Knitting Tutorial: Summer Picnic Orange Tabby Cat – Free Knitting Pattern

This cheerful knitted orange tabby cat is dressed for a sweet summer picnic with blue-and-white striped overalls, red shoes, a red neck bow, a yellow sun hat, a tiny backpack with mushroom detail, a woven picnic basket, and a small strawberry accent. The finished doll has a rounded cat head, white muzzle, green eyes, orange tabby markings, soft paws, and a friendly handmade expression.

 

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Finished Size and Construction Notes

This pattern is written to create a knitted toy that matches the image as closely as possible. The cat is worked as a stuffed knitted doll with separate pieces for the head, body, arms, legs, ears, tail, overalls, shoes, hat, backpack, basket, and small picnic details.

The finished size is about 12 inches tall when using worsted weight yarn and 3.25 mm needles. The doll is knitted firmly so the stuffing does not show through. Use smaller needles than normally recommended for your yarn.

• Finished height: about 12 inches from ears to shoes.
• Head width: about 4.5 inches after stuffing.
• Body height: about 4.25 inches before legs.
• Leg length: about 3 inches including shoes.
• Arm length: about 3.5 inches including white paws.
• Hat diameter: about 4.75 inches across the brim.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in orange tabby, white, sky blue, red, yellow, tan, beige, brown, green, carrot orange, and a small amount of pink.
• 3.25 mm double-pointed needles or circular needles for magic loop.
• 3.0 mm needles for firmer small details.
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing.
• Two 12 mm green safety eyes or black safety eyes with green felt or embroidery around them.
• Small amount of black or dark brown embroidery yarn for mouth lines.
• Yarn needle for sewing and duplicate stitch.
• Stitch markers.
• Scrap yarn for holding stitches.
• Optional: small piece of firm plastic or cardboard for the basket base.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on.
• BO: bind off.
• K: knit.
• P: purl.
• St/sts: stitch/stitches.
• Rnd: round.
• RS: right side.
• WS: wrong side.
• K2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
• SSK: slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together.
• M1L: make 1 left increase.
• M1R: make 1 right increase.
• St st: stockinette stitch.
• G st: garter stitch.
• I-cord: small knitted cord worked on double-pointed needles.

Gauge

For this toy, gauge is important because the fabric must be tight and smooth. Work a small swatch before starting. The orange head and body should look compact, not loose or floppy.

• Gauge in stockinette: 24 sts and 34 rows = 4 inches.
• Recommended toy fabric: firm enough that stuffing does not show.
• Needle adjustment: go down a needle size if your stitches look open.

Main Cat Head

The head is large, round, and slightly flattened at the face. It is mostly orange with white cheek patches, a white muzzle, a small pink nose, green eyes, and soft orange tabby stripes worked afterward with duplicate stitch.

Head Base

1. With orange yarn and 3.25 mm needles, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: K1, Kfb around. 24 sts.
6. Rnd 5: K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: K2, Kfb around. 32 sts.
8. Rnd 7: K all sts.
9. Rnd 8: K3, Kfb around. 40 sts.
10. Rnd 9: K all sts.
11. Rnd 10: K4, Kfb around. 48 sts.
12. Rnd 11: K all sts.
13. Rnd 12: K5, Kfb around. 56 sts.
14. Rnds 13-24: K all sts for 12 rounds.
15. Rnd 25: K12, place marker for face center, K32, place marker, K12.
16. Rnds 26-30: K all sts, keeping the markers to guide the face area.
17. Rnd 31: K5, K2tog around. 48 sts.
18. Rnd 32: K all sts.
19. Rnd 33: K4, K2tog around. 40 sts.
20. Rnd 34: K all sts.
21. Rnd 35: K3, K2tog around. 32 sts.

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Pause here to attach the eyes. Place the eyes between Rnds 22 and 23, about 10 stitches apart. The eyes should sit above the white muzzle area and slightly toward the center, giving the cat a gentle round-eyed expression.

1. Rnd 36: K2, K2tog around. 24 sts.
2. Stuff the head firmly, shaping the cheeks outward with your fingers.
3. Rnd 37: K1, K2tog around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 38: K2tog around. 8 sts.
5. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull closed, and secure.

White Face Patches

The white patches in the image form two upward cheek shapes beside the eyes. They are not full circles. Each patch looks like a soft flame shape rising from the muzzle toward the inner side of each eye.

1. Make 2 patches with white yarn.
2. CO 6 sts.
3. Row 1: P all sts.
4. Row 2: K1, M1R, K4, M1L, K1. 8 sts.
5. Row 3: P all sts.
6. Row 4: K1, M1R, K6, M1L, K1. 10 sts.
7. Rows 5-8: Work in St st.
8. Row 9: P2tog, P6, P2tog. 8 sts.
9. Row 10: K2tog, K4, SSK. 6 sts.
10. Row 11: P2tog, P2, P2tog. 4 sts.
11. Row 12: K2tog twice. 2 sts.
12. BO 2 sts.

Sew one patch to each side of the face. The narrow tip should point upward between the eye and forehead. The wider edge should meet the white muzzle area.

White Muzzle

1. With white yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K6, Kfb. 10 sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: Kfb, K8, Kfb. 12 sts.
6. Rows 5-8: Work in St st.
7. Row 9: P2tog, P8, P2tog. 10 sts.
8. Row 10: K2tog, K6, SSK. 8 sts.
9. BO all sts.

Sew the muzzle centered below the eyes. Stuff it lightly before closing the last edge so it sits slightly raised. The top of the muzzle should touch the lower edge of the white face patches.

Pink Nose and Mouth

1. With pink yarn and 3.0 mm needles, CO 5 sts.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K3, Kfb. 7 sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: K2tog, K3, SSK. 5 sts.
6. BO all sts.

Sew the pink nose at the top center of the white muzzle. Use dark brown yarn to embroider one short vertical line from the nose down, then two small curved mouth lines. Keep the mouth delicate and centered.

Orange Tabby Stripes

The forehead stripes should be visible but soft. Use a slightly darker orange yarn and duplicate stitch over the knitted head. Do not make the stripes too thick.

• Work one center stripe from Rnd 12 to Rnd 20, about 2 sts wide.
• Work two shorter stripes on each side of the center stripe, each 1 st wide and 6 rows long.
• Add two small cheek stripes on each side, each about 5 sts long.
• Add light horizontal stripes on the arms, legs, and tail using the same darker orange yarn.

Ears

The ears are small triangular orange cat ears with a slightly rounded base. They are placed high on the head and angled outward.

1. Make 2 ears with orange yarn.
2. CO 14 sts.
3. Rows 1-2: Work in St st.
4. Row 3: K2tog, K10, SSK. 12 sts.
5. Row 4: P all sts.
6. Row 5: K2tog, K8, SSK. 10 sts.
7. Row 6: P all sts.
8. Row 7: K2tog, K6, SSK. 8 sts.
9. Row 8: P all sts.
10. Row 9: K2tog, K4, SSK. 6 sts.
11. Row 10: P all sts.
12. Row 11: K2tog, K2, SSK. 4 sts.
13. Row 12: P all sts.
14. Row 13: K2tog twice. 2 sts.
15. Row 14: P2tog. 1 st.
16. Fasten off.

Fold each ear slightly at the base. Sew to the top sides of the head between Rnds 8 and 15. Angle the ear points outward, matching the image.

Body

The body is smaller than the head and mostly hidden under the striped blue-and-white overalls. Knit the body in orange because the neck and sides may show slightly under the clothing.

1. With orange yarn, CO 10 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st around. 20 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: K1, Kfb around. 30 sts.
6. Rnd 5: K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: K2, Kfb around. 40 sts.
8. Rnds 7-18: K all sts.
9. Rnd 19: K8, K2tog around. 36 sts.
10. Rnd 20: K all sts.
11. Rnd 21: K7, K2tog around. 32 sts.
12. Rnd 22: K all sts.
13. Rnd 23: K6, K2tog around. 28 sts.
14. Rnd 24: K all sts.
15. Rnd 25: K5, K2tog around. 24 sts.
16. Stuff the body firmly, keeping the bottom rounded and the neck narrow.
17. Rnd 26: K2, K2tog around. 18 sts.
18. BO, leaving a long tail for sewing to the head.

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Sew the body to the bottom of the head. The head should tilt slightly forward, giving the cat the soft picnic-doll posture seen in the image.

Legs

The legs are slim orange tabby legs with ribbed texture. They extend from under the overalls and end inside red shoes with white toe panels.

1. Make 2 legs with orange yarn.
2. CO 16 sts and join in the round.
3. Rnds 1-20: Work K2, P2 rib around.
4. Rnd 21: K all sts.
5. Rnd 22: K2, K2tog around. 12 sts.
6. Stuff lightly but firmly.
7. BO, leaving a long tail.

Sew the legs to the lower body with about 6 sts between them at the front. The legs should hang downward from the overalls, not stick out sideways.

Arms

The arms are orange with white paw tips. They are long, slim, and gently curved. The paws are rounded and simple.

1. Make 2 arms. Start with white yarn for the paw.
2. CO 8 sts and join in the round.
3. Rnd 1: K all sts.
4. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st around. 16 sts.
5. Rnds 3-6: K all sts.
6. Rnd 7: K2, K2tog around. 12 sts.
7. Change to orange yarn.
8. Rnds 8-25: K all sts.
9. Lightly stuff the paw and arm.
10. Rnd 26: K2tog around. 6 sts.
11. Cut yarn, pull through remaining sts, and close.

Sew the arms to the upper body just below the head, angled downward. Add two darker orange duplicate-stitch stripes on each arm, about 5 rounds apart.

Tail

The tail is orange with a white tip. It is tapered and placed behind the body, visible at the side in the image.

1. With white yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-5: K all sts.
3. Change to orange yarn.
4. Rnd 6: K1, Kfb around. 12 sts.
5. Rnds 7-24: K all sts.
6. Rnd 25: K2, K2tog around. 9 sts.
7. Rnds 26-28: K all sts.
8. Stuff lightly.
9. BO and sew closed.

Sew the tail to the lower back of the body. Curve it slightly to one side and secure with two hidden stitches so it holds its shape.

Blue-and-White Striped Overalls

The overalls are the most visible clothing piece. They have horizontal blue-and-white stripes, a bib front, shoulder straps, and short rounded pant legs. The stripes should look even and bright.

Overall Shorts

1. With sky blue yarn, CO 44 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: P all sts to create a small garter edge.
4. Rnd 3: Change to white, K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: White, K all sts.
6. Rnd 5: Change to sky blue, K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: Sky blue, K all sts.
8. Continue 2-round stripes in white and sky blue until you have 18 rounds total.
9. Divide for legs: place 22 sts on one needle and 22 sts on another.

First Pant Leg

1. Work first 22 sts in the round.
2. Continue stripe pattern for 8 rounds.
3. Next rnd: K2, K2tog around until 17 sts remain.
4. Work 2 rounds in sky blue garter edge: P one round, K one round.
5. BO loosely.

Second Pant Leg

1. Return held 22 sts to needles.
2. Join yarn at inner leg.
3. Work same as first pant leg.
4. Sew the small crotch gap closed with matching yarn.

Bib Front

1. With the overalls facing front, pick up 18 sts across the upper front waist edge.
2. Row 1: With white, P all sts.
3. Row 2: With white, K all sts.
4. Row 3: With sky blue, P all sts.
5. Row 4: With sky blue, K all sts.
6. Repeat the 2-row stripe pattern until the bib measures 1.5 inches.
7. BO all sts.

Shoulder Straps

1. Make 2 straps with sky blue yarn.
2. CO 5 sts.
3. Rows 1-24: Work in garter stitch by knitting every row.
4. BO all sts.

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Sew each strap to the top of the bib, bring it over the shoulder, and sew it to the back waist. The straps should frame the white chest area and sit flat against the cat.

Carrot Embroidery on Bib

• Use carrot orange yarn to embroider a tiny carrot on the center front of the bib.
• Make the carrot body about 5 rows tall and 3 sts wide at the top.
• Use green yarn to add three small leafy stitches at the top.
• Keep the carrot small so it looks like the neat detail shown in the image.

White Shirt Under the Overalls

The image shows a white shirt area at the chest and upper body. This is made as a simple knitted panel so it looks clean beneath the overalls.

1. With white yarn, CO 28 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-8: K all sts.
3. Rnd 9: K5, BO 4 sts for first arm opening, K10, BO 4 sts for second arm opening, K5.
4. Next rnd: K5, CO 4 sts over gap, K10, CO 4 sts over gap, K5.
5. Rnds 11-14: K all sts.
6. BO loosely.

Slip the shirt onto the body before sewing on the arms if possible. If the body is already assembled, seam the shirt at the back instead of knitting it in the round.

Red Neck Bow

The red bow sits under the cat’s chin and gives the doll a bright picnic look. It should be flat and neat, with two short tails.

1. With red yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Rows 1-18: Work in garter stitch.
3. BO all sts.
4. Wrap red yarn tightly around the center 8 times to pinch the bow.
5. For each bow tail, CO 5 sts and knit 8 rows in garter stitch. BO.
6. Sew the tails under the bow center.

Sew the bow at the front neck where the head meets the body. Keep it slightly angled so it looks soft and natural.

Red Shoes With White Toe Panels

The shoes are bright red with rounded white toe caps and tiny pale yellow flower accents. They should sit around the bottom of each leg, like soft knitted slippers.

Shoe Base

1. Make 2 shoes with red yarn.
2. CO 18 sts and join in the round.
3. Rnds 1-4: K all sts.
4. Rnd 5: K6, Kfb 6 times, K6. 24 sts.
5. Rnds 6-8: K all sts.
6. Rnd 9: K6, K2tog 6 times, K6. 18 sts.
7. Rnd 10: P all sts for edge texture.
8. BO loosely.

White Toe Panel

1. Make 2 panels with white yarn.
2. CO 8 sts.
3. Row 1: P all sts.
4. Row 2: Kfb, K6, Kfb. 10 sts.
5. Rows 3-6: Work in St st.
6. Row 7: P2tog, P6, P2tog. 8 sts.
7. Row 8: K2tog, K4, SSK. 6 sts.
8. BO all sts.

Sew one white panel onto the front of each red shoe. Embroider three short vertical lines on each white toe using light gray or cream yarn to suggest rounded toes.

Small Shoe Flowers

• With pale yellow yarn, make 5 tiny straight stitches in a circle on the outer side of each shoe.
• Add one small red or brown center stitch.
• Keep each flower about 0.35 inch wide.

Yellow Picnic Sun Hat

The hat is a flat round yellow sun hat with a soft brim and a blue ribbon tied to one side. It sits beside the cat in the image, so this piece may be displayed separately or lightly tacked to the head.

Hat Crown

1. With yellow yarn and 3.0 mm needles, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: K1, Kfb around. 24 sts.
6. Rnd 5: K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: K2, Kfb around. 32 sts.
8. Rnd 7: K all sts.
9. Rnd 8: K3, Kfb around. 40 sts.
10. Rnd 9: K all sts.
11. Rnd 10: K4, Kfb around. 48 sts.
12. Rnds 11-13: K all sts.

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Hat Brim

1. Rnd 14: K2, M1L around. 64 sts.
2. Rnd 15: P all sts.
3. Rnd 16: K all sts.
4. Rnd 17: K3, M1L around. 80 sts.
5. Rnd 18: P all sts.
6. Rnd 19: K all sts.
7. Rnd 20: P all sts.
8. BO loosely.

Weave in the ends and flatten the brim gently. The garter ridges help the brim look like the circular stitched texture in the image.

Blue Hat Ribbon

1. With blue yarn, make a 26-inch I-cord over 3 sts.
2. Wrap the I-cord around the hat crown once.
3. Tie into a small bow at one side.
4. Trim or sew the ends neatly so the bow tails hang like the image.

Tan Backpack With Mushroom Detail

The backpack is small, soft, and rounded with tan straps. A red mushroom with a white stem is embroidered on the front pocket.

Backpack Body

1. With tan yarn, CO 24 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Work in garter stitch.
3. Rows 5-22: Work in stockinette stitch.
4. Rows 23-26: Work in garter stitch.
5. BO all sts.

Fold the rectangle in half with the right side facing out. Sew the side seams. Stuff lightly so it has a soft pouch shape, not a hard square.

Backpack Flap

1. With tan yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Rows 1-8: Work in garter stitch.
3. Row 9: K2tog, K14, SSK. 16 sts.
4. Row 10: K all sts.
5. Row 11: K2tog, K12, SSK. 14 sts.
6. BO all sts.

Sew the flap to the top back edge and bring it over the front. Secure only at the top so the lower edge looks like a flap.

Backpack Straps

1. Make 2 straps with tan yarn.
2. CO 4 sts.
3. Rows 1-28: Knit every row.
4. BO all sts.

Sew the straps to the back of the backpack. Then sew or tack the backpack to the cat’s back and left shoulder area so it peeks from behind the arm, matching the image.

Mushroom Embroidery

• Use red yarn to embroider a rounded mushroom cap about 6 sts wide.
• Use white yarn to embroider the stem about 4 rows tall.
• Add 3 tiny white spots on the mushroom cap.
• Add two small green grass stitches beside the stem.

Small Picnic Basket

The basket in the image is tan, shallow, and rounded with a handle. It contains red-and-white picnic details, like small checked cloth or strawberries.

Basket Base

1. With beige or tan yarn, CO 26 sts.
2. Rows 1-8: Work in garter stitch.
3. Row 9: K2tog, K22, SSK. 24 sts.
4. Row 10: K all sts.
5. Row 11: K2tog, K20, SSK. 22 sts.
6. BO all sts.

Basket Sides

1. Pick up 52 sts around the basket base.
2. Rnds 1-6: K all sts.
3. Rnd 7: P all sts for a rim ridge.
4. Rnd 8: K all sts.
5. BO all sts.

Fold the side wall upward and shape it into a shallow basket. If needed, place a small oval of firm plastic or cardboard inside the base before sewing the final edge.

Basket Handle

1. With tan yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Rows 1-34: Knit every row.
3. BO all sts.
4. Sew one end of the handle to each side of the basket.

Picnic Cloth and Red Details

• With white yarn, CO 12 sts and knit 8 rows. BO.
• Use red yarn to duplicate stitch small checks across the white piece.
• Place the cloth inside the basket with one edge peeking out.
• Make 2 tiny red berries by CO 6 sts, knitting 4 rows, gathering the edges, and stuffing lightly.

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Small Strawberry Accent

The strawberry sits near the hat in the image. It is a simple red knitted berry with green leaves and tiny white seed stitches.

1. With red yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnds 3-6: K all sts.
5. Rnd 7: K2, K2tog around. 12 sts.
6. Rnd 8: K1, K2tog around. 8 sts.
7. Stuff lightly.
8. Rnd 9: K2tog around. 4 sts.
9. Cut yarn and pull closed.

• With green yarn, embroider 5 small leaf stitches at the top.
• With white yarn, add 6 tiny seed stitches around the berry.
• Shape the bottom into a soft point with one tightening stitch.

Facial Eye Detailing

The eyes in the image are glossy, large, and green. If you only have black safety eyes, add a green stitched ring around each eye after the head is stuffed.

• Use green yarn to make 8 small straight stitches around each eye.
• Use black yarn to tighten the outer edge if needed.
• Use a small white stitch near the upper corner of each eye for a highlight.
• Do not pull too tightly, or the face will become pinched.

Whisker and Cheek Shaping

The face should look round and soft. Use a long yarn needle with orange yarn to gently sculpt the cheeks. Insert the needle near the lower back of the head, come out beside the muzzle, take a small stitch, and return to the back.

• Pull gently to lift each cheek, not sharply.
• Repeat once on each side only.
• Secure the yarn at the back of the head and hide the tail inside.
• Optional: add three very fine whiskers per side using light brown embroidery thread.

Assembly Order

Following the correct order makes the doll cleaner. Small pieces can become difficult to sew after the clothing is attached, so check each placement before sewing firmly.

1. Knit and stuff the head.
2. Add safety eyes before closing the head.
3. Sew white face patches and muzzle in place.
4. Add nose, mouth, stripes, and eye details.
5. Knit and stuff the body.
6. Sew the head to the body with a slight forward tilt.
7. Knit and attach legs.
8. Place the white shirt on the body.
9. Knit the arms and sew them below the shoulders.
10. Knit the overalls and fit them over the body and legs.
11. Sew the straps and carrot detail.
12. Add shoes to the feet.
13. Sew the tail to the back.
14. Attach backpack so it sits partly behind the left side.
15. Add the red neck bow under the chin.
16. Make the hat, basket, and strawberry as separate display accessories.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Before finishing, compare the doll from the front and from above. The head should be larger than the body, the ears should sit high and evenly spaced, and the eyes should be centered over the white muzzle.

• Head angle: sew the head slightly forward, not straight upward.
• Arm angle: attach arms so they hang naturally beside the overalls.
• Leg spacing: keep the legs close together under the shorts.
• Overalls fit: the bib should sit flat and the stripes should run horizontally.
• Backpack position: place it behind one shoulder so only part of it shows from the front.
• Expression: keep the mouth small and gentle.

Care Notes

This knitted cat is a decorative handmade toy. Because it has small accessories, embroidered details, and possible safety eyes, it should be handled gently and checked often if displayed around children.

• Spot clean with cool water and mild soap.
• Do not machine wash if safety eyes, stiff basket inserts, or delicate embroidery are used.
• Press out moisture with a towel instead of twisting.
• Dry flat in a shaded, airy place.
• Reshape the hat brim and overalls while damp if needed.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• The orange tabby head is round, full, and larger than the body.
• The white cheek patches rise upward beside the eyes.
• The pink nose is centered at the top of the white muzzle.
• The green eyes are even and about 10 stitches apart.
• The overalls have clean blue-and-white horizontal stripes.
• The carrot embroidery is centered on the bib.
• The red bow sits under the chin.
• The red shoes have white toe panels and small flower accents.
• The yellow hat has a blue ribbon bow.
• The backpack includes a red mushroom detail.
• The basket and strawberry match the picnic theme.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

To preserve the shape, store the knitted cat upright or lying flat without heavy objects on top. Keep the hat brim flat and avoid folding the ears for long periods. If the face becomes slightly flattened, gently massage the stuffing back into place with your fingers.

• Use a soft lint roller to remove dust from the knitted surface.
• Keep the doll away from direct sunlight to protect the bright blue, red, and yellow yarns.
• Store small accessories in a breathable cotton bag when not displayed.
• Avoid plastic storage in humid rooms because trapped moisture can affect the yarn.
• Refresh the doll by lightly steaming from a distance, but do not press the face or shoes flat.

Your Summer Picnic Orange Tabby Cat is now complete, with its soft orange tabby face, striped overalls, picnic hat, backpack, basket, and tiny strawberry details ready for a bright handmade display.