If you enjoy crochet projects that are both fun to make and irresistibly cute, this Cat Granny Square is sure to win you over. Blending the classic appeal of granny squares with charming little cat faces, this design is perfect for cat lovers and crochet enthusiasts alike. Each square features sweet feline heads with tiny ears and expressive eyes, making it a delightful choice for blankets, pillows, bags, or any project that could use a playful touch.
This pattern is also a great opportunity to practice a variety of crochet techniques. You’ll use puff stitches to create the fluffy cat heads, simple chains and double crochets to shape the ears, and neat single crochet borders to join the motifs together. While the pattern is best suited for intermediate crocheters, confident beginners can absolutely give it a try with a bit of patience. As you work step by step, you’ll watch the square come to life, with each little cat adding its own personality to your project.
Cat Granny Square
Skill Level
Intermediate
Finished Size
Approximately 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 inches)
Size may vary depending on yarn and hook used.
Materials
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Worsted weight yarn in three colors
(Example: gray for the border cats, white or cream for center cats, and pink for accent cats) -
4 mm crochet hook (or size appropriate for your yarn)
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Tapestry needle
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Scissors
Abbreviations (US Terms)
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MR – Magic Ring
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ch – chain
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sc – single crochet
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dc – double crochet
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tr – treble crochet
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sl st – slip stitch
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st – stitch
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sp – space
Special Stitch – Puff Stitch
Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. Repeat this sequence four times (you will have 9 loops on your hook). Yarn over and pull through all loops, then chain 1 to close the puff.
Instructions
Step 1 – First Cat Head (Start in a Magic Ring)
Create a MR, ch 3 (counts as the first dc), then work 7 puff stitches into the ring, separating each puff with ch 1. You will have 8 puff stitches forming a circle.
Join with a sl st to the top of the first puff stitch. Fasten off if changing colors.
Step 2 – Ears
Attach yarn in a ch-1 space where you want to place the ear.
First ear: ch 2, work 2 dc in the same space, ch 2, then sl st in the same space.
Skip the next puff stitch and repeat the process to create the second ear.
Each cat head should have two ears positioned on top.
Step 3 – Joining the Cats
Using the layout shown in the diagram, create 9 cat motifs arranged in 3 rows of 3.
Join the motifs using a join-as-you-go method. On the final round of each cat (worked in single crochet), connect adjacent squares by slip stitching into the corresponding stitches.
Step 4 – Border
With the border color (gray in the sample), work one round of sc evenly around the entire joined square, placing 3 sc in each corner.
For the next round, work dc in each stitch around, making 3 dc in each corner.
Optional: Add additional border rounds if you would like a larger finished square.
Step 5 – Eyes (Optional)
Using black embroidery thread or fine yarn, stitch two small vertical lines on each cat head to create the eyes.
Tips
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Keep your tension consistent when working puff stitches so all cat heads are uniform in size.
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Choose contrasting colors to help the cats stand out clearly.
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These granny squares are perfect for blankets, pillow covers, tote bags, and other fun projects.
