Knitting Tutorial: Cottage Garden Tabby Cat – Free Knitting Pattern

This cottage garden tabby cat is a soft knitted doll with a rounded striped head, large glossy eyes, pink nose, cream muzzle, pointed ears, sage green dress, ivory embroidered cardigan, bow shoes, floral headband, and a small woven-style shoulder bag. The finished look is sweet, detailed, and garden-inspired, with tiny flowers, sheep motifs, and cozy handmade texture throughout.

 

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

Pattern Overview

This pattern is written to create a knitted amigurumi-style tabby cat doll matching the image as closely as possible. The body is worked in small shaped pieces, then stuffed firmly and joined with careful seams so the cat sits upright with a soft toy-like posture.

The design uses stockinette fabric for the face, body, dress, cardigan, legs, shoes, and arms. Facial striping is added with duplicate stitch and embroidery so the head keeps a clean rounded shape while still showing the gray tabby markings from the image.

The cardigan is knitted separately and placed over the sage dress. The bag, flower crown, shoe bows, sheep pockets, and garden embroidery are small detail pieces added at the end. Take your time with the finishing, because the details create the cottage garden personality.

Finished Size

• Finished height: about 11.5 in / 29 cm from the soles of the shoes to the top of the ears.
• Head width: about 4.5 in / 11.5 cm across the cheeks after stuffing.
• Body width: about 3.25 in / 8.5 cm across the cardigan.
• Dress length: about 4.5 in / 11.5 cm from neckline to hem.
• Bag size: about 1.8 in / 4.5 cm wide and 2 in / 5 cm tall.
• Flower crown width: about 3.5 in / 9 cm across the front of the head.

Skill Level

Intermediate beginner to intermediate. You should be comfortable knitting small pieces, increasing, decreasing, seaming, stuffing, picking up stitches, and adding simple embroidery. The knitting itself is not difficult, but the project has many small details.

Materials

• Yarn weight: DK or light worsted yarn, smooth wool or cotton blend.
• Main cream yarn: 35 g for muzzle, body highlights, paws, cardigan, and ear centers.
• Gray tabby yarn: 30 g for head sides, ears, lower legs, and stripes.
• Dark charcoal yarn: 8 g for tabby stripes and outlines.
• Sage green yarn: 25 g for dress and neckline.
• Ivory yarn: 25 g for cardigan.
• Tan yarn: 15 g for shoulder bag, shoe soles, shoe straps, and bag strap.
• Soft yellow yarn: 5 g for garden hat or small flower centers.
• Pink yarn: 5 g for nose, mouth, flower petals, and tiny embroidery.
• White yarn: 5 g for sheep bodies and small blossoms.
• Green embroidery yarn: small amount for leaves, stems, cardigan grass, and flower crown vine.
• Black embroidery yarn: small amount for sheep heads and eye accents.
• Safety eyes: 12 mm glossy black eyes, one pair.
• Fiberfill stuffing: about 50 g.
• Needles: US 2 / 2.75 mm double-pointed needles or circular needles for magic loop.
• Spare needles: US 1 / 2.25 mm for bag strap, flowers, and tight accessories.
• Tapestry needle: for sewing and embroidery.
• Stitch markers: at least 4.
• Scrap yarn: for holding stitches.
• Optional: small amount of plastic pellets for weight in the feet and lower body.

Gauge

Gauge in stockinette: 7 stitches and 10 rounds = 1 in / 2.5 cm on US 2 / 2.75 mm needles. For a firm toy fabric, your stitches should be tight enough that stuffing does not show through.

If your fabric is loose, change to smaller needles. If your fabric is too stiff to shape smoothly, change to slightly larger needles. The most important point is consistent tension across the head, body, arms, and legs.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on.
• BO: bind off.
• K: knit.
• P: purl.
• St / sts: stitch / stitches.
• Rnd: round.
• RS: right side.
• WS: wrong side.
• Kfb: knit into front and back of the same stitch.
• K2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
• SSK: slip, slip, knit those 2 stitches together through the back loops.
• M1L: make 1 left increase.
• M1R: make 1 right increase.
• St st: stockinette stitch.
• G st: garter stitch.
• Duplicate stitch: embroidery that copies the shape of knitted stitches.

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Construction Notes

The cat is knitted in separate parts for better shaping. The head is worked from the lower neck upward, with cream at the face center and gray on the sides. If you prefer easier knitting, work the head all in cream and gray, then add face markings with duplicate stitch afterward.

The dress is worked as part of the body, beginning at the hem and shaping upward to a narrow neckline. The cardigan is a separate flat piece with small sleeves and embroidered pockets. This makes it look like the cat is wearing layered clothing.

The ears are triangular and sewn to the top of the head at a slight outward angle. The legs are short and visible below the dress. The shoes are tan slippers with white toe areas and knitted bows, matching the image.

Head

The head should be round, full, and slightly wider across the cheeks than at the top. Use tight stockinette and stuff firmly. Work in the round unless otherwise stated.

Color Placement for the Head

• Cream center: front muzzle stripe, beginning at lower face and narrowing up the forehead.
• Gray sides: both cheeks, temples, and top of head.
• Dark tabby stripes: embroidered after knitting on forehead, cheeks, and sides.
• Pink nose: embroidered at the center of the muzzle.

Knitting the Head

1. With cream yarn, CO 8 sts and divide over needles. Join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts. 8 sts.
3. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: Repeat K1, Kfb around. 24 sts.
6. Rnd 5: K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: Repeat K2, Kfb around. 32 sts.
8. Rnd 7: K all sts.
9. Rnd 8: Repeat K3, Kfb around. 40 sts.
10. Rnd 9: K all sts.
11. Rnd 10: Repeat K4, Kfb around. 48 sts.
12. Rnd 11: K all sts.
13. Rnd 12: Repeat K5, Kfb around. 56 sts.
14. Rnd 13: K all sts.
15. Rnd 14: Repeat K6, Kfb around. 64 sts.
16. Rnds 15-18: K all sts in cream.
17. Rnd 19: Begin tabby colorwork. K10 cream for center face, K22 gray, K10 cream, K22 gray. 64 sts.
18. Rnd 20: K12 cream, K20 gray, K12 cream, K20 gray.
19. Rnd 21: K14 cream, K18 gray, K14 cream, K18 gray.
20. Rnd 22: K16 cream, K16 gray, K16 cream, K16 gray.
21. Rnds 23-28: Continue with 16 cream front sts, 16 gray side sts, 16 cream back/neck-light sts, and 16 gray side sts.
22. Rnd 29: K14 cream, K18 gray, K14 cream, K18 gray.
23. Rnd 30: K12 cream, K20 gray, K12 cream, K20 gray.
24. Rnd 31: K10 cream, K22 gray, K10 cream, K22 gray.
25. Rnd 32: Repeat K6, K2tog around, keeping the cream center aligned. 56 sts.
26. Rnd 33: K all sts.
27. Rnd 34: Repeat K5, K2tog around. 48 sts.
28. Rnd 35: K all sts.
29. Rnd 36: Repeat K4, K2tog around. 40 sts.
30. Rnd 37: K all sts.
31. Rnd 38: Repeat K3, K2tog around. 32 sts.
32. Pause here to place the eyes and begin stuffing.

Eye Placement

Place the safety eyes between Rnds 23 and 24, about 10 sts apart across the cream center face. The eyes should sit high enough to make the cat look gentle, but not so high that the forehead becomes crowded.

Before locking the washers, check the expression from the front. The eyes should look round, glossy, and slightly oversized, matching the soft tabby face in the image.

Finish the Head

1. Rnd 39: Repeat K2, K2tog around. 24 sts.
2. Stuff the head firmly, especially the cheeks and forehead.
3. Rnd 40: Repeat K1, K2tog around. 16 sts.
4. Add more stuffing until the face is round and smooth.
5. Rnd 41: K2tog around. 8 sts.
6. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and secure.

Muzzle Cheeks

The muzzle is shaped with two small cream cheek pads. These create the rounded cat mouth area under the nose. They are sewn onto the lower front face, touching at the center.

Make 2 Cheek Pads

1. With cream yarn, CO 6 sts.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K4, Kfb. 8 sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: Kfb, K6, Kfb. 10 sts.
6. Rows 5-8: Work in St st.
7. Row 9: P all sts.
8. Row 10: K2tog, K6, SSK. 8 sts.
9. Row 11: P all sts.
10. Row 12: K2tog, K4, SSK. 6 sts.
11. BO, leaving a long tail.

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Lightly stuff each cheek pad. Sew them side by side below the eyes, with their inner edges touching. Shape them into a soft heart-like muzzle area. Keep the seam invisible by catching only the edge stitches.

Nose and Mouth Embroidery

1. Using pink yarn, embroider a satin stitch triangle nose centered between the two cheek pads.
2. Make the nose about 0.45 in / 1.1 cm wide and 0.35 in / 0.9 cm tall.
3. Work 8 to 10 horizontal satin stitches, slightly wider at the top and narrow at the bottom.
4. Bring the yarn down from the nose point and make one straight vertical stitch about 0.35 in / 0.9 cm long.
5. Add a tiny split mouth with two short diagonal stitches, one to the left and one to the right.

Do not make the mouth too dark or too large. The image shows a delicate pink mouth that keeps the cat sweet and calm.

Tabby Face Markings

The tabby markings are essential. Use dark charcoal, medium brown, and gray yarn in duplicate stitch and short embroidery stitches. Keep the marks slightly irregular so they look natural.

Forehead Stripes

• Work one center dark stripe from the top forehead down about 5 knitted rows.
• Add two shorter brown stripes to the left and right of the center stripe.
• Add two narrow charcoal angled marks above the eyes, each about 4 stitches long.
• Keep the cream center face visible between the stripe groups.

Cheek Stripes

• On each gray cheek, embroider 3 short horizontal charcoal stripes.
• Each stripe should be 3 to 5 stitches long.
• Angle the upper stripe slightly upward and the lower stripe slightly downward.
• Add a few lighter brown stitches between dark marks for depth.

Eye Accents

• Add one tiny white highlight stitch beside each eye if your safety eyes do not already have highlights.
• Add one soft gray stitch above each eye to suggest the brow line.
• Do not over-outline the eyes, because the large glossy eyes should remain soft.

Ears

The ears are tall triangular cat ears with gray outer edges and cream inner panels. Sew them to the top of the head so they tilt slightly outward, like the image.

Outer Ear, Make 2

1. With gray yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: K all sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: K2tog, K14, SSK. 16 sts.
6. Row 5: P all sts.
7. Row 6: K2tog, K12, SSK. 14 sts.
8. Row 7: P all sts.
9. Row 8: K2tog, K10, SSK. 12 sts.
10. Row 9: P all sts.
11. Row 10: K2tog, K8, SSK. 10 sts.
12. Row 11: P all sts.
13. Row 12: K2tog, K6, SSK. 8 sts.
14. Row 13: P all sts.
15. Row 14: K2tog, K4, SSK. 6 sts.
16. Row 15: P all sts.
17. Row 16: K2tog, K2, SSK. 4 sts.
18. Row 17: P all sts.
19. Row 18: K2tog twice. 2 sts.
20. Row 19: P2tog. 1 st.
21. Cut yarn and fasten off.

Inner Ear, Make 2

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

Sew each cream inner ear to the center of one gray outer ear. Leave a narrow gray border visible all around. Lightly steam the pieces flat if needed, but do not flatten them too much.

Fold the base of each ear slightly inward. Sew the ears to the head across Rnds 34 to 38, about 12 sts apart. The inner corners should sit slightly forward, and the outer corners should lean outward.

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Body with Sage Dress

The body is knitted from the dress hem upward. The lower dress flares gently, then narrows toward the chest. The sage green dress should cover the torso and sit below the ivory cardigan.

Body and Dress

1. With sage green yarn, CO 64 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-4: K1, P1 rib around for a neat dress hem.
3. Rnd 5: K all sts.
4. Rnd 6: Repeat K14, K2tog around. 60 sts.
5. Rnds 7-10: K all sts.
6. Rnd 11: Repeat K13, K2tog around. 56 sts.
7. Rnds 12-15: K all sts.
8. Rnd 16: Repeat K12, K2tog around. 52 sts.
9. Rnds 17-20: K all sts.
10. Rnd 21: Repeat K11, K2tog around. 48 sts.
11. Rnds 22-25: K all sts.
12. Rnd 26: Repeat K10, K2tog around. 44 sts.
13. Rnds 27-30: K all sts.
14. Rnd 31: Repeat K9, K2tog around. 40 sts.
15. Rnds 32-35: K all sts.
16. Change to cream yarn for upper chest.
17. Rnd 36: K all sts.
18. Rnd 37: Repeat K8, K2tog around. 36 sts.
19. Rnds 38-41: K all sts.
20. Rnd 42: Repeat K4, K2tog around. 30 sts.
21. Rnd 43: K all sts.
22. Rnd 44: Repeat K3, K2tog around. 24 sts.
23. BO loosely, leaving a long sewing tail.

Stuff the body firmly at the base and slightly softer near the shoulders. The lower dress should look rounded but not overstuffed. Keep the front smooth because the cardigan will sit over it.

Dress Neckline Rib

1. With sage green yarn and smaller needles, pick up 30 sts around the top edge where the dress meets the cream chest.
2. Work 3 rounds in K1, P1 rib.
3. BO in pattern.

This creates the narrow sage collar visible above the cardigan. It should sit directly under the head and frame the neck cleanly.

Dress Hem Ridge

The dress in the image has a tidy lower edge that looks slightly thicker than the body fabric. Add this ridge after the body is stuffed.

1. With sage green yarn, pick up 64 sts around the lower hem edge.
2. Rnd 1: P all sts to create a raised ridge.
3. Rnd 2: K all sts.
4. Rnd 3: P all sts.
5. BO knitwise.

Shape the hem outward gently with your fingers. It should form a soft skirt edge rather than a tight tube.

Legs

The legs are short and visible below the dress. They have dark tabby lower sections, cream feet, and tan shoes. Make two identical legs.

Leg, Make 2

1. With dark gray-brown yarn, CO 18 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-6: K all sts.
3. Rnd 7: Work K2 dark, K1 cream around for broken tabby speckles.
4. Rnds 8-10: K all sts in cream.
5. Rnd 11: Kfb in first st, K16, Kfb in last st. 20 sts.
6. Rnds 12-14: K all sts.
7. Rnd 15: Repeat K3, K2tog around. 16 sts.
8. Stuff lightly.
9. Rnd 16: K2tog around. 8 sts.
10. Cut yarn, thread through sts, pull tight, and secure.

Sew the top of each leg under the dress, about 1 in / 2.5 cm apart. The feet should point forward and slightly outward, just like a seated doll.

Shoes

The shoes are tan Mary Jane-style slippers with cream toe areas and little knitted bows. They sit over the lower part of the feet and frame the cream toes.

Shoe Sole, Make 2

1. With tan yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K6, Kfb. 10 sts.
4. Rows 3-6: K all sts.
5. Row 7: Kfb, K8, Kfb. 12 sts.
6. Rows 8-14: K all sts.
7. Row 15: K2tog, K8, SSK. 10 sts.
8. Row 16: K all sts.
9. Row 17: K2tog, K6, SSK. 8 sts.
10. BO, leaving a sewing tail.

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Shoe Upper, Make 2

1. With tan yarn, CO 22 sts.
2. Rows 1-3: Work in garter stitch.
3. Row 4: K5, BO 12 sts, K5.
4. Row 5: K5, CO 12 sts over the gap, K5. 22 sts.
5. Rows 6-8: Work in garter stitch.
6. BO.

Wrap one shoe upper around each cream foot and sew it to the shoe sole. Keep the front open enough for the cream toe to show. The strap should cross the top of the foot.

Shoe Bows, Make 2

1. With tan yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Rows 1-6: Work in garter stitch.
3. BO and weave in the short end.
4. Wrap yarn tightly around the center 5 times to pinch the bow.
5. Secure on the back and sew one bow to each shoe front.

Arms

The arms are soft cream cat arms that hang beside the cardigan. They are rounded at the paws and slightly narrower at the shoulder.

Arm, Make 2

1. With cream yarn, CO 10 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st around. 20 sts.
4. Rnds 3-8: K all sts.
5. Rnd 9: Repeat K3, K2tog around. 16 sts.
6. Rnds 10-23: K all sts.
7. Rnd 24: Repeat K2, K2tog around. 12 sts.
8. Rnds 25-27: K all sts.
9. Stuff the paw firmly and the upper arm lightly.
10. BO, leaving a long tail.

Flatten the top of each arm slightly. Sew each arm to the upper body at shoulder level, under the cardigan sleeve opening. Angle the arms downward so the paws sit near the cardigan pockets.

Ivory Cardigan

The cardigan is a key part of the design. It is ivory, open at the front, slightly cropped, and decorated with garden embroidery and sheep motifs. Knit it flat so it can sit over the dress.

Cardigan Body

1. With ivory yarn, CO 46 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: K all sts for a garter hem.
3. Row 5: K4, P38, K4.
4. Row 6: K all sts.
5. Rows 7-18: Repeat Rows 5 and 6.
6. Row 19: K10, BO 4 sts for armhole, K18, BO 4 sts for armhole, K10.
7. Row 20: K10, CO 4 sts over gap, K18, CO 4 sts over gap, K10. 46 sts.
8. Rows 21-28: Continue in stockinette with 4 garter sts at each front edge.
9. Row 29: K4, P8, P2tog, P18, P2tog, P8, K4. 44 sts.
10. Row 30: K all sts.
11. Row 31: K4, P36, K4.
12. Row 32: K all sts.
13. BO loosely.

Place the cardigan around the body with the open edges meeting near the center front but not closing completely. The dress should remain visible in the middle.

Cardigan Sleeves, Make 2

1. With ivory yarn, pick up 18 sts around one armhole.
2. Join in the round.
3. Rnds 1-14: K all sts.
4. Rnd 15: Repeat K4, K2tog around. 15 sts.
5. Rnds 16-18: K all sts.
6. Rnds 19-21: Work K1, P1 rib, ending K1.
7. BO in pattern.
8. Repeat for the second sleeve.

The sleeves should be short and rounded, ending slightly above the arm paws. Do not make them too long, because the image shows cream paws clearly below the sleeve openings.

Cardigan Front Texture

• Use tan yarn to embroider 4 tiny vertical button stitches down the right front edge.
• Place the first button 0.5 in / 1.2 cm below the neckline.
• Space the remaining buttons about 0.45 in / 1.1 cm apart.
• Add small tan running stitches along both front edges to imitate a handmade seam.

Sheep Pocket Motifs on Cardigan

Each cardigan side has a tiny white sheep motif sitting in green grass. These details are embroidered directly on the cardigan after it is sewn onto the body.

Left Sheep Motif

1. With green yarn, embroider 7 vertical grass stitches on the lower left cardigan front.
2. Each grass stitch should be about 2 knitted rows tall.
3. With white yarn, make 6 small lazy-daisy loops for the sheep body.
4. Place the sheep body about 0.5 in / 1.2 cm above the cardigan hem.
5. With black yarn, add a tiny head using 2 short satin stitches.
6. Add 2 short black leg stitches below the sheep body.

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Right Sheep Motif

1. Repeat the same grass base on the lower right cardigan front.
2. Make the white sheep body slightly higher than the left sheep for a natural handmade look.
3. Add the black head facing inward toward the center of the cardigan.
4. Work 2 black leg stitches and 1 tiny tail stitch.
5. Add two tiny pink flower knots near the grass.

The sheep should be small and charming, not oversized. Keep both motifs inside the lower cardigan fronts so they look like embroidered pockets.

Shoulder Bag

The shoulder bag is tan and hangs diagonally across the body from the cat’s left shoulder to the right hip. It has a woven basket texture and tiny colorful flowers on the front.

Bag Front

1. With tan yarn and smaller needles, CO 16 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: K all sts.
4. Row 3: K2, P12, K2.
5. Row 4: K all sts.
6. Row 5: K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2.
7. Row 6: K all sts.
8. Row 7: K2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2.
9. Rows 8-15: Repeat Rows 4-7 twice.
10. Rows 16-17: K all sts.
11. BO.

Bag Back

1. With tan yarn, CO 16 sts.
2. Rows 1-17: Work in garter stitch.
3. BO.

Bag Gusset

1. With tan yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Work in garter stitch for 24 rows.
3. BO, leaving a long sewing tail.

Sew the gusset around the sides and bottom of the bag front. Attach the bag back to the other side of the gusset. Lightly stuff the bag with a very thin layer of fiberfill so it looks dimensional but not bulky.

Bag Strap

1. With tan yarn and smaller needles, CO 4 sts.
2. Work an I-cord for 15 in / 38 cm.
3. BO and sew one end to each top corner of the bag.

Place the strap over the cat’s left shoulder and let the bag rest at the right side of the dress. Sew the strap down at the shoulder and side with a few hidden stitches so it stays in the exact diagonal position.

Bag Flowers

• Make one small yellow flower with 5 lazy-daisy petals and one pink center knot.
• Make one pink rose by wrapping 6 small spiral stitches in a tight circle.
• Make one pale blue flower with 5 tiny straight stitches around a center knot.
• Add 4 green leaf stitches around the flowers.

Flower Crown

The flower crown sits across the front top of the head, just below the ears. It has a green vine base and small pastel flowers in pink, peach, white, and cream.

Vine Base

1. With green yarn and smaller needles, CO 3 sts.
2. Work an I-cord for 4.25 in / 11 cm.
3. BO and leave a long tail at each end.

Curve the vine gently across the forehead. Sew it from the base of one ear to the base of the other ear. Keep it slightly raised, not pulled flat into the head.

Small Knitted Flowers, Make 5

1. With flower color yarn, CO 20 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: Repeat K2tog across. 10 sts.
4. Cut yarn, thread through the 10 sts, and pull into a small rosette.
5. Secure the center with two stitches.
6. Add one yellow or cream French knot in the middle.

Make 1 peach flower, 2 pale pink flowers, 1 white flower, and 1 soft cream flower. Sew the peach flower at the center of the crown, the pink flowers on either side, and the white and cream flowers near the ears.

Leaves

• With green yarn, embroider 2 tiny leaves beside each flower.
• Each leaf is one lazy-daisy stitch about 0.25 in / 0.6 cm long.
• Add one short stem stitch between flowers to connect the crown visually.

Garden Hat Prop

The yellow garden hat is shown as a separate prop beside the cat. It is optional, but it completes the cottage garden scene beautifully. Knit it as a small flat-brim hat that can sit beside the doll or be placed loosely near the feet.

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Hat Crown

1. With yellow yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: Repeat K1, Kfb around. 24 sts.
6. Rnd 5: K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: Repeat K2, Kfb around. 32 sts.
8. Rnds 7-13: K all sts.
9. Rnd 14: Repeat K2, K2tog around. 24 sts.
10. Stuff lightly only if you want the crown rounded.

Hat Brim

1. Rnd 15: Kfb in every st around. 48 sts.
2. Rnd 16: K all sts.
3. Rnd 17: Repeat K3, Kfb around. 60 sts.
4. Rnds 18-20: K all sts.
5. Rnd 21: P all sts for a firm brim ridge.
6. BO loosely.

Flatten the brim gently. Add a pale pink tie or tiny bow to the side if desired. The hat should look like a soft straw-style garden hat in miniature form.

Basket Prop

The yarn basket in the image is a small tan basket with round sides and a handle. This is optional but useful for styling the finished doll.

Basket Base and Sides

1. With tan yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: Kfb in every st. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: Repeat K1, Kfb around. 24 sts.
5. Rnd 4: Repeat K2, Kfb around. 32 sts.
6. Rnd 5: P all sts to create a turning ridge.
7. Rnds 6-14: K all sts.
8. Rnd 15: P all sts.
9. Rnd 16: K all sts.
10. BO.

Basket Handle

1. With tan yarn, CO 4 sts.
2. Work an I-cord for 6 in / 15 cm.
3. BO and sew both ends to opposite sides of the basket.

Add small balls of leftover yarn inside the basket. Make each mini yarn ball by wrapping yarn around two fingers 15 times, tying the center, then shaping it into a small ball with a few securing stitches.

Head-to-Body Assembly

Place the head onto the body before sewing. The large head should sit centered over the sage neckline and slightly forward, giving the doll a gentle seated expression.

1. Pin the head to the body with the face centered over the dress front.
2. Check that both eyes are level and the ears are balanced.
3. Use cream yarn to sew around the neck twice.
4. On the first pass, attach the head securely through the lower head stitches and body neckline.
5. On the second pass, tighten the seam and correct the angle.
6. Add extra stuffing into the neck before closing the last gap.

The head should not wobble. If needed, insert a small rolled piece of firm felt or extra stuffing in the neck area before final stitching.

Cardigan Placement

Put the cardigan onto the cat after the head and arms are attached. The cardigan should sit open over the sage dress, with the front panels resting evenly on both sides.

1. Slide each arm through one cardigan sleeve.
2. Position the back of the cardigan flat against the body.
3. Sew the shoulder area to the body with small hidden stitches.
4. Sew the side edges lightly so the cardigan does not shift.
5. Leave the front open and slightly relaxed.

Do not sew the cardigan completely flat. A small lifted edge near the front gives it the cozy knitted jacket look shown in the image.

Detailed Embroidery Placement

Small embroidery details should be added after all major pieces are assembled. This lets you place the garden motifs accurately and avoid distortion while sewing.

• Cardigan grass: lower front panels, about 0.5 in / 1.2 cm above the hem.
• Sheep bodies: centered over each green grass patch.
• Pink flower knots: near the lower cardigan corners.
• Tabby cheek marks: on gray side cheeks, not on the cream muzzle pads.
• Forehead stripes: centered between the flower crown and eyes.
• Bag flowers: lower center of the bag front.
• Shoe bows: centered on the front of each tan shoe.

Optional Tail

The image front view does not show a tail clearly, but you may add a small curved tabby tail at the back if you want the doll finished from all sides.

Tail

1. With gray yarn, CO 12 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-5: K all sts.
3. Rnd 6: K4 gray, K4 dark charcoal, K4 gray.
4. Rnds 7-10: K all sts in gray.
5. Rnd 11: K3 gray, K6 dark charcoal, K3 gray.
6. Rnds 12-18: K all sts in gray.
7. Stuff lightly as you go.
8. Rnd 19: Repeat K1, K2tog around. 8 sts.
9. Cut yarn, pull through remaining sts, and secure.

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Sew the tail to the lower back under the cardigan. Curve it gently to one side so it does not interfere with the doll sitting upright.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

After sewing all parts, check the cat from the front, side, and top. The ears should be symmetrical, the head should be centered, and the bag strap should cross naturally over the cardigan and dress.

• Add extra cheek shaping by passing cream yarn from one side of the muzzle to the other and pulling gently.
• Secure all embroidery tails inside the head or body.
• Brush the surface lightly with your fingers to smooth the stitches.
• Adjust the flower crown so it sits evenly between the ears.
• Make sure the shoes face forward and the bows are centered.
• Check that the cardigan sheep motifs are visible and not hidden by the bag strap.

For the sweetest face, keep the nose centered and soft. The pink nose should not extend too far into the cheek pads. The mouth should be small and delicate, with a gentle downward line and tiny split curve.

Care Notes

• Spot clean only when possible.
• Use cool water and a small amount of gentle soap.
• Do not soak the safety eyes for a long time.
• Do not wring or twist the doll.
• Press gently in a towel to remove moisture.
• Reshape the ears, dress hem, cardigan, and bag while damp.
• Let the doll air dry completely before storing.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head: round, firm, and slightly wider at the cheeks.
• Eyes: even, glossy, and placed above the muzzle.
• Muzzle: two cream cheek pads touching at the center.
• Nose: small pink satin stitch triangle with a delicate mouth.
• Ears: pointed, gray outside, cream inside, angled outward.
• Dress: sage green, flared at the hem, smooth at the front.
• Cardigan: ivory, open front, short sleeves, embroidered sheep details.
• Bag: tan, diagonal strap, woven texture, small flowers on the front.
• Shoes: tan slippers with cream toes and tiny bows.
• Flower crown: green vine with pastel flowers across the forehead.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

To preserve the cottage garden details, store the cat away from direct sunlight and high humidity. Long exposure to strong light can fade the sage dress, pink nose, and flower crown.

If dust collects on the doll, use a soft dry brush and move gently in the direction of the knitted stitches. Avoid pulling on embroidered sheep, flowers, or tabby markings.

For deeper cleaning, dampen a clean cloth with cool water and blot the dirty area. Add a tiny amount of mild soap only if needed. Rinse by blotting with another damp cloth, then dry with a towel.

Never machine wash this doll if you used safety eyes, embroidered accessories, or a structured bag strap. Hand detailing may loosen in a washing machine, especially the flower crown and shoe bows.

When storing, support the head and avoid placing heavy objects on top of the ears. Keep the bag strap untwisted and lay the flower crown flat against the head so it keeps its shape.

Finishing Thought

Your Cottage Garden Tabby Cat is complete when the doll feels balanced, soft, and full of tiny handmade details. The combination of a tabby face, flower crown, sage dress, ivory cardigan, sheep embroidery, bow shoes, and woven-style shoulder bag creates the same cozy garden character shown in the image.