Crochet Cat Sweater

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Do you know what your cat needs? A crochet cat sweater, that’s what.

Gray Sphynx cat in purple crochet cat sweater

Ok, let’s be real. If your cat is like most cats, she probably isn’t too keen about your sweater ideas. But if you have a hairless cat breed, like this sweet Sphynx cat, then staying warm is essential.

My niece, Rachel, adopted Moon as a kitten. You might remember Rachel from the Boho Boss bag and her namesake, the Rachel doll. Rachel also runs the popular podcast, Barely Bookish. But I digress.

Here is sweet Moon as a kitten. Isn’t she a cutie?

Gray Sphynx Kitten in palm of hand

Moon is a Sphynx cat. Hairless cat breeds are often a bit easier on those with cat allergies. But they are prone to getting cold and while her Florida home is a warm weather state, the inside air conditioning can be a bit chilly.

Enter Aunt Cheryl and her crochet hook and viola.. Moon has her very own crochet cat sweater!

Gray Sphynx cat in purple crochet cat sweater

Let’s talk details on this cute crochet cat sweater. The pattern is written in one size: for a small, 7 pound, Sphynx cat. It is, however, easily adjusted. So if you have a larger cat or a cat with fur, and are feeling like a crochet adventure, I’ve included some adjustment suggestions at the end of the pattern.

Be sure to read through the pattern first, though, to understand the various parts of the pattern and then how you will need to adjust things to fit your cat. I suggest taking some notes as you go so that the second sweater is a faster process.

Since Rachel and Moon live in Florida and I live in Michigan, I designed the first prototype of this cute sweater pattern without a cat to try it on. Then Rachel tried the pet sweater on Moon and we got on FaceTime video chat to come up with all the adjustments to the final pattern.

The fitting steps are the same steps I went through to adjust my own pattern to fit Moon. Cats vary in size and shape (and I don’t have a cat myself), so this is my best effort on that front to give you information to re-size the pattern design for your own cat.

Let’s dive in.

Crochet Cat Sweater

Here is what you will need for this cute pattern:

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet AbbreviationsUS to UK Crochet Conversion Chart.  Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show show basic stitches including the single crochet stitch, chain stitch and post stitch used in this pattern. And the Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.

Crochet Cat Sweater Finished Size:

Approximately 13” long x 13” around at widest point.

Gauge: 8 dc to 2”

Cat Sweater Sizing:

This cat sweater fits a small 7 lb Sphynx cat.  Other sizes are NOT provided.  However, you can follow the tips and tricks for help designing a sweater custom made to your cat’s size. 

purple crochet cat sweater

Cat Sweater Crochet Pattern

For the first part of the sweater, the rows are worked in joined rows.

R1: Work 28 foundation single crochet stitches. Join with a slip stitch to top of first sc in row (28 st). Note: If you are not comfortable with foundation stitches, you can instead loosely chain 28, join to form a ring and then, ch 1 and work a row of sc for this first row.

R2:  Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in each stitch around.  Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (28 st)

R3-7:  Ch 3, *front post dc in next st, back post dc in next st* repeat * to * around. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (28 st)

R8: Ch 3, dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next st.  Repeat from * around.  Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (35 st)

R9:  Ch 3, dc around. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (35 st)

R10:  Ch 3, dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in next st.  Repeat from * around.  Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (42 st)

R11:  Ch 3, dc in next 10 st, 2dc in next st, dc in next 18 st, 2dc in next st, dc in next 11 st. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (44 st)

purple crochet cat sweater

Create Arm Openings

R12: Ch 3, dc in next 2 st, ch 6, skip 6 st, dc in next 26 st, ch 6, skip 6 st, dc in last 3 st.  Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (44 st)

R13:  Ch 3, dc around, working a dc into every stitch and every chain. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (44 st)

R14-17:  Ch 3, dc around. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (44 st)

R18:  ch 3, dc in next 4 st, (dc 2 tog), *dc in next 4 st, (dc 2 tog).  Repeat from * around, working a dc in in the last st. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. (37 st)

R19:  Ch 3, dc around. Join with sl st to top of starting ch 3. At end of row, turn. (37 st)

Remainder of sweater is worked back and forth in rows. Note that the even numbered rows are the right side of the sweater.

R20:  ch 2 (does NOT count as a stitch), (dc 2 tog), dc in next 32 stitches, (dc 2 tog). Leave last stitch unworked. Do NOT join, Turn. (34 st) 

R21:  ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), (dc 2 tog) twice, dc in next 26 st, (dc 2 tog) twice.  Turn.  (30 st)

R22:  ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), (dc 2 tog) 3 times, dc in next 18 st, (dc 2 tog) 3 times. Turn. (24 st)

R23-27: ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), (dc 2 tog), dc until last 2 stitches, (dc 2 tog). Turn.

R28:  ch 1, skip 1st st, sc in each stitch across row until last st, work sl st in last st. Continue to edging.

Cat Sweater Edging

Without turning work and with right side facing, rotate work and sc stitches evenly around bottom edges of sweater and join to top of 1st sc of last row.

Fasten off and weave in ends.  

Gray Sphynx cat in purple crochet cat sweater

Cat Sweater Sizing Tips and Tricks:

This sweater is sized for a small, hairless breed cat.  If your cat has fur and/or is bigger, here are some tips and tricks to custom make a sweater that fits your cat.

Think of the sweater as made in 5 parts.  You will be trying the sweater on your cat as you go and making adjustments.  Make sure to take good notes so that you can make additional sweaters later for your cat.

Part One:  The Collar

Work the collar as described through row 7 and try it on your cat.  It should fit close to the cat without being too tight.  If you need to make this part bigger, increase the number of stitches in increments of 2.

Part Two: The Shoulder Area

The crochet on the collar needs to increase so that it fits around your cat’s shoulders.  Evenly space double crochet increases every other row until you reach the top of the cat’s arms.  This should be 4-6 rows.

Part Three:  The Armholes

The armholes are formed by chaining and then skipping the same number of stitches in the next row. Determine where the holes will best fit your cat and how many chains you need to fit around them.  This part can take some experimenting.  I like to do this row and the next row so I can really see how the sweater is fitting on the cat.

Part Four:  The Body of the Sweater

The next section of the sweater is the easiest.  Just double crochet in joined rows until the sweater is long enough on the belly (but before the “cape” portion begins).  You may need to work a decrease row to shape the sweater a little closer to your cat’s body.

Part Five:  The Cape

This part of the sweater is like a cape and goes over your cats back.  Follow the decrease rows similar to rows 20-22 (your stitch count between the decreases will vary).  Then repeat the instructions in row 23 until you are satisfied with the length and shape of the bottom of the sweater. Work row 28 after your last row.

To finish work a row of single crochet edging around the sweater.

If you love crocheting for your cat, check out this darling Crochet Cat Bed Pattern by my friend Jessica at Stitching Together. So adorable!

I love seeing your finished projects!  If you enjoyed making the Cat Sweater Crochet Pattern,  I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo.  If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo!  I’d love to see your work!

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7 Comments

  1. I’ve just made this crochet cat sweater for a friend daughter’s sphinx kitten and it’s gorgeous x

  2. Moon is lovely in their Raspberry sweater. Thank you for a pattern specifically designed for cats. I’m confused on the yardage of yarn needed for the sweater (made without adjustment) . The pattern says “2-1/8 oz Worsted Weight Yarn, sample used Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn”. The skein is 7 oz/355 yd, which calculates to approximately 110 yds. Is that correct?