Make a small black cat with big bright eyes and pointed purple ears
Smooth yarn, clear rounds, simple pieces, and exact stitch counts make this black cat easier to follow from start to finish.
This Black Cat crochet pattern free tutorial makes a small black cat with big eyes and a curled tail. The finished cat has a round head, large white eyes, purple inner ears, a slim body, four simple legs, and a long curved tail.
Instead of fuzzy yarn that hides the stitches, this version uses smooth worsted-weight yarn. You can see every increase, decrease, and round while you work, which makes the pattern much easier to count and correct.
1. What This Black Cat Crochet Pattern Makes
The goal of this Black Cat crochet pattern free project is a clean, recognizable black cat without complicated shaping.
The head and body are worked separately in continuous rounds. The legs, tail, ears, inner ears, and white eye pieces are made separately and sewn on after the main body is stuffed.
Using smooth black yarn is important for this tutorial. Black yarn can already be difficult to see in low light, so adding faux fur would make counting much harder for a beginner.
Black stitches are easiest to count beside a bright window or under a white craft lamp. Move your stitch marker every round so you never have to search for the beginning later.
2. Black Cat Crochet Pattern Free: Materials and Yarn
Smooth #4 Medium / worsted yarn. Plan roughly 120–160 yards depending on your tension and yarn.
A small amount for the inner ears and embroidered nose.
A small amount for the two large eye whites.
3.5 mm (E-4), or a size that gives you tight fabric without visible stuffing gaps.
Polyester fiberfill for the head, body, and lower parts of the legs.
Locking stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors, and removable pins.
Gauge is not critical for this amigurumi. What matters is making a firm fabric that keeps the stuffing inside. If you can clearly see stuffing through your stitches, use a smaller hook.
You can compare yarn and hook sizes in the CrochetEco crochet hook size chart .
For standard US crochet abbreviations, see the Craft Yarn Council crochet abbreviation list .
3. US Crochet Terms and Pattern Notes
MR = magic ring · ch = chain · sc = single crochet · inc = 2 sc in one stitch · dec = single crochet decrease / sc2tog · st / sts = stitch / stitches · FO = fasten off
All round pieces in this Black Cat crochet pattern free tutorial are worked in continuous spirals. Do not slip stitch at the end of a round unless a section specifically tells you to do so.
Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round. The number in parentheses is the total number of stitches after the round is finished.
If your stitch total does not match the number shown, fix that round before continuing. Do not hide a mistake by adding a random increase or decrease later.
If you need help starting a tight circle, see the CrochetEco magic circle crochet tutorial .
4. Crochet the cat’s Head
The head starts at the top, increases evenly to 36 stitches, stays round through the center, then decreases to a 12-stitch neck opening.
Black Cat Head
MR, 6 sc. (6)
Inc in every stitch. (12)
[Sc in next st, inc] repeat 6 times. (18)
[Sc in next 2 sts, inc] repeat 6 times. (24)
[Sc in next 3 sts, inc] repeat 6 times. (30)
[Sc in next 4 sts, inc] repeat 6 times. (36)
Sc in every stitch around. (36 each round)
[Sc in next 4 sts, dec] repeat 6 times. (30)
[Sc in next 3 sts, dec] repeat 6 times. (24)
[Sc in next 2 sts, dec] repeat 6 times. (18)
[Sc in next st, dec] repeat 6 times. (12)
Stuff the head evenly. Do not close the 12-stitch opening. FO with a long black yarn tail for sewing the head to the body.
5. Crochet the Body
The body in this Black Cat crochet pattern free design has a wider lower half and a narrow 12-stitch neck that matches the head exactly.
Black Cat Body
MR, 6 sc. (6)
Inc around. (12)
[Sc, inc] repeat 6 times. (18)
[Sc in next 2 sts, inc] repeat 6 times. (24)
[Sc in next 3 sts, inc] repeat 6 times. (30)
Sc around. (30 each round)
[Sc in next 3 sts, dec] repeat 6 times. (24)
Sc around. (24 each round)
[Sc in next 2 sts, dec] repeat 6 times. (18)
Sc around. (18 each round)
[Sc in next st, dec] repeat 6 times. (12)
Sc around. (12)
Stuff firmly at the bottom and a little more lightly near the neck. FO. Leave the 12-stitch neck opening open.
6. Crochet the Front and Hind Legs
Front Legs — Make 2
These are long and narrow so the cat keeps the slim the cat-like silhouette.
MR, 6 sc. (6)
Sc around. (6 each round)
Add a small amount of stuffing to the lower half only. Flatten the top and work 3 sc through both layers. (3 closing sts) FO with a long sewing tail.
Hind Legs — Make 2
MR, 6 sc. (6)
Inc around. (12)
Sc around. (12 each round)
[Sc in next st, dec] repeat 4 times. (8)
Sc around. (8 each round)
Stuff the lower half lightly. Flatten the top and work 4 sc through both layers. (4 closing sts) FO with a long sewing tail.
7. Tail, Ears, Inner Ears, and Eyes
Long Black Tail — Make 1
MR, 6 sc. (6)
Sc around. (6 each round)
Leave the tail unstuffed so it can bend naturally. FO with a long sewing tail.
Outer Black Ears — Make 2
Ch 2. Work 2 sc in the second chain from the hook. (2) Turn.
Ch 1. Inc in each stitch. (4) Turn.
Ch 1. Sc across. (4) Turn.
Ch 1. Inc, sc in next 2 sts, inc. (6) Turn.
Ch 1. Sc across. (6) FO with a long tail.
Purple Inner Ears — Make 2
Ch 2. Work 2 sc in the second chain from the hook. (2) Turn.
Ch 1. Inc in each stitch. (4) Turn.
Ch 1. Sc across. (4) FO with a sewing tail.
White Eye Pieces — Make 2
With white yarn, MR, 6 sc. (6)
Inc around. (12) FO with a long white tail.
Sew the white circles slightly stretched in a vertical direction. Embroider the pupils afterward with black yarn so you can adjust the expression before making anything permanent.
8. How to Assemble the Black Cat Crochet Pattern
Join the head and body
Place the 12-stitch head opening over the 12-stitch body opening. Use the long black head tail to sew one head stitch to one body stitch all the way around.
Add the outer ears
Pin the black ears high on the head, roughly between Head Rounds 4 and 7. Keep the narrow Row 1 point facing upward and sew the 6-stitch base to the head.
Add the purple inner ears
Center one smaller purple triangle on the front of each black ear and sew it flat. Leave a visible black border around the purple piece.
Position the white eyes
Pin the two white circles across approximately Head Rounds 8–11. Keep a small gap between them. Stretch each circle very slightly upward and downward before sewing to give the eyes a taller shape.
Embroider the pupils and nose
Use black yarn to embroider one vertical oval pupil in the center of each white eye. Use a small amount of purple yarn to make a tiny triangular nose below and between the eyes.
Sew on the front legs
Position the two long front legs vertically on the lower front of the body. Sew their flat 3-stitch tops around Body Rounds 10–12. Keep them parallel rather than spreading them far apart.
Add the hind legs
Sew the wider hind legs to the lower sides of the body around Body Rounds 4–7. Angle them slightly forward so the finished black cat can sit more naturally.
Add the tail
Sew the base of the long tail to the center back of the lower body around Body Rounds 4–6. Leave it loose for a straight tail, or bend it gently around one side and add one small hidden tack stitch farther up the tail to hold a curved shape.
The long unstuffed crochet tube can curve naturally. A hidden tack stitch can hold the shape without placing craft wire inside the toy.
9. Black Cat Crochet Pattern Free Math Check
Use this table if one piece of your Black Cat crochet pattern free project looks too large, too narrow, or uneven.
| Piece | Count path | Final opening |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 6 → 12 → 18 → 24 → 30 → 36 → 30 → 24 → 18 → 12 | 12 stitches |
| Body | 6 → 12 → 18 → 24 → 30 → 24 → 18 → 12 | 12 stitches |
| Front leg | 6 stitches throughout | Flattens to 3 |
| Hind leg | 6 → 12 → 8 | Flattens to 4 |
| Tail | 6 stitches for 24 rounds | Open base for sewing |
| Outer ear | 2 → 4 → 4 → 6 → 6 | 6-stitch base |
| Inner ear | 2 → 4 → 4 | 4-stitch base |
| Eye white | 6 → 12 | 12-stitch circle |
The head and body both finish with 12 stitches. That gives you a simple one-to-one seam with no skipped stitches and no gathering needed at the neck.
10. Common Black Cat Crochet Pattern Problems
I cannot see my black stitches.
Put the project beside a bright window or white lamp and use a light-colored stitch marker. Smooth yarn is much easier to count than fuzzy black yarn.
The head looks longer than round.
Check that Rounds 7–11 are the only five straight 36-stitch rounds. An extra straight round will make the head taller.
The eyes look uneven.
Pin both white circles before sewing either one. Look at the face straight on, adjust the spacing, then sew them only when both sides look balanced.
My cat keeps falling backward.
Move the hind legs slightly farther forward and keep the tail from pushing against the floor behind the body. The body should also be stuffed firmly at the lower half.
The tail looks too stiff.
Do not stuff it. The 6-stitch tube should stay soft enough to curve beside the body.
11. Care and Safety
Follow the care instructions printed on your yarn label. If the yarn is machine washable, place the finished amigurumi inside a laundry bag and use a gentle cycle. Air drying helps the sewn pieces keep their shape.
This design uses crocheted eye whites and embroidered pupils instead of plastic safety eyes. Secure every sewn piece and yarn end carefully, and inspect a handmade toy regularly for loose parts.
For general toy-safety information, see the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission toy-safety guidance .
If you intend to sell finished items based on a copyrighted character, check the applicable intellectual-property and marketplace rules before offering them for sale.
12. Black Cat Crochet Pattern Free FAQ
Is this Black Cat crochet pattern free?
Yes. The written crochet instructions on this CrochetEco page are free to read. This is an unofficial fan-made pattern and not an official pattern from the character’s rights holders.
Can a beginner make this Black Cat amigurumi?
A confident beginner should be comfortable with a magic ring, single crochet, increases, decreases, stuffing, and basic sewing. The pieces themselves use simple shapes.
Can I use chenille yarn instead?
Yes, but the finished cat will be much larger and the stitches will be harder to see. Use a hook that gives you firm fabric and expect the finished-size estimate to change.
Can I make the eyes with felt?
You can, but this written version uses crocheted white eye pieces and embroidered pupils so the materials stay simple and the look matches the pattern.
Why does the tail have no wire?
The unstuffed crochet tube is flexible on its own. A small hidden tack stitch can hold a curve without adding wire inside the toy.
Final Thoughts on This Black Cat Crochet Pattern Free Project
This Black Cat crochet pattern free project keeps the construction deliberately simple: one round head, one tapered body, four basic legs, two layered ears, two large white eyes, and one long soft tail.
The smooth yarn also makes every stitch visible, so you can compare your work with the written counts instead of trying to feel your way through fuzzy black fabric.
If amigurumi is still new to you, start with the CrochetEco beginner crochet guide before beginning the pattern.
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