Black Cat Applique

MATERIALS:

• Aunt Lydia's Classic Crochet Thread, Size 10:
  • A: 12 Black (1 ball)
  • B: 332 Hot Pink (1 ball)
• Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Metallics, Size 5: C: 410S Silver/Silver (1 ball)
• Susan Bates Crochet Hook (D/3, 3 mm)
• Two green buttons, 19 mm diameter
• Small amount of silver thread
• Hand sewing needle and matching thread
• White cotton tee-shirt
• Yarn needle

GAUGE:
Gauge is not important for this project.

Pieces are worked with thread held doubled throughout.

SIZE:
Kitty Applique is 6” tall x 5½” wide 
[15 x 14 cm] 

SPECIAL STITCH:
sc2tog: [draw up a loop in next st] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

KITTY HEAD
Holding 2 strands of A together, ch 25. 
Row 1: Working in back loops only, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across – 24 sts. 
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] twice, sc in next 16 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] twice – 28 sts.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] twice, sc in next 20 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] twice – 32 sts.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] twice, sc in next 24 sts, [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] twice – 36 sts.
Rows 7-18: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 19: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, sc2tog] twice, sc in next 24 sts, [sc2tog, sc in next st] twice – 32 sts.
Row 20: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 21: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, sc2tog] twice, sc in next 20 sts, [sc2tog, sc in next st] twice – 28 sts.
Rows 22-31: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 32: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, sc2tog] twice, sc in next 16 sts, [sc2tog, sc in next st] twice – 24 sts.
Row 33: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 34: Ch 1, turn, [sc in next st, sc2tog] twice, sc in next 12 sts, [sc2tog, sc in next st] twice – 20 sts.
Row 35: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.

Shape First Ear
Row 36: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 8 sts, leave remaining sts unworked – 8 sts.
Row 37: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 38: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog – 6 sts.
Row 39: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 40: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog – 4 sts.
Row 41: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 42: Ch 1, turn, [sc2tog] twice – 2 sts.
Fasten off.

Shape Second Ear
Row 36: Skip next 4 unworked sts on Row 36, join yarn in next st, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 7 sts – 8 sts.
Rows 37-42: Work as for First Ear. Do Not Fasten Off.
Edging: Ch 1, sc evenly spaced around entire Head, slip st in first sc to join. Fasten off. 

NOSE
Holding 2 strands of B together, ch 8. 
Row 1: Working in back loops only, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across – 7 sts. 
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog – 5 sts.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog – 3 sts.
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc2tog – 1 st.
Edging: Ch 1, sc evenly spaced around entire Nose, slip st in first sc to join. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Following photo, sew Nose in center of Head. Sew buttons on Head for eyes. With 2 strands of C held together, embroider mouth with straight stitches from tip of Nose. Sew 3 whiskers on either side of Nose. For best results, lay tee-shirt flat and insert a piece of cardboard inside and smooth the shirt front. Referring to the photo, pin head in center of shirt. Carefully hand-stitch pieces using matching thread, being careful not to pull the thread too tightly in order to prevent puckering.