attach the facial features. Place the safety eyes 7 stitches apart between rounds 41 and 42. Add eyebrows/eyelashes to your liking before securing the backs of your safety eyes.


Nose - Sew the nose centered between the eyes adding stuffing as you go.


Whiskers – With your black embroidery thread create the whiskers as a sideways ‘V’ 2 sts outside of the nose piece on each side.



Round 45: SC in the first 6 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (42)

Round 46: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (36)

Round 47: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (30)

Round 48: SC in the first 3 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (24)

*Continue to stuff the head and neck firmly to avoid a wobbly head*

Round 49: SC in the first 2 sts, INV DEC in the next, rep around (18)

Round 50: SC in the first st, INV DEC in the next, rep around (12)

Round 51: INV DEC around (6)

Fasten off and sew remaining hole closed, weave in your end.


Ears- Make 2

With Accent B

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC around (6)

Round 3: SC INC in each stitch around (12)

Round 4: SC around (12)

Round 5: SC in the first stitch, SC INC in the next, rep around (18)

Rounds 6-7: SC around (18)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. To create the 2nd multi-colored ear, use Accent A for rounds 1-4 and white for rounds 5-7.



Arms- 

Make 2 stuffing lightly at the bottom

With Accent B

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)

Round 3: SC in the first 3 sts, SC INC in the next, rep around (15)

Round 4: SC around (15)

Round 5: SC in the first stitch, INV DEC in the next, rep around (10)

Change to white

Rounds 6-14: SC around (10)

At the end of round 14 pinch the arm flat and make 5 SC across the top to close, fasten off and leave a long tail to sew onto the body. Complete the 2nd arm in white.


Assembly –

- Sew the ears onto the head starting at the 4th round and ending at the 12th.

- Sew the arms onto the body centered with the head at round 27.

- Lastly, cut 1 strand of each yarn color approximately 8 inches long to make the tail. Using your crochet hook, pull the strands through a center stitch on the back of your cat and braid to your desired length. Secure with a knot and trim as needed.