How to crochet a Tilda cat - a detailed description of the work scheme

Handicraft lovers often look for various master classes on creating unusual things. Having become interested in the Tilda doll technique, you can try to knit a cat similar to this toy.

Description of toys in Tilda style

Those who are well versed in various toy making techniques will easily distinguish a knitted cat in the Tilda style from the same amigurumi animal. The figures, repeating the design of the Norwegian artist Toni Finnanger, are similar to the Japanese babies only in some incompleteness in the design of the muzzle. Otherwise, Tildas have their own unique characteristics:

• The doll is made from natural fabrics or threads based on cotton and linen.
• The toy is necessarily complemented by a whole set of clothes and accessories, made in pleasant pastel colors with lace and ribbon decorations.
• The height of a classic Tilda usually reaches 40-50 cm, while the art of amigurumi is to create figures as small as possible (5-7 cm).

To emphasize the author's technique, you should think through the details of the toy well. A doll in the Tilda style, be it a cat, a bunny or a mouse, is dressed in a dress or coat, always holds a cute thing in its paws, and has a headdress.

Human and animal figurines, called tildes, are not only sewn by hand or machine. There are many patterns and designs for creating toys with a crochet hook or knitting needles.

What you need to create a knitted toy

Basically, toys in the Tilda technique are used to decorate the interior. This means that the composition of the yarn for such knitted figures is not as important as for play dolls. But to bring your cat or teddy bear closer to the classic look, it is better to give preference to natural threads.

For crocheting toys, it is recommended to use smooth yarn of medium thickness. If you choose velour thread, then let it be with very small pile, so that the finished product is easier to care for.

The size of the hook for work is usually selected based on the thickness of the threads. Yarn manufacturers indicate the parameters of the recommended tools on the labels for each skein. But even in this case, the hook should be tested in advance with the selected yarn. A small fragment of fabric from double and single crochets will allow you to see whether this combination of threads and tools is suitable for creating a toy.

Any synthetic material with a loose structure, such as holofiber or artificial fluff, can be used as a filler. If you have synthetic padding or foam rubber at hand, you can also use them, but it is better to crush them first so that they do not clump together.

The selection of finishing accessories for the doll's wardrobe is limited only by the craftswoman's own imagination. To decorate the outfit, you can take lace and satin ribbons, all kinds of buttons, beads and seed beads. If desired, the head of the knitted animal can be decorated with voluminous hair made of threads or ready-made artificial strands.

Tilda the Cat crochet: diagram and detailed description

There are many universal basic patterns that can be used to create a knitted cat in the Tilda style. Using a detailed MK, even a beginner knitter can cope with making a cute doll.

The diagram and description for the crocheted Tilda cat assumes knitting in a circle, top down, with single crochets. First, make the head with the neck, then the body. Separately knit the paws-arms and paws-legs, and only after that can you make the ears and tail. Gradually, as the parts are formed, they are stuffed.

Head and torso

The step-by-step sequence for making the cat's head, neck and body is as follows:

• 0 p. - 3 ch close into a ring;
• 1 row - 6 st.b/n;
• 2-10 p. - evenly perform 6V = 60;
• 11-19 p. = 60 st. b/n;
• 20-26 rows - evenly perform 6A = 18;
• 27-29 rows = 18 st.b/n.

Stuff the finished head with filler and move on to creating the body. Do not break the thread, but continue working with it:

• 30-33 rows - evenly perform 6V = 42;
• 34 rows = 42 st.b/n;
• 35-36 rows - perform evenly 6V = 54;
• 37 rows = 54 sts;
• 38 rub. - 16 tbsp.b/n, (1 tbsp.b/n + 1V)*6, 26 tbsp.b/n = 60;
• 39-50 p. = 60 st.b/n;
• 51 rub. - 20 st.b/n, (1 st.b/n, 1V)*6, 28 st.b/n = 66;
• 52-55 p. = 66 st.b/n;
• 56-64 rows - evenly perform 6A = 6.
• 65 rows - decrease all loops, bringing them to zero.

Cut the thread, secure it and hide it. Stuff the finished body and put it aside.

Paws-hands

Next, the upper limbs are created. The step-by-step execution of the work will be as follows:

• 0 p. - 3 ch close into a ring;
• 1 row - 6 st.b/n;
• 2-3 rows - evenly perform 6V = 18;
• 4-7 rows = 18 st.b/n;
• 8 rows - evenly perform 1A = 12;
• 9-28 p. = 12 st. b/n;
• Row 29 - decrease all loops, bringing them to zero.

Cut the thread, fasten it and hide it. Knit the second paw-handle in the same way.

Paws and legs

The cat's feet are knitted using the booties principle. First, the sole should be made according to the proposed pattern, where rows 1 and 2 are shown. Then knit the 3rd row: 1 sc, 1V, 7 sc, (1V + 1 sc) * 7, 1V, 6 sc, 1V, 1 sc = 42. In rows 4 and 5, 6V are evenly performed = 54.

The upper part of the foot is created separately. To do this, first repeat all 5 rows according to the foot pattern. When exactly the same part is ready, knit another 6 rows without increases or decreases. When knitting the last row, connect the upper part to the foot. Closer to the end, stuffing is done and the hole in the foot is closed.

On the top of the finished foot, cast on 18 sc in the form of a ring and knit 24 rows in a circle. During the work, the part is stuffed. In the 25th and 26th rows, 6A are evenly performed. The second foot is knitted in exactly the same way.

Ears

These cat parts do not require stuffing, they are already quite dense. The entire process of their creation consists of several steps:

• 0 p. - 3 ch close into a ring;
• 1 row - 6 st.b/n;
• 2-3 rows - evenly perform 3V = 9;
• 4-7 rows - perform evenly 2V = 20.

Cut and secure the thread, leaving the end for sewing. Knit the second eyelet in the same way.

Cat's tail

This part is also filled during the work process. The upper part is not filled too tightly:

• 0 p. - 3 ch close into a ring;
• 1 row - 6 st.b/n;
• 2 rows - evenly perform 6V = 12;
• 3-25 p. = 12.

Place the edges of the piece together and knit 6 sc, catching 2 loops - 1 from the front and 1 from the back of the tail. Fasten the thread and cut off.

The finished parts are pinned to the cat's body with pins and sewn on. The muzzle is decorated with black beaded eyes, and the nose and whiskers are embroidered. After assembly, all that remains is to create a unique outfit for Tilda the cat, showing imagination and creative ingenuity.