Valentine Kitty Cat.

Valentine Kitty Cat Knitted Decoration by Carol Monks

What is Being Made

The Valentine Kitty Cat is a charming knitted flat decoration inspired by Valentine's Day, designed by Carol Monks. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a small cat charm measuring 5.25 inches (13cm) that can be used as a hanging decoration, keyring charm, bag accessory, or gift present-topper. The pattern offers versatility, allowing crafters to knit the cat in a single color as a simplified version or to work the full Fair isle design for a more decorative finished piece.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This pattern employs Fair isle knitting, a traditional colorwork technique that involves carrying multiple yarn colors across rows to create intricate patterned designs. The pattern includes both written instructions and a chart, making it accessible to knitters who prefer either format. The Fair isle technique requires some prior knowledge of managing multiple colors and maintaining even tension while working with different yarns. For those seeking a simpler alternative, the pattern can be worked in a single color, omitting the Fair isle colorwork entirely. The piece is knitted flat, meaning it is worked back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round, making it an excellent project for knitters developing their colorwork skills.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Valentine Kitty Cat pattern calls for King Cole Double Knit yarn in three colors: Cherry (Red), Jet (Black), and Diamond White. Each color comes in 100g balls with approximately 317 yards (290 metres) per ball. Double knit weight yarn is a medium-weight option that works up relatively quickly while providing good stitch definition for colorwork patterns.

The recommended gauge is 1 inch equals 10 rows and 8 stitches, worked on UK Size 13 needles (2.25mm / US Size 1). Additional materials include ribbon, a handmade button, a heart button, stuffing, and a darning needle for seaming and finishing. The pattern notes that any double knit wool from your stash can be substituted, though this may cause variations in the final project size.

Difficulty Level and Skill Requirements

Rated as Beginner/Intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with some experience. The primary skill requirement is familiarity with Fair isle and Intarsia colorwork techniques. Knitters new to Fair isle should expect to develop their color-carrying and tension-management skills through this project. The flat knitting construction and detailed charted instructions support learners in mastering these traditional colorwork methods.