I made Molly a cat hoodie quite some time ago. Jason and I thought RapCat (checkers’ commercials) was just too ridiculous and therefore, pretty funny. We invented a scenario where RapCat was Molly’s secret lover and it was a long standing, pretty bizarre, joke. We even joked about Molly wearing RapCat’s hoodie, you know, the blue and blue one. We laughed so hard about it…. and then I made one for her and we laughed some more. And the really funny thing is she doesn’t mind wearing it at all!

Now I know that a lot of cats would have serious objections with any kind of hoodie being put on them, even if knit with the most love. So some other ideas for the hoodie – Big Panda Plushies, A willing stout puppy dog (a little pug maybe?), you get the idea.

Directions

Body:
CO 68 sts with CC; join in the round and place marker at beginning of round, being careful not to twist stitches.
Work 2X2 rib (k2, P2) for 5 rows.

Change to MC, St st until piece measures 6 inches from cast on edge.

BO 12 sts – right armhole, k10 – front stitches, BO 12 sts – left armhole, k to marker – back stitches.

Back stitches only:
Row 1: Turn work, purl to BO sts – left armhole (34 sts). Row 2: Turn work, k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 three times total. Break yarn.

Front stitches only:
Rejoin yarn at the front section so you start with a knit row.

St st 8 rows. (there are more rows on the front than the back to accommodate the upturn of the neck on a feline.

Neck:
Knit to end of front stitches; turn, cast on 8 using cable cast on, turn; k back stitches; turn, CO8 using cable cast on, turn; join in the round, k5. Turn, pm, purl 1 round to marker.

Row 1: Turn, k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1.

Row 2: Turn, purl to marker.

Repeat Rows 1 & 2 six times total — 12 sts decreased (42 sts remaining).

Hood:
Change to CC, repeat rows 1&2 three times — six stitches decreased; 36 sts total.
K12, pm, k12, pm, k12, turn. — Place Markers used are the same as placed in the neck section.

Row 1: Purl to one stitch before marker, m1, p1, sl marker; purl to marker, sl marker, p1, m1, purl to end, turn.

Row 2: Knit all, turn.

Repeat rows 1&2 six times total (48 sts).

Purl all one row.

Knit to second marker, remove marker, ssk, k1, turn.

Sl1, purl to marker, remove marker, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 1: Sl1 purlwise, knit to stitch before gap, ssk (one stitch from each side of the gap), k1, turn.

Row 2: Sl1 purlwise, purl to stitch before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Repeat rows 1&2 until all stitches have been worked. The last row you work will not have a k1 or a p1 after the ssk or the p2tog.

Hood Border:
(K2, p2) to end. Pick up and work stitches continuing 2×2 rib along neck line, down one side and up the other, end with a p2, pm and join in the round.

Repeat (k2, p2) to end of round for 2 rounds. BO in pattern. Cut yarn, weave in ends.

Legs:
Switch to dpns if necessary and pick up and knit 34 in CC color around one leg hole, pm, join in the round.

Knit 13 rounds.

Decrease 10 sts evenly by k2tog.

Knit 6 rounds.

Change to MC, (k2, p2) to end of round, repeat for 4 more rounds, BO all stitches in pattern.

Repeat for second Leg. Weave in all ends and slip on your kitty.

I think Miss Molly will enjoy it this win- ter for running outside (we walk with her outside in the morning, it’s too cold in the winter and she gets all stir crazy). Maybe some kitty booties will be in the near future too!