Crochet cat with clothes

Crochet cat with clothes is a custom order completed this past week. It is going to a girl who already has Ballerina Mouse and who loves it very much. Now she wanted a cat to accompany the ballerina – one with the same dangling legs but definitely not pink.

For the cat, I used the bunny pattern from my new book Unforgettable Childhood Toys. I thought it could make a wonderful, vintage-style cat, and it worked perfectly.

I am especially pleased with the color scheme. Black, blue, and yellow – bold colors that may not seem girly at first glance, but together create a harmonious and beautiful result. Normally, when embroidering facial details, I stick to black and shades of brown, but this cat simply insisted on having a blue nose, which adds a lively touch. The blue also ties in beautifully with the skirt’s colors.

The crocheted cat can be completely undressed. The skirt, vest, and shoes are removable, and more clothes can be made if desired.

I’ve been drawn to vintage, quirky, and fuzzy toys for some time now, which is also what inspired the concept of my Estonian pattern book that came out in the fall. At first glance, it may seem like random colors and materials were used for the cat, as if chosen accidentally, but in reality, everything has been carefully arranged to create that impression. A good example is the nose—it’s not sloppily embroidered, but done deliberately zigzagged to look hastily done.

I think this is a new and exciting direction worth exploring. Achieving a deliberately casual and imperfect look is not as easy as it may sound.

The cat is about 38 cm tall.

Crocheted from a luxurious yarn blend containing wool and alpaca. The vest is made of cotton, the fabric for the skirt comes from my mother’s fabric stash.