Plush little Cotton Candy Kitty is just as sweet as a package of peeps without all the sugar and way less sticky. This is a fast and easy project even for the beginner. We found the Minky Double-Sided Cuddle Fleece surprisingly easy to work with. It's very forgiving and a third of a yard is enough to make three little kittens. Do you think the Easter Bunny feels threatened by the Easter Kitty?

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any sewing machine (we recommend the Janome DC5100)

Fabric and Other Supplies

A BIG thanks to our friends and supporters at Minky Delight! They provided the cushy soft, double-sided Minky Double-Sided Cuddle Fabric for our Lil Softee Pal projects. If you are looking for "soft, cuddly, melt-in-your-hand fabrics"... this is the place. Thanks, Dan and Lori!

• ⅓ yard Minky Double-Sided Cuddle Fabric in Pink from Minky Delight. This deliciously soft fabric is enough to make three little kittens.
• Scrap of printed cotton quilting weight fabric for ears
• All-purpose polyester sewing thread in pink
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing needle
• Fiberfill: we used Fairfield Soft Touch® Poly-fil Supreme
• Chopstick or similar to push Poly-fil into position
• Embroidery floss
  NOTE: We used pink for both the nose and mouth. You may also prefer to embroider the eyes for children too young for button eyes.
• Embroidery needle
• Buttons for eyes (optional and not appropriate for toddlers or younger)
• 1 yard of ½" ribbon for bow at neck

Getting Started

1. Download and print both of the 8½" x 11" pattern sheets using standard weight paper: Kitty Body Template and Kitty Ears and Tail Template. Note: the Kitty Body pattern piece is labeled Bunny Body. That's a typo, ignore it – the pattern itself is correct.
   IMPORTANT: You must print these PDF files at 100%. DO NOT SCALE to fit the page.
2. Cut TWO 8½" x 11" pieces of the Minky for the body. If you look at the Minky, you will see that one side is slightly fluffier than the other and should be considered the right side. Treat Minky like any napped fabric and place all patterns in one direction.
3. Press your cotton fabric scraps prior to use. Minky should NOT be pressed.

At Your Sewing Machine

NOTE: Minky is fluffy and a bit slippery. I found it easier to sew the Minky right through the pattern paper using the seam line as a stitching guide. Ever since I made the Sewn Paper and Fabric Card and Envelope last year, I've used printer paper patterns a number of times with great results. When you finish sewing, gently tear the paper away from the seam. If you prefer not to do it this way, you can out the Kitty Body pattern adding a ¼" seam allowance all around.

Make Kitty Tail

1. Cut out the Kitty Tail pattern piece. Place two pieces of Minky, just slightly larger than the pattern piece, right sides together. Pin the pattern piece to the layers of Minky. Sew from the base of the tail around the tip and back to the base. DO NOT sew the base shut. Trim along the pattern cut line.
   
2. Gently tear off the pattern.
   
3. Turn the tail right side out.

Make Kitty Ears

1. Cut out the two ear pattern pieces. Place one piece of Minky and one piece of cotton fabric, just slightly larger than the two ear pattern pieces, right sides together. Pin the pattern pieces to the layers. I pinned on the cotton side so I could center my ear patterns over an appropriate motif on the fabric.
2. Sew along the outer edge of each ear on the stitch line as shown. Leave the base of each ear open.
   
3. Gently tear away paper and turn the ears right side out. Finger flatten (remember... do not iron Minky).
   

Make Kitty Body

1. Place the Kitty Body printout atop the wrong side of one of the 8½" x 11" pieces of Minky. Anchor with a few straight pins.
2. Use pins to mark the location of ears.
   NOTE: The ears go beneath the Minky, NOT between the pattern and the Minky.
   
3. Use the pins to find the corners of the ears and pin as shown (I held this up to a window to show positioning). Pin the ears in position underneath the Minky.
   
4. Lay the piece of Minky with the ears pinned in place rights side together with the remaining 8½" x 11" piece of Minky. You now have a little sandwich with the ears between the two layers of right-side-together Minky. 
   
5. Pin the sandwich all around.
6. Stitch along the dashed seam line (again - right through the paper), beginning at the marked dot on arm. Backstitch to start, then continue along dashed seam line all around to the second marked dot. Stop at this dot and backstitch, leaving the space between the dots open for turning and stuffing.
   
7. Gently tear away paper pattern and trim the Minky to approximately ¼" from the seam line.
8. Turn kitty right side out. Push out the arms and legs with a chopstick or similar.
   
9. Use the chopstick (or similar) to push Poly-fil into all parts of the Kitty Body until pleasingly plump.
   
10. Slipstitch the opening closed.
11. Fold the tail's open end under by about ¼" and slipstitch it in a circle to the back side of the Kitty Body about where shown.
    

Make Kitty Face

1. Sew button eyes to face. Depending on where you put them and the size and style of you buttons, you can achieve a variety of facial expressions. I sewed from one eye across to the other and snugged it just a little to slightly indent the eyes.
2. A simple X makes an easy nose and mouth. Again, this is an area to be as expressive as you'd like with your embroidery floss.

Contributors

Project concept and sample creation: Alicia Thommas

Other machines suitable for this project include the Bernina 635 Limited Edition and the Elna eXcellence.

Comments (21)

patitas-inquietas said:

... LO MÁXIMO!!! gracias!

January 26, 2012

tinti said:

... this so cute. thank you. kiitos.

January 01, 2012

Plushiequeen12 said:

... Awesome cute kitty! I will totally make this!

November 28, 2011

alicia.thommas said:

... Hi lad2bad. We wish you good luck, but this is is a pretty easy project and the fleece is forgiving. You'll do fine.

November 27, 2011

lad2bad said:

... gonna try it, wish me luck!

November 27, 2011

alicia.thommas said:

... Hi Rebright, There is no problem washing this little kitty. You would have similar results to washing one from a store. I'd remove the ribbon even if I wash at the same time because you need to to remove it press the ribbon anyway. Just be certain the ribbon you used is colorfast. If you have a lingerie bag, put both items in the bag and wash and dry on low heat. The bag will protect the button eyes from dulling on the surfaces of the washer and dryer.

November 05, 2011

Rebright said:

... Are they washable? I'm making one for my niece

November 05, 2011

Rosali said:

... Gracias por compartir el tutorial

April 25, 2011

Laura Bray said:

... So cute! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

April 05, 2011

Jennifer Forrest said:

... so cute, thanks for sharing, will have to make a bunny version for easter for all my niece's and nephew's. A great way to use up all my scraps!!!!

April 04, 2011

wezecapecod said:

... Just A Thought how about machine embroidery eyes on it no button to fall off. or glue on felt eyes with fabric glue that doesn't wash off. other then that it is so cute. you also can use iron mesh stabilizers on the back of the fabric as i have used this kind of fabric before to make little frogs too to stop it from slopping and also help machine embroidery eyes. weze

April 04, 2011

nanaslittlestiches said:

... Sooo! Cute! Going to make this, definitely could be a white bunny with longer ears

April 04, 2011

LCO said:

... So cute! I love cats, so of course, I love this one!

April 04, 2011

coralee said:

... very cute! smiled when i read the pattern.....says bunny body, not kitty body

April 04, 2011

rolltide said:

... *Stuffed....sorry...need to put my glasses on...

April 04, 2011

rolltide said:

... I have just started to make suffed animals for my nieces and nephews who are having children of their own. I am always looking for SIMPLE patterns and this looks like a good one. I use the colors they are using in their nursery. I can't wait to see how this one turns out. Thanks so much! BTW, I LOVE Minky!

April 04, 2011

cheryl burks said:

... Love it ,cant wait to make some for my grandkids!

April 04, 2011

Sylvia F said:

... This kitty is as sweet as could be...even a little black one tooo!

April 04, 2011

kokadoodle3 said:

... This is SO ADORABLE!! I'm definitely gonna have to make these for my nieces

April 04, 2011

Creative Mind said:

... this is super cute,my niece will love this,i will try to make it for her very very soon...thanks for the tutorial

April 04, 2011

Bambitski said:

... Isn't she a cutie?

April 04, 2011

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