Sign up to my newsletter and get 20% off this pattern.

Get ready to say ‘Check meowt’ in this ultimate cat lover’s tunic-style sweater. Inspired by our feline friends the What’s New Pussycat Sweater is a purrfect knit!

The piece begins in the round at the hips with a feather and fan lace border and continues in stockinette stitch through waist and bust shaping. Then, you work the sleeves to the underarms where you join them with the body to make the little kitty face lace yoke and ribbed neckline.

You will need 2 contrasting colours for this project. I would recommend making the cat motif section in a lighter, solid shade. The beads for the cat eyes and nose are placed using a crochet hook and you can personalise the cats by using different colour beads for each pair of eyes or keep them all the same. The stitches for the cat motif are written in purple throughout the pattern to help you keep track.

The sizing range is from 30-54” / 76-137cm bust. If you choose the exact measurements from the table above, your sweater will be fitted at the bust and the waist, but if you would prefer a looser sweater with more ease you may wish to work with the measurements for a bust size 2–4” larger than your own.

The sweater is design to have 4” positive ease at the hips.

Click HERE to view the sizing table and schematics.

Materials

• Yarn A - Bottom lace border, body, sleeves and neckline:
o 950 yds / 870m (1290 yds / 1180m, 1560 yds / 1426m, 1850 yds / 1692m, 2100 yds / 1920m, 2280 yds / 2085m, 2470 yds / 2259m) 4 ply or fingering weight yarn. The yarn used in the pattern pictures is Under the Olive Tree Knits 4ply 100% superwash Bluefaced Leicester in the Heathers colour
• Yarn B - Yoke lace cat motifs:
o 131 yds / 120m (153 yds / 140m, 166 yds / 152m, 175 yds / 160m, 185 yds / 170m, 195 yds / 178m, 219 yds / 200m) 4 ply or fingering weight yarn. The yarn used in the pattern pictures is Under the Olive Tree Knits 4ply 100% superwash Bluefaced Leicester in the Ghost colour
• US size 4 / 3.5mm 32” (80cm) circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• A set of US size 4 / 3.5mm double-pointed needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• A set of US size 3 / 3.25mm double-pointed needles (or one size down from size needed to obtain gauge)
• 1 small cable needle
• 9 (10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16) pink size 6 beads (for the noses)
• 9 (10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16) pairs total of green, blue and/or yellow size 6 beads (for the eyes)
• US 18 steel / 0.5mm crochet hook
• Stitch markers (5-16) depending on whether you choose to mark off the lace repeats
• 4 stitch holders of scrap yarn for underarm stitches
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Optional - spare circular needle or scrap yarn for sleeve stitches

Gauge - 23 stitches and 30 rounds to 4 inches / 10cm in stockinette stitch

This pattern has been professionally tech edited and test knit and video tutorials are linked in the pattern for the various stitches and techniques used.

If you like this pattern then be sure to check out the What’s New Pussycat shawl too!