I am delighted to present to you: Zombie Kitten! (with Brain, because every zombie kitten needs a toy brain to play with). This pattern was previously only available as a paid pattern in my shop however, I am now able to make it available for free! Yay! Wishing you a creepy cute spooky season ahead!
The Details
This pattern is primarily made in the same style as my Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look.
The finished measurements are approximately 24cm/9.5″ from top to bottom.
Notes:
- The body panels are worked flat from the bottom up.
- The paws and tail are worked in the round from the bottom up.
- The face is stitched onto the front panel.
- The panels are joined by placing one on top of the other and crocheting around the edges of the panels. The paws and tail are joined during assembly. The piece is then stuffed.
- When working the body panels, you will need to change colours using the tapestry crochet technique to create the exposed brain. To do this, when changing colours, insert your hook into the stitch for the last stitch of Colour X and pull up a loop. Then, with Colour Y, yarn over and complete the stitch by pulling through both loops with Colour Y. Drop your working yarn in Colour X and continue with Colour Y. Pick Colour X working yarn back up again when you need it. Always drop your yarn on the wrong side of your panel. For the front panel, when working an odd-numbered row (row 1, 3, 5, etc), the right side of the panel will be facing you. When working an even-numbered row, the wrong side will be facing you. This is reversed for the back panel.
- The brain held by the kitten is worked in the round and embellished with surface slip stitches to create texture. Then it is stuffed and shaped.
- Colour 108 (green) is MC, Colour 54 (pink) is A, Colour 03 (oat milk) is B, Colour 123 (charcoal) is C.
- When working a decrease in the round, use the invisible decrease method.
- Ch 1 at end of each row does not count as a stitch.
Let’s get started! (Or Pin/Shop for later!)
If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased the following ways:
Materials:
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- 3.25mm hook for main (I use THESE hooks!);
- Friends Cotton 8/8 in the following colours:
- 108 (green – MC) – two 50g skeins
- 54 (pink – Colour A) – one 50g skein
- 03 (oat milk – Colour B) – one 50g skein
- 123 (charcoal – Colour C) – one 50g skein
- One safety eye 12mm;
- Two safety eyes 8mm;
- Chenille stem or other craft wire (optional);
- Four (4) stitch markers;
- Stuffing;
- Tapestry needle.
Terms and Stitches:
MR = Magic ring
Slst = Slip stitch
Surface Slst = Place yarn behind fabric, insert hook into crocheted fabric from the front to the back, yo and pull a loop through to the front, *insert hook into fabric next to the st just worked, yo, pull a loop through to the front and through the loop on hook, repeat from *.
MC = Main colour
CC = Contrasting colour
Ch = Chain
Sc = Single crochet
Inc = Sc increase
Dec = Sc decrease
Sk = Skip a stitch
BLO = Back loops only
FLO = Front loops only
Pattern
Body Panel (make 2 panels):
Working with MC:
Row 1: Ch 8, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch (7), ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Inc in each of the first 2 sts, sc 3, inc in each of the last 2 sts (11), ch 1, turn.
Row 3: Inc in first st, sc 9, inc in last st (13), ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Inc in first st, sc 11, inc in last st (15), ch 1, turn.
Row 5: Inc in first st, sc 13, inc in last st (17), ch 1, turn.
Row 6: Sc in each st, ch 1, turn.
Row 7: Inc in first st, sc 15, inc in last st (19), ch 1, turn.
Rows 8-11: Sc in each st, ch 1, turn.
Row 12: Dec, sc 15, dec (17), ch 1, turn.
Row 13: Sc in each st, ch 1, turn.
Row 14: Dec, sc 13, dec (15), ch 1, turn.
Row 15: Dec, sc 11, dec (13), ch 1, turn.
Row 16: Sc in each st, ch 1, turn.
Row 17: Dec, sc 9, dec (11), ch 1, turn.
Row 18: Sc in each st, ch 1, turn.
Row 19: Dec, sc 7, dec (9), ch 1, turn.
Row 20: Inc in first st, sc 7, inc in last st (11), ch 1, turn.
Row 21: Inc in each of the first 2 sts, sc 7, inc in each of the last 2 sts (15), ch 1, turn.
Row 22: Inc in each of the first 2 sts, sc 11, inc in each of the last 2 sts (19), ch 1, turn.
Row 23: Sc in each st, ch 1, turn.
Row 24: Inc in first st, sc 17, inc in last st (21), ch 1, turn.
Row 25: Inc in first st, sc 19, inc in last st (23), ch 1, turn.
Rows 26-29: Sc in each st, ch 1, turn.
Begin colour work in next row.
Row 30: Sc 19, in A sc 4, ch 1, turn.
Row 31: In A sc 6, in MC sc 17, ch 1, turn.
Place a st marker at the beginning and end of row 31.
Row 32: In MC dec, sc 14, in A sc 5, dec (21), ch 1, turn.
Row 33: In A dec, sc 5, in MC sc 12, dec (19), ch 1, turn.
Row 34: In MC dec, sc 11, in A sc 4, dec (17), ch 1, turn.
Row 35: In A dec, sc 4, in MC sc 9, dec (15), ch 1, turn.
Row 36: In MC dec, sc 8, in A sc 3, dec (13), ch 1, turn.
Place a st marker at the beginning and end of row 36.
Row 37: In A dec two times, in MC sc 5, dec two times (9)
Tie off.
Ears:
The ears are worked onto each side of the body panel between the stitch markers. Working with MC, insert hook into a stitch marker space on the front body panel.
Row 1: Sc 6 (6), ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Sc 2, dec, sc 2 (5), ch 1, turn.
Row 3: Sc 1, dec, sc 2 (4), ch 1, turn.
Row 4: Dec two times (2), ch 1, turn.
Row 5: Dec (1)
Tie off. Repeat on other side of front body panel. Repeat for back body panel.
Paws (make 4):
Working in MC.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: *Sc 2, inc in next st, repeat from * one more time (8)
Rnd 3: *Sc 1, inc in next st, repeat from * three more times (12)
Rnds 4-5: Sc in each st
Rnd 6: *Sc 4, dec, repeat from * one more time (10)
Rnd 7: Sc in each st
Tie off. Weave ends.
Tail (make 1):
Work in MC. Stuff tail as you go.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around (12)
Rnd 3: *Sc 3, inc in next st, repeat from * two more times (15)
Rnd 4: *Sc 3, dec, repeat from * two more times (12)
Rnds 5-6: Sc in each st
Rnd 7: *Sc 4, dec, repeat from * one more time (10)
Rnds 8-14: Sc in each st around
Rnd 15: BLO dec around (5)
Tie off MC. Optional: insert chenille stem so the tail can be shaped into a curve.
Rnd 16: In colour B, FLO sc in each st (5)
Rnds 17-20: Sc in each st
Tie off colour B.
Rnd 21: In MC FLO inc in each st (10)
Rnd 22: BLO sc in each st
Rnds 23-25: Sc in each st
Rnd 26: Sc 8, dec (9)
Rnds 27-28: Sc in each st.
Rnd 29: Sc 7, dec (8)
Rnds 30-31: Sc in each st
Tie off. Top up stuffing. Weave ends.
Brain (make 1):
Work in Colour A.
Rnd 1: 6 sc MR (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st (12)
Rnd 3: *Sc, inc in next st, repeat from * five more times (18)
Rnd 4: *Sc 2, inc in next st, repeat from * five more times (24)
Rnds 5-12: Sc in each st
Insert 8 mm safety eyes between rounds 6 and 7 with about 6 sts between them. Surface slst over each half of the brain in a back-and-forth pattern.
Rnd 13: *Sc 2, dec, repeat from * five more times (18)
Rnd 14: *Sc 1, dec, repeat from * five more times (12)
Rnd 15: Dec six times (6)
Stuff. Tie off, leaving a long tail for closing. With tapestry needle, weave tail through each st, down through centre and out a stitch on the opposite side. Pull to close.
With a length of colour A, wrap yarn around the brain lengthwise (between the eyes) and pull tightly to shape. Wrap a second time and tie a knot to secure. Weave ends.
Move on to assembly below!
Assembly:
Step 1: With A, surface slst in a back-and-forth pattern in the pink area of rows 30-37 of the front and back Body Panels.
Step 2: Insert a 12 mm safety eye between rows 26 and 27 of the front Body Panel.
Step 3: With C, stitch an ‘X’ shape over rows 26 and 27 of the front Body Panel with about 7 sts between the safety eye and the ‘X’.
Step 4: With C, stitch a small upside-down triangle at row 25 of the front Body Panel between the eyes to create the nose. Make a vertical st below the triangle for the mouth.
Step 5: With C, stitch a triangle shape between rows 2-4 of each ear.
Step 6: With C, make a long stitch above the eye spanning rows 31-34. Make two small perpendicular sts to create a scar.
Step 7: With C, stitch two lines on two of the paws to create toes. Stitch four dots to create pads and toes on each of the other two paws (use French knots for the toes, or, alternatively, stitch around one sc st for each toe). Stuff lightly.
Step 8: Place the two Body Panels together with wrong sides facing each other. The right side of the front Body Panel will be facing you. Starting at the top left side below the ear, begin attaching the panels together by inserting your hook through both panels and single crocheting around the outside edge of the panels with MC.
Step 9: Attach one of the front paws when you reach the neck area by placing the paw on top of the body panels and inserting your hook through all four layers. Repeat for the first back paw when you reach the bottom of the Body Panels.
Step 10: With a length of MC, stitch the tail between the two Body Panels. Continue crocheting the two panels together. Sc in the stitches of the Front Panel only when crocheting across the tail. Resume crocheting both panels together after passing the tail.
Step 11: Attach the other back paw and front paw as you crochet up the other side of the Body Panels.
Step 12: Stuff piece.
Step 13: Continue crocheting up the other side of the head. Switch to colour A when you reach the exposed brain area, then back to MC to crochet around the first ear. At the tip of each ear, crochet the following: (sc, ch 1, sc) all into the same st.
Step 14: Top up stuffing.
Step 15: Continue joining the panels by crocheting across the head, changing to Colour A and back to MC as necessary, then around the second ear, topping up the stuffing as you go.
Step 16: Once the piece is firmly stuffed, slst to beg st to close and tie off. Weave ends.
Step 17: Place the brain in the kitten’s paws. Optional: stitch in place to secure.
You’re done!
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