Hello everyone!

Yes, it’s been a while since I posted, but the quilt retreats have been taking a lot of my time lately (but they are great fun!).

I just got an email from Lion Brand® Yarn , with some of their great Halloween patterns. Since it’s now officially October – I thought this was a great time to post these. After all, do we really want to wait until the 20th of the month to do our crafting for the holiday?

First up is the Felted Black Cat Bag – can be used for candy or as a purse with the right costume! Or just a neat place to put your Halloween greeting cards as they arrive (yes, they do have to move off of the dinning table sometimes for meals).

I suppose I should take a moment out to explain felting to those who may not be familiar with it. In very basic terms – you knit or crochet a project out of wool yarn (must be 100% wool), wash in hot water, and then dry flat (or with a form if needed). Please note – while yarn crafters do call this felting, the technical sites I looked up all said that felting is only done with raw wool. Doing the same thing with a finished piece is called ‘fulling’. (Since this blog is about crafters and not technicians – we’ll stick to calling it felting, but if you want to see what the techs have to say here it is!)

As I said, that’s a very basic explanation – for more information on felting, check this link: Knitty Chick

And now – on to the pattern!

Felted Black Cat Bag

Pattern Difficulty
Easy + (and here is a link to the pattern difficulty chart used by Lion Brand)

Finished Size
About 9” diameter after felting

Supplies Needed

• 2 skeins of Lion Wool Yarn: Ebony (820-153)
• 1 skein of Lion Wool Yarn: Rose (820-140)
• 1 skein of Lion Wool Yarn: Dark Teal (820-178)
• 1 skein of Lion Wool Yarn: Pearl Grey (820-149)
• Lion Brand Crochet Hook – Size K (10.5)
• Large Eye Blunt Needle

GAUGE
10 hdc = 4 in. (10 cm) before felting with 2 strands of A held together.
EXACT GAUGE IS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR THIS PROJECT.
BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you less stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

FRONT

• With 2 strands of A held together, ch 5; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
• Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 11 dc in ring; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 12 dc.
• Rnd 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc here and throughout), hdc in same st as join, 2 hdc in each st around; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 24 hdc.
• Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 hdc in next st, *hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 36 hdc.
• Rnd 4: Ch 2, hdc in each st around; join with sl st in top of beg ch-2.
• Rnd 5: Ch 2, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, *hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 48 hdc.
• Rnd 6: Ch 2, hdc in each st around; join with sl st in top of beg ch-2.
• Rnd 7: Ch 2, hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st, *hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 60 hdc.
• Rnd 8: Ch 2, hdc in each st around; join with sl st in top of beg ch-2.
• Rnd 9: Ch 2, hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st, *hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in top of beg ch – 72 hdc.

Ear

• Row 1: Sc in next 7 sts; leave remaining sts unworked.
• Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sk 1 st, sc in next 6 sts.
• Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sk 1 st, sc in next 5 sts.
• Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sk 1 st, sc in next 4 sts.
• Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sk 1 st, sc in next 3 sts.
• Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sk 1 st, sc in next 2 sts.
• Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sk 1 st, sc in next st.
• Fasten off.
• Sk 10 sts to the left of Ear just completed, join yarn with sl st, rep Rows 1-7 of Ear.
• Fasten off.

BACK
Work same as Front, omitting Ears.
FINISHING

• With wrong sides of Front and Back together, join one strand of A at left edge of base of second ear.
• Rnd 1: Working through both thicknesses, sc evenly around outside edges to base of first Ear to join. Fasten off. Edge between Ears remains open.

HANDLES (make 2)

• With 2 strands of A held together, ch 57.
• Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook (counts as 2 hdc), hdc in each ch to last ch, 3 hdc in last ch; pivot to work in free loops along opposite side of foundation ch, hdc in each ch to last ch, 2 hdc in last ch; join with sl st in first hdc.
• Fasten off.

NOSE

• With 1 strand of B, ch 2.
• Row 1: Work 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook – 2 sc.
• Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each sc – 4 sc.
• Row 3: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in last sc – 6 sc.
• Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc across.
• Fasten off.

EYES (make 2)

• With 1 strand of C, ch 2.
• Rnd 1: Work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; do not join.
• Rnd 2: Do not turn, work sc in each st around; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.
• Weave in ends.

FELTING

• Put pieces into a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase and wash by machine on a hot wash/cold rinse cycle with detergent and several pieces of clothing to agitate.
• To felt additionally, dry by machine on a regular setting until almost dry.
• Remove from dryer and pull into shape.

FINISHING

• When dry, sew Nose to center of Front.
• Sew on Eyes.
• With 2 strands of B held together, embroider Mouth in an upside down “Y”shape under Nose.
• With 1 strand of D, embroider 3 whiskers, each 1 1/2 in. (4 cm) long, on either side of face.
• Sew ends of one Handle to Front, with about 1 in. (2.5 cm) of ends extending inside Bag.
• Repeat with remaining Handle on Back.

You’ll love the finished product – and for those who haven’t felted before, believe me, it can be addicting.  (I know several knitters and crocheters that can verify that!)

Tomorrow I’ll post another free pattern from Lion Brand® Yarn – and some links to other great Halloween patterns from them. Don’t forget that in order to view their patterns you need to register – it’s free, and it’s a one time registration (as long as you don’t forget your password!)

Pattern reprinted by permission of Lion Brand Yarn.Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing

Sheila