Crochet Plush Loaf Cat Free Pattern Anyone Can Make

• Advanced Beginner

Finished size

• Approximately 4 to 5 inches long depending on tension and yarn brand

Materials

• Velvet or chenille yarn in a main body color and white for the face or belly

• 5.0 mm crochet hook

• 10 mm or 12 mm safety eyes

• Fiberfill stuffing

• Yarn needle

• Scissors

• Stitch marker

Abbreviations

• MR: Magic Ring

• Sc: Single crochet

• Inc: Increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)

• Dec: Decrease (joining two stitches into one)

• Ch: Chain

• St: Stitch

Helpful notes before starting

• Use a stitch marker at the beginning of every round because plush yarn makes it difficult to see individual stitch definitions.

• Avoid pulling the magic ring too tight initially as velvet yarn can snap or "shed" fibers if pulled with too much force.

• If you find the safety eyes difficult to push through the plush yarn, use the back of your crochet hook to gently widen the space between stitches first.

Construction overview

• The body is worked in one continuous piece from the front of the face to the back of the tail.

• The face patch and ears are worked separately and sewn on afterward to create depth.

• The shaping relies on a standard spherical increase followed by a long tube of even stitches to create the "loaf" look.

Stitch and shaping clarity

• The increase rounds expand the diameter quickly to create a flat face.

• The eight rounds of even single crochet are what define the length of the toy; keep your tension consistent here to avoid a "lumpy" body.

• Decreasing in every stitch at the very end creates a clean, gathered finish that mimics the start of the project.

Step by step pattern instructions

BODY MAIN COLOR

• Start with a magic ring and work 6 single crochet

• Increase in every stitch for a total of 12 stitches

• Work 1 single crochet then 1 increase repeatedly for 18 stitches

• Work 2 single crochet then 1 increase repeatedly for 24 stitches

• Single crochet in every stitch for the next 8 rounds keeping 24 stitches

• Insert safety eyes between rounds 4 and 5 spaced 4 to 5 stitches apart

• Work 2 single crochet then 1 decrease repeatedly for 18 stitches

• Begin stuffing the body firmly

• Work 1 single crochet then 1 decrease repeatedly for 12 stitches

• Decrease in every stitch to reach 6 stitches then fasten off and close

EARS MAKE TWO MAIN COLOR

• Start with a magic ring and work 4 single crochet

• Work 1 single crochet then 1 increase once for 6 stitches

• Fasten off leaving a long tail and flatten without stuffing

TAIL MAIN COLOR

• Chain 7

• Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and across for 6 stitches

• Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing

FACE BELLY PATCH WHITE

• Start with a magic ring and work 6 single crochet

• Increase in every stitch for 12 stitches

• Fasten off

Assembly guidance

• Pin the white patch to the face first to ensure it is perfectly centered between and slightly below the eyes.

• Use the long tails from the ears to sew them onto round 3, ensuring they are tilted slightly forward for a cute expression.

• When sewing the tail, attach it to the center-back of the body so the loaf sits flat on a surface without tipping.

Eye and facial feature placement

• Place the safety eyes before you finish the long middle section of the body while the opening is still wide.

• Ensure the washers are pushed all the way down until they click to prevent them from pulling through the large stitches of the plush yarn.

• Embroider the nose after the patch is sewn on to ensure the "V" shape is perfectly aligned with the center of the eyes.

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Stuffing tips

• Stuff the front of the head firmly to support the weight of the safety eyes.

• As you move to the back of the body, add stuffing in small clumps to avoid creating a "lumpy" texture under the velvet yarn.

• Do not overstuff the very last round or it will be difficult to weave the tail through the final 6 stitches for a clean closure.

Finishing notes

• Use the yarn needle to weave the remaining tail through the front loops of the final 6 stitches and pull tight like a drawstring.

• Knot your yarn ends securely and hide the "tails" inside the body of the toy.

Beginner notes

• If you struggle to see the stitches, try feeling for the "holes" with your fingers rather than relying on sight.

• Count your stitches at the end of every round to ensure you still have 24 stitches during the long middle section.

Troubleshooting

• If your toy looks too skinny, you may be using a hook that is too small or pulling your tension too tight.

• If the stuffing is showing through the stitches, try dropping down to a 4.5 mm hook.

Customization ideas

• Change the main body color to create different animals like a grey cat, a brown bear, or a pink bunny.

• Lengthen the body by adding 2 or 3 extra rounds of single crochet if you prefer a longer loaf shape.

• Use a different color for the ears to give your character more personality.