Head onto the body. Stuff the body firmly. Hold the head's closing point (last round) at the centre of the body's opening (R17) and sew the edge of the opening all round to the head: the seam runs along round 22 of the head (all the way round). Top up the neck with stuffing before closing the seam so the head does not wobble. Press it into the base by about 1.6 cm.

Ear → head (make 2). Centre: in round 8, 9.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left (the one on the toy's left is described; sew the other as its mirror image). Sew around the opening (19 st); the seam covers rounds 5–12 of the head, about 6 st wide. Keep the spoon hollow side forward; the opening lies in a curve following the head, both layers sewn down. It points outward and up.

Santa hat → head. Centre: at the centre of the magic ring. Sew around the opening (48 st); the seam covers rounds 8–10 of the head (all the way round). It points up.

Pompom → Santa hat. Centre: at the centre of the magic ring. Sew the piece on by its closed end (last rounds); it touches rounds 1–4 of the Santa hat, about 2 st wide. It points up. Press it into the base by about 3 mm.

Scarf → body. Put the scarf around the body: the chain ring (48 st) lies along the edge of the last round of the body, the rounds spreading down; sew the ring to the body all round and let the rest lie free on it.

Scarf end (worked flat in turned rows): with green, ch 6; Row 1: starting in the 2nd ch from hook, 5 sc, ch 1, turn (5). Rows 2–9: 5 sc, ch 1, turn (5). Fasten off. The strip is about 2 cm long. Lay it along the curve of the body, running side to side: its middle in round 11, 3.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ; its ends in round 11, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right and in round 11, 6 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right . Pin, then sew along both long edges.

Arm → body (make 2). Centre: in round 9, 5.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left (the one on the toy's left is described; sew the other as its mirror image). Flatten the opening (4 st against 4 st) and sew it on in a straight line top to bottom (along the body), across the rounds: rounds 7–11 of the body, about 1 st wide. It points forward and slightly down.

Foot → body (make 2). Centre: in round 4, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left (the one on the toy's left is described; sew the other as its mirror image). Sew around the opening (12 st); the seam covers rounds 3–6 of the body, about 4 st wide. It points forward.

Tail → body. Centre: in round 4, 1.5 st from the centre back line, toward the toy's left . Sew around the opening (9 st); the seam covers rounds 4–5 of the body, about 3 st wide. It points backward and outward.

Cheek → head (make 2). Centre: between rounds 18 and 19, 7.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left (the one on the toy's left is described; sew the other as its mirror image). Sew it flat all round its edge; it covers rounds 17–20 of the head, about 4 st wide.

Safety eyes and noses go in before the piece is stuffed and closed (see the pieces above); embroidery is easier before the piece is sewn on.

Safety eyes with a printed glint 13 mm (on the head): between rounds 15 and 16, 8 st apart (count along round 15: about 4.2 st each side of the centre front line). Iris iris #7fb84a.
Satin stitch (on the head): in nose thread, a triangle about 6.5 mm wide and 4.8 mm tall, horizontal stitches; centred between rounds 17 and 18, on the centre front line .
Embroidery in mouth thread (on the head), straight stitches through: (in round 18, on the centre front line ) → (between rounds 18 and 19, on the centre front line ) → (in round 19, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 18 and 19, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ).
Embroidery in mouth thread (on the head), straight stitches through: (in round 18, on the centre front line ) → (between rounds 18 and 19, on the centre front line ) → (in round 19, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 18 and 19, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).

Christmas Cat in a Santa Hat

What you'll need