Knit a Sweater Covered in Dancing Cats

I fear that my preference for cats over dogs is reflected in how often I write about knitting patterns that include cats (fairly often, including a vest, a stack of nesting cats, a set of cat socks with matching sweater, a different sweater, a pair of mittens, all in the past six years or so) than I do about dogs (there’s hats for dogs, and mittens with dogs, but that post is from 2014).

And here it is again, as I write about the Crazy Cats Pullover from Maschenwunder Manja Vogelsang.

But how could I resist it? Are these silly cats dancing? Falling down? Performing some sort of ritual? Who can say?

Do I also very much want to knit one of these sweaters for myself? Yes, I do. Or for my cat-loving daughter. Or both.

I don’t know why this pattern popped up in the popular patterns on Ravelry again a couple of years after it was first published, but I’m glad it did!

The sweater is worked from the top down in one piece with a circular yoke covered in cats. It calls for sport weight yarn and there are seven available sizes.

The actual chest measurement of the finished sweater ranges from 35 to 58.5 inches, or 89 to 149 cm. Since that smallest size is billed as extra small, it’s clear there is meant to be a good bit of positive ease in the design, but the pattern notes don’t say exactly how much.

You can find the pattern on Ravelry, where it is available in English, French and German. Because it’s been out for a while there are lots of good projects to look at, including lots of different colors, a cardigan conversion and more. Though this neon version from the designer is pretty great, too.

[Photo: Maschenwunder Manja Vogelsang]

It’s a common complaint among women and femme dressing folk that our clothes do not include enough (and enough useful) pockets. And even if your clothes do have good pockets, there’s always a chance that you’d rather have another pocket to put some essentials in rather than having to carry a whole bag.

But because we are knitters, we can take this problem into our own needles and knit ourselves some auxiliary pockets.

Beatrice Mase did just that, with a kind of fancy toolbelt pocket accessory that they call VELVET Pockets.

The stitch pattern has a plush, sort of velvet effect, thus the name, but it’s worked with regular fingering/sock weight yarn. (The sample uses wool, but you could experiment with other fibers, too.) It calls for 776 yards of 710 meters, which you might just have in your sock yarn stash.

The pattern includes several pockets of different sizes, with the main body of the pocket worked flat in one piece and the exterior pockets sewn on at the end. You also have the option of adding screw rivets and a coordinating clasp that make it look even more toolbelt chic.

The design is worked with a loop of knit fabric at the top so it can slide onto a belt. The pattern includes explanatory diagrams, photo and video tutorials and is adjustable to fit different sizes of belts.

It’s almost enough to make me want to start wearing belts again, even though I haven’t for years. Because who wouldn’t want a few extra little pockets to hold things when you don’t have enough to really justify carrying a bag around?

The pattern is available in English and French on Ravelry and you can also buy a kit complete with the yarn, rivets and clasp (the pattern is not included in the kit) direct on Etsy.

[Photo: Beatrice Mase]

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