How to Crochet a Cute Plush Orange Cat: Free Amigurumi Pattern

Looking for a project that results in the ultimate cuddle buddy? This plush orange cat is the perfect combination of whimsical and cozy. Using a luxurious velvet yarn, this amigurumi cat features a charming outfit, including a tiny hat and boots, making it a wonderful gift for kids or a standout addition to any crochet collection. Whether you are an experienced maker or a beginner looking to level up your skills, this step-by-step tutorial will guide you through creating your own plush companion.

Materials & Abbreviations

To achieve the soft, chunky look of this cat, we recommend using chenille or velvet-style yarns. For the finest details, a thinner cotton yarn is used for the facial sculpting.

Materials Needed

• Main Body Yarn: Orange velvet yarn (approx. 1 skein)
• Detail Velvet Yarn: White, Black, Red, Dark Orange, Brown, and Gray velvet yarns (small amounts of each)
• Thin Yarn: Orange, Black, and White cotton or acrylic yarn (for embroidery and sculpting)
• Crochet Hook: 4.0mm (G)
• Eyes: 18mm safety eyes
• Nose: Small pink plastic safety nose
• Accessories: One yellow craft feather, small false eyelashes
• Tools: Fiberfill stuffing, yarn needle, clear craft glue, fishing line (for whiskers), and stitch markers

US Crochet Terms & Abbreviations

• MR: Magic Ring
• ch: Chain
• sc: Single crochet
• inc: Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec: Decrease (sc 2 together)
• hdc: Half double crochet
• dc: Double crochet
• sl st: Slip stitch
• ( ) * x: Repeat the sequence inside parentheses x times
• BLO: Back loop only
• FLO: Front loop only

Finished Size: Approximately 12.5 inches tall (depending on your tension).

Step-by-Step Instructions

The Head

Using orange velvet yarn, work in continuous rounds.

• Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
• Round 2: 6 inc (12)
• Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) * 6 (18)
• Round 4: (2 sc, 1 inc) * 6 (24)
• Round 5: (3 sc, 1 inc) * 6 (30)
• Rounds 6-8: 30 sc (30)
• Round 9: 5 sc, (1 inc, 2 sc) * 3, 5 sc, (1 inc, 2 sc) * 3, 2 sc (36)
• Round 10: 5 sc, (1 inc, 3 sc) * 3, 5 sc, (1 inc, 3 sc) * 3, 2 sc (42)
• Rounds 11-15: 42 sc (42)

Placement: Insert safety eyes between rounds 10 and 11, leaving 7 stitches between them. Ensure the start of the round is at the back of the head.

• Round 16: 6 sc, (1 dec, 3 sc) * 3, 5 sc, (1 dec, 3 sc) * 3, 1 sc (36)
• Round 17: 6 sc, (1 dec, 3 sc) * 3, 5 sc, (1 dec, 3 sc) * 3, 1 sc (30)
• Round 18: (3 sc, 1 dec) * 6 (24)
• Round 19: (2 sc, 1 dec) * 6 (18)
• Round 20: (1 sc, 1 dec) * 6 (12)
• Round 21: 6 dec (6)

Stuff the head firmly, fasten off, and weave in the ends.

The Muzzle & Mouth

Muzzle: Using white velvet yarn.

• Row 1: Ch 7. Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, work 6 sc. Turn, work 6 sc along the other side of the chain (12)
• Row 2: (1 sc, 1 inc) * 6 (18)
• Row 3: 18 sc (18)

Sl st to join. Leave a long tail for sewing. Sew the muzzle to the head below the eyes. Stuff lightly.

Upper Lip: Using white velvet yarn.

• Row 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
• Row 2: 6 inc (12)

Fold the piece in half and sc through both layers for 6 stitches. Sew this small piece to the center of the muzzle.

The Ears

Make two ears using orange velvet yarn.

• Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
• Round 2: (1 sc, 1 inc) * 3 (9)
• Round 3: (2 sc, 1 inc) * 3 (12)
• Round 4: 3 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc. Switch to dark orange: 1 sc, 1 inc, 1 sc. Switch back to main orange: 2 sc, 1 inc (15)

Fasten off. For the inner ear, using white yarn, ch 6. In the 2nd ch from hook, work 5 sc. In the next row, work 1 dec, 1 sc, 1 dec (3). Finally, work a 3-stitch decrease into one stitch (1). Sew the white inner ear to the orange outer ear and attach both to the head between rounds 5 and 10.

The Legs and Body

Boots: Make two using black velvet yarn.

• Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
• Round 2: 6 inc (12)
• Round 3: 12 sc (12)
• Round 4: (1 sc, 1 inc) * 6 (18)
• Rounds 5-7: 18 sc (18)
• Round 8: (1 sc, 1 dec) * 6 (12)
• Round 9: 6 dec (6)

Stuff the boots and fasten off. Now, add the red trim by joining red yarn to the boot and working one round of sc. Then, join orange velvet yarn to the back loops of Round 7 of the boot.

Body Construction:

• Round 1: Work 1 ch, then 14 sc around the back loops of the boot (14)
• Rounds 2-3: 14 sc (14)
• Round 4: In FLO, (1 inc, 1 sc) * 7 (21)
• Round 5: 21 sc (21)

On the first leg, fasten off. On the second leg, continue to Round 5. To join the legs: work 14 sc on the first leg, ch 4, work 21 sc around the second leg, work 4 sc into the chains, and 21 sc back around the first leg (50).

Continue working in orange velvet yarn, following the pattern’s shaping: gradually decrease the stitch count from 50 down to 20 over several rounds to create the torso. Stuff the body firmly as you go. Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the head to the body.

Arms and Tail

Arms: Make two. Start with white velvet yarn for the paws (6 sc in MR, 6 inc, then several rounds of 12 sc). Switch to orange velvet yarn to create the arm. Shape the arm by using a mix of sc and dec, then finish with a small rounded top. Sew the arms to the sides of the body.

Tail: Using orange velvet yarn, work 6 sc in MR, then work 21 rounds of 6 sc. Fold the end and sc across both layers to close. Sew to the back of the body.

Finishing Touches

Facial Details

This is where the cat comes to life! Use a thin orange yarn to “sculpt” the face by inserting the needle from the bottom of the head, pulling it up near the eye, and securing it back down.

• Eyes: Glue false eyelashes to the outer corners. Use black thin yarn to embroider “eyeliner” wings. Use white thin yarn to add a small highlight to the outer edge of the eye.
• Eyelids: Embroider a stitch above the eyes using main orange yarn, then add one more stitch above that using dark orange yarn.
• Nose: Glue the pink nose to the center of the muzzle.
• Whiskers: Carefully insert small pieces of fishing line into the cheeks.

The Hat & Accessories

The Hat: Using black velvet yarn, start with 6 sc in MR and increase up to 72 stitches. Create the brim by working in the FLO of the final rounds. Switch to red yarn for the final round of the brim. Glue a yellow feather to the side. Sew the hat to the cat’s paws.

The Belt: Crochet a strip of brown yarn (approx. 44 stitches long, 2 rows deep). Wrap grey thin yarn around the belt to create a buckle and decorative loops. Tie and secure. Sew the belt around the cat’s waist.

Tips for Success

• Working with Velvet: Velvet yarn can hide stitches. Use a stitch marker in every round to avoid losing your place.
• Sculpting: When shaping the face, don’t pull the yarn too tight, or you might deform the head. Pull gradually until you see the desired indentation.
• Stuffing: Stuff the head and body firmly. If the stuffing is too loose, the cat may lean or lose its shape over time.
• Glue: Use a clear-drying craft glue for the nose and feather to ensure they stay secure without leaving visible residue on the plush yarn.