How to Knit a Santa Costume for a Cat

Use your leftover yarn scraps to knit your kitty a catnip mouse.

There are few things more adorable than hand-made knits for your pet. Get your cat into the festive spirit this holiday season with its own Santa outfit. This Santa costume is made up of two parts, the Santa hat and the sweater portion. The sweater pattern should fit your average size cat and is knit on straight needles using basic knitting stitches. The Santa hat is knit on double-pointed knitting needles. This is known as knitting in the round. This hat can easily be adapted for other small pets, such as rabbits, chinchillas or guinea pigs.

Things You'll Need

• 4 skeins, medium weight, red yarn
• 1 skein, white yarn
• Size 15 needles
• Size 19 needles
• 4 Size 8 double-pointed needles
• Yarn needle

Instructions

Santa Hat

1. Cast on 32 stitches using your white wool. Divide the stitches evenly over three of your double-pointed knitting needles. Use your fourth double-pointed needle to knit your last stitch to your first stitch. This is called joining the round.

2. Knit two stitches, then purl two stitches. Continue in this pattern for six more rounds. This is called rib stitch. Switch to your red yarn and knit one round. Purl the next round.

3. Continue alternating knit and purl between rows for four more rounds. This is called stockinette stitch.

4. Knit six stitches and then knit two stitches together. Repeat four times and then work two rounds of stockinette stitch. Knit five stitches, then knit two together. Repeat four times, then work two rounds of stockinette stitch. Knit four stitches, knit two together, repeat four times, then work two rounds of stockinette stitch. Continue working in this pattern.

5. Knit one, knit two together, repeat four times, then work two rounds of stockinette stitch. Knit two stitches together across. Cut the yarn, leaving several inches of tail. Thread the tail through your yarn needle and pull it through the remaining stitches. Tie and knot and then weave in the end.

Santa Sweater

1. Cast on 26 stitches using your size 15 straight needles and red yarn. Knit two stitches, then purl two stitches. Repeat this pattern across the row. Continue with this pattern of 2 by 2 rib stitching for four more rows. Change to your size 19 straight needles.

2. Knit two stitches. Knit into the front and then the back of the next stitch. This is called increasing one. Knit until you are four stitches from the end, increase one on the next stitch, then knit the last three stitches. Purl across the next row. Repeat this entire step four more times.

3. Knit across the entire row. Purl across the next row. Knit two stitches, increase one, knit until you are four stitches from the end, increase one and knit the last three stitches. Purl the next row.

4. Knit three stitches. Cast off the next six stitches. Knit until you are 10 stitches from the end. Cast off the next six stitches. Knit the last three stitches. Purl three stitches. Cast on six stitches, purl to bind off stitches, cast on six stitches, then purl the last three stitches.

5. Knit two stitches. Knit two stitches together. Keep knitting until you are one stitch past the armhole. Knit two together. Knit until you are two stitches before the center stitch, knit two together, knit one. Slip the next stitch from the left to right needle without working it. Passover the next stitch on the left needle, pick up the following stitch with your right needle and knit as you would normally. This is called a passover stitched. Continue in knit stitch until one stitch before the next armhole, slip the next stitch, knit one stitch, passover, knit until four stitches from the end, slip one stitch, knit one, passover and knit the last two stitches.

6. Purl across the row. Repeat Steps 5 and 6. Knit the next row. Purl the following row. Cast off. Weave in any remaining ends.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a pom-pom or bell to the Santa hat if you like.

References

• Knitting Pattern Central: Pets