Cat Butt Coaster

Cat Butt Coaster by Mara Iocolano

What is Being Made

The Cat Butt Coaster is a whimsical, functional knitted coaster designed by independent designer Mara Iocolano. This beginner-friendly knitting project creates a playful table setting accessory shaped like a cat's rear end, complete with a tail. The finished coaster measures approximately 4.5 inches across the widest part and 8 inches from the tip of the tail to the bottom of the paw, making it a practical size for protecting surfaces while adding a humorous decorative element to any table.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners. The coaster is constructed using circular knitting worked in the round, which creates a seamless, three-dimensional form. The designer notes that knitters can use double-pointed needles (dpns) or their preferred method of circular knitting to achieve the rounded shape. The pattern relies on strategic increases to shape the body, using the knit front and back (kfb) technique to create new stitches at regular intervals. Purl rounds are alternated with increase rounds to add texture and structure to the fabric. The shaping progresses gradually from a small cast-on of 4 stitches, expanding outward in a radial pattern to build the dimensional form.

Stitches Used

The Cat Butt Coaster pattern utilizes a limited, beginner-appropriate stitch vocabulary:

• Knit (K): The fundamental stitch that forms the base fabric
• Purl (P): Used in alternating rounds to create texture and visual interest
• Knit front and back (kfb): An increase stitch that creates two stitches from one, used repeatedly to expand the coaster's circumference
• Cast on (CO): The initial stitch setup, beginning with 4 stitches
• Bind off (BO): The finishing technique to secure stitches

Additional abbreviations referenced include knit 2 together (K2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk), though the provided pattern excerpt focuses primarily on kfb increases and basic knit and purl stitches.

Materials

The Cat Butt Coaster requires minimal materials, making it an economical project. The pattern calls for approximately 2 yards of pink worsted weight cotton yarn for the body, and approximately 50 yards of main color (MC) worsted weight yarn, such as Sugar N' Cream yarn, for the contrasting sections. US size 7 knitting needles are specified for working the pattern, and a tapestry needle is needed for finishing and weaving in yarn ends. The designer notes that gauge is not critical for this project, as long as the resulting fabric is sufficiently dense and sturdy to function effectively as a coaster protecting furniture surfaces.