If you are a cat lover who also adores crocheting, this sweet motif is going to steal your heart! This cat granny square features an adorable pink feline face with embroidered black features, sitting perfectly centered inside the square. It is surrounded by clean white and tan borders worked in single crochet and half double crochet stitches, giving it a beautifully finished, textured look.
This is a wonderfully engaging project for intermediate crocheters who want to practice increasing, decreasing, and working in the third loop. Whether you want to make a pet-themed blanket, a cute market bag, or just a standalone wall hanging, this little kitty is sure to bring a smile to your face.
This pattern uses USA crochet terminology.
Watch the full step-by-step video tutorial here:
Materials Needed
- Yarn of your choice in 4 colors (Pink for the cat face, white and tan for the borders, and black for embroidering features)
- Crochet hook (A 3.00 mm hook is recommended for DK/sport weight yarn)
- Darning needle
- Scissors
Abbreviations Used
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- inc = increase (e.g., sc inc)
- dec = decrease (e.g., sc dec)
- BL = back loop
- tl = third loop
- st(s) = stitch(es)
Pattern Instructions
The Cat Face
Row 1: ch11, sc in BL of each ch from the 10th to 1st.
Row 2: Wrong side, ch1+sc inc, 8sc, sc inc.
Row 3: Right side, ch1+sc inc, 10sc, sc inc.
Row 4: Right side, ch1+sc inc, 12sc, sc inc.
Row 5-8: Turn the work, ch1+sc, 15sc. Repeat this pattern for all 4 rounds.
Row 9: Turn the work, ch1, sc dec, 12 sc, sc dec.
Row 10-12: Turn the work, ch1+sc, 13sc. Repeat this pattern for these 3 rounds.
Row 13: Turn the work, ch1+sc inc, 12sc, sc inc.
Row 14: Turn the work, ch2(count as hdc), hdc, dc, hdc, 8sc, hdc, dc, 2hdc.
Row 15: Turn the work, ch2(count as hdc), 3dc in next st, sk2, hdc, 6sc, hdc, sk2, 3dc in next st, hdc.
The Border
Round 16: Crochet the outer edge. ch1, 3sc around the first hdc post, 2sc around the next hdc post, 14sc, 10sc, 14sc, 2sc in the following ch-2 space, 3sc in the next ch-2 space, 16 sl st, fasten off.
Round 17: Third loop(tl) only, new yarn in the tl of the last sc st, ch1+sc inc, sc, 2hdc, 8dc, 2hdc, sc, sc inc, ch2, sc inc, 4sc, 5hdc, 4sc, hdc, hdc+dc, ch2, dc+hdc, 2hdc, 10sc, 2hdc, hdc+dc, ch2, dc+hdc, hdc, 4sc, 5hdc, 4sc, sc inc, ch2, sl st to the first sc.
Round 18: ch1+sc, 17sc, sc+ch2+sc in next corner, [18sc, sc+ch2+sc in corner] repeat 3 times, sl st to the first sc, fasten off.
Round 19: New yarn in corner, ch2(count as hdc)+hdc+ch2+2hdc, 20hdc, [2hdc+ch2+2hdc in next corner, 20hdc] repeat 3 times, sl st to the top of the first ch2, fasten off. Crochet the nose, mouth, eyes, and whiskers on top.
Tips
- Working in the Third Loop: Round 17 utilizes the third loop of the half double crochet stitches. This is the little horizontal bar lying just below the top two loops. Working into this pushes the top loops forward, creating a beautiful, knit-like braided texture on the right side of your work.
- Embroidery Details: Take your time when adding the facial features! Using a darning needle and a length of black yarn, weave a small pink triangle for the nose, a simple “Y” shape for the mouth, two oval eyes, and a few long straight stitches on each side for the whiskers.
- If you enjoy making unique, character-themed motifs, you will absolutely love this Spooky Ghost Granny Square and the edgy Skull and Flower Granny Square. For more autumn and holiday inspiration, the Pumpkin Granny Square Pattern and Spider Granny Square Pattern are fantastic seasonal options!
FAQ
Can I use a different weight yarn? Absolutely! While the sample uses a DK/sport weight yarn for a delicate finish, you can easily use worsted weight yarn. Just be sure to size up your crochet hook accordingly (usually to a 4.5mm or 5.0mm) to maintain a nice, tight tension.
My edges are looking a little wavy. What did I do wrong? Wavy edges usually occur if your tension is too loose or if you accidentally added extra stitches when working around the corners. Pay close attention to the stitch counts in Rounds 17-19, and make sure your corner chains aren’t too loose.
How do I seamlessly change colors? To keep your color transitions neat, change yarns in the last yarn over of the final stitch of the current color. This ensures the new color starts cleanly on the very next stitch without leaving a gap.
Conclusion
Congratulations on creating your adorable cat granny square! This charming feline motif makes a perfect addition to any pet-lover’s crochet blanket or accessory. Share your finished square in the comments below!
