Actually, this could be a pot holder, or a little pillow, or anything you can think of that is flat and round. It could be a different animal, or a flying saucer, or some other critter with different ears. My mom used to crochet this Kitty Bean Bag for me as a kid. I believe the pattern came from a 60’s era “Learn to Crochet” booklet. I never could master crochet.
A while back I stumbled upon the directions for knitting a flat circle, here: http://knit-amigurumi.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-knit-flat-circle.html I wanted to try it for the novelty, but could never quite get motivated to try it without a project in mind. It took me a while to think that yes, now I could make my own kitty bean bags for my kids without learning to crochet. So here are the directions for the Kitty Bean Bag. I’ve slightly modified the cast-on at the beginning of the flat circle directions to avoid sewing up such a large hole in the middle.
Kitty face bean bag
This guy is made with Lion® Cotton on size 5 DPN’s. Gauge and yarn type is not important for this project, however if you are going to fill it with beans make sure to use smaller needles so there aren’t any big holes that will let the beans through. (I tend to knit loose, so I have to be careful about these things.)
Cast on 3 stitches on a DPN.
KFB all stitches (6 stitches on needle)
Transfer two stitches to each of three DPNs.
Round 1: Join round and K all stitches.
Round 2: KFB all stitches. (12 stitches total)
Round 3: K all stitches
Round 4: *KFB, K1* around (18 stitches total, 6 per needle)
Round 5: K all stitches on all odd rounds
Round 6: *KFB, K1* (27 total, 9 per needle)
Round 8: *KFB, K2* (36 total, 12 per needle)
Round 10: *KFB, K3* (45 total, 15 per needle)
Round 12: *KFB, K4* (54 total, 18 per needle)
Round 14: *KFB, K5* (63 total, 21 per needle)
Round 16: *KFB, K6* (72 total, 24 per needle)
Etc… to circle size of your choice. I stopped at 72 total stitches for the Kitty Bean Bag pictured.
End on an odd row. Bind off all the stitches on two adjoining needles. To shape ears:
K 6, and hold on one DPN for right ear.
With another DPN, bind off all but last 6 stitches. Work left ear:
Row 1: K 6 stitches.
Row 2: Turn needle and P6.
Row 3: K2, K2Tog, K2
Row 4: P5
Row 5: K2, K2Tog, K1 (right ear: K1, K2Tog, K2)
Row 6: P4
Row 7: K1, K2Tog, K1
Row 8: P 3
Row 9: K, K2Tog (right ear: K2Tog, K1)
Row 10: P2Tog
Bind off last stitch.
Repeat with other ear, starting with purl Row 2 (directions reversed on rows with odd numbers of stitches for symmetry).
To make a bean bag or pillow make another flat circle of the same size, sans ears, for the back. Just bind off all three needles at the end. Wash and block, and embroider the face of your choice on eared circle when dry. Sew up hole in the middle (if there is one, and edges, leaving hole for stuffing or beans. Fill and sew shut.
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