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Shishi Button Up Cat Sweater – Catventurous Crochet

Thank you for downloading the written pattern for our Shishi Button Up Cat Sweater. We really
appreciate your support.

This pattern includes a detailed written pattern, as well as an abbreviated version on page 10.
You can view the accompanying video tutorial free of charge on the Catventurous Crochet
YouTube channel. https://bit.ly/shishisweater Corresponding timestamps on the video tutorial are
indicated in this pattern in brackets.

The Shishi Button Up Cat Sweater has catventurers (cats who go outside safely on leash) in mind
and allows for a harness beneath and a leash to be passed through the natural gaps in the
stitches on the back.

Charlotte and Melba wish you happy crocheting!

IMPORTANT: These sweaters are intended to be practical and fun for you and your
cat. For their safety, please supervise your cat at all times while they are wearing
this sweater or any other item that secures around the neck, or within which claws
may become entangled. Please never use our patterns to make your cat hate you!
Reward your meowdel with tasty and healthy treats.

Supermeowdel catventurer, Melba @catventurepussmelba

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 Crochet skill level: Beginners with some experience and above. Certain sizing
requirements may require advanced beginner skills.

Materials: (0:25)
 Yarn of your choice (I used graduated colour 3 - 4 weight acrylic 80%/wool 20% blend)
 Crochet hook to suit your yarn (I used 5mm)
 Large buttons (optional - I used 2 x 2cm diameter wooden buttons – larger buttons
recommended)
 Darning/yarn needle
 Smaller gauge sewing needle to sew on button (optional)
 Scissors
 Measuring tape
 Stitch markers (optional)

Stitches/techniques: (2:00)
 Slip knot onto hook
 Making a chain (Ch.)
 Half double crochet (HDC)
 Half double crochet into the back loop only (HDC BLO)
 Slip stitch (Sl. st.)
 Triple crochet (TC)
 Triple crochet increase (TC inc.)
 Triple crochet decrease (TC dec.)
 Sewing on a button
 Weaving in ends
 Sizing a garment

Note: All stitch terms are in US terminology. If you are unfamiliar with any of these stitches or
techniques, please refer to any references you have available to assist you before beginning this project.

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 Notes on Sizing:
The sizing for this sweater is fully customisable and there are instructions throughout on how you
can size it to fit your individual cat so that it will not restrict movement.

Please use these notes, as well as the instructions within this pattern about sizing, as a guide. If
necessary, please make the necessary adjustments to your work to suit the size and proportions
of your individual cat. It is generally better to err on the slightly larger side than the smaller side
with this pattern. I recommend that you try your unfinished sweater on your cat at regular points
as you make it.

You can begin sizing by measuring your cat's neck circumference but other measurements that
are helpful are:
 Width across chest from leg to leg
 Circumference around ribs, behind front legs
 Length from neck to where you want the sweater to fall on the back
 Length from behind front legs to where you want it to fall under the belly

For further information on measuring your cat and sizing a cat sweater, see the following:
https://bit.ly/sizingasweater

In addition to adjusting stitch numbers, the exact finished size of your sweater will also depend
on the yarn and hook size you choose. Bulkier yarn with a larger hook will result in a bigger and
thicker sweater; lightweight yarn and a smaller hook will result in a smaller and lighter sweater.

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Instructions:
Neckband: (2:55)
Make a slip knot onto your hook
Ch. 7 (or to approx. 5cm)

NOTE: 5cm is an arbitrary width and you can choose to make your neckband narrower or wider than
5cm if you prefer. It can easily be turned into a rollneck design with a wider neckband.

 Row 1: (3:50)

HDC in 2nd ch. from hook

HDC x 1 in each ch. to end of row

 Row 2 onwards: (4:30)

Ch. 1 (does not count as a st.) and turn

HDC x 1 in 1st st.
HDC BLO x 1 in each st. to 2nd to last st.
HDC x 1 in last st.

Repeat row 2 to the length required for your neckband according to your cat’s size and the fit you
want around the neck.

A rough guide to the length you will require for your neckband is to measure your cat’s neck
circumference and add approximately 10cm to this measurement. However, each cat is different
so please use this measurement as a guide only. The neckband on this sweater sits loosely below
the neckline but you can make it fit more snugly by adding less length to the measurement of
your cat’s neck circumference.

 Form your neckband into a loop: (6:50)

Once you have reached the length you need for your neckband:

Ch. 1
Sl. st. in corresponding stitches to join short ends and form your neckband into a loop.

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 Body of sweater:

 Round 1: (7:50)

Ch. 3 (counts as TC)

Place evenly spaced TC around edge of neckband
Sl. st. to top of ch. to join

NOTE: I recommend placing approximately one TC at the top of each row on your neckband however,
your stitch count is not important. If you have fitted your neckband more snugly around the neck, add
more TC to this round so the sweater begins to flare out over the shoulders and chest.

 Round 2: (10:05)

NOTE: You can use stitch markers to mark the stitches at sides and/or centre back where you want your
increases to be before starting round 2. You can tailor the number of increases you include in this
round according to your cat’s size. If increasing at one side, always increase at the opposite side to keep
your sweater’s shape symmetrical.

Ch. 3
TC x 1 each st. to 1st side
TC inc. (TC x 2) at side
TC x 1 each st. to centre back
TC inc. at centre back (optional)
TC x 1 each st. to 2nd side
TC inc. at 2nd side
TC x 1 each st. to end of round
Sl. st. to join

NOTE: Round 3 includes creating the leg holes. If your cat’s size requires it, you can repeat row 2, with
or without increases, before moving on to round 3.

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  Round 3: (14:15)

NOTE: A measurement across your cat’s chest, between the front legs is extremely useful in determining
where you place the leg holes in this round to allow for maximum ease of movement. You can use
stitch markers to mark where you want each leg hole to begin and end.

Ch. 3
TC x 1 each st. to 1st leg hole
Ch. 10 (or any number required for the size leg hole you need)
Skip 8 (or to where you want your leg hole to end - as a general rule, skip 2 fewer than you ch.)
TC x 1 next st.
TC x 1 each st. to 2nd leg hole
Mirror your work to create the 2nd leg hole so both sides are symmetrical
TC x 1 each st. to end of round
Sl. st. to join

 Round 4: (23:05)

NOTE: A measurement around your cat’s ribs, behind the front legs is extremely useful in determining
the increases and decreases you need in this and the following rounds.

Ch. 3
TC x 1 each st. to 1st leg hole
Place the same number of TC as the number you chained, either into each ch. or into the ch.
space
Place increases (TC x 2) at sides and/or centre back according to your cat’s size and
measurements around the ribs
TC x 1 each st. to 2nd leg hole
Repeat as you did for 1st leg hole
TC x 1 each st. to end of round
Sl. st. to join

NOTE: Round 5 includes beginning to decrease and narrow the fit of your sweater. If your cat’s size
requires it, you can do another round, with or without increases, before moving on to round 5.

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 Round 5: (27:10)

Ch. 3
TC x 1 each st. to 1st decrease
TC dec. at sides and/or centre back according to the fit you need
TC x 1 each st. to end of round
DO NOT Sl. st. to join in this round

NOTE: From row 6 onwards, we are no longer working in rounds but begin to work in rows back and
forth to separate the underside of the sweater into two parts, which will eventually be able to be
fastened together using a button or buttons.

If you need to add extra rounds to accommodate the size of your cat, with or without decreases, before
moving on to row 6, please do so.

 Row 6 onwards: (30:50)

Ch. 3 (counts as TC in 1st st.) and turn

TC x 1 next st.
TC x 1 each st. to end of row
Place your last st. into the ch. from the previous row

Repeat row 6 to the length you want your sweater to be. You can choose to make a half-length,
three-quarter length or full-length sweater.

NOTE: If you are making a full-length sweater, allow space between the end of the sweater and the tail.
The tail is a sensitive area, and it may disturb your cat to have something that continually touches this
area.

Adding buttons and finishing off your sweater: (36:20)

Once you reach the length of sweater you want, yarn over and tie off. If you are adding buttons,
leave enough length to sew on your button(s) using your tail end.

If you are not adding buttons, simply weave in your tail end after tying off.

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Weave your tail end to where you want your 1st button to be. Align with the opposite side so you
have a corresponding gap between the stitches to function as your buttonhole. Repeat for as
many buttons as you are adding.

Weave in remaining tail end and snip off excess.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please ensure your button(s) are securely fastened to avoid the risk of them
becoming a choking hazard. In addition, larger buttons are less likely to be a hazard. Please
supervise your cat while they are wearing this sweater.

Congratulations, you have finished your Shishi Button Up Cat Sweater! Great work!

We would love to see your photos of your #fashionablycatventurous kitty wearing his/her
sweater. Please tag us @catventurous.crochet or @catventurepussmelba on Facebook and/or
Instagram. You can also send them to catventurous.community@gmail.com.

We wish you all the very best,

Charlotte & supermeowdel catventurer Melba.
@catventurepussmelba

© Catventurous Crochet 2022. Please pass on the creative love and credit our pattern if you sell or otherwise distribute your finished items.

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Instructions: (Abbreviated version)
Neckband:

 Row 1: Ch. 7, HDC x 1 each ch.

 Row 2 onwards: Ch. 1, HDC x 1 1st st.

HDC BLO x 1 each st.
HDC x 1 last st.

Repeat row 2 (HDC ribbing) to length required (ref. neck circumference and fit you want)
Ch 1, sl. st. to join short ends

Body:

 Round 1: Ch. 3 (counts), TC evenly around neckline

 Round 2: Ch. 3, TC x 1 each st.

TC inc. at sides and/or centre back
Sl. st. to join

 Round 3: Ch. 3, TC x 1 each st., ch. for leg hole (ref. measurement across chest)
Skip 2 fewer than ch. (e.g., ch. 10, skip 8)
TC x 1 each st., ch. + skip for 2nd leg hole
Sl. st.

 Round 4: Ch. 3, TC x 1 each st.

TC inc. at sides and/or centre back (ref. rib circumference)
Sl. st.

 Round 5: Ch. 3, TC x 1 each st.

TC dec. at sides and/or centre back
Do not sl. st.

 Row 6 onwards: Ch. 3, turn

TC x 1 each st.

Repeat to length of sweater you want – half-length, three-quarter length or full-length (avoid tail)

Add button(s)
Weave in ends

© Catventurous Crochet 2022. Please pass on the creative love and credit our pattern if you sell or otherwise distribute your finished items.

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