Step: 1

Cat Neck Pillow measures 34" long x 8" wide.

Step: 2

MUZZLE: With CC, ch 4; join with a slip st in first ch to form a ring.

Step: 3

Rnd 1: 2 Sc in each ch around - 8 sc.

Step: 4

Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each sc around - 16 sc.

Step: 5

Rnd 3: [Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 8 times - 24 sc.

Step: 6

Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 8 times - 32 sc.

Step: 7

Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 8 times - 40 sc.

Step: 8

Rnds 6-8: Sc in each sc around - 40 sc.

Step: 9

Rnd 9: [Sc in next 3 sc, skip next sc, sc in next sc] 8 times - 32 sc. Break off CC.

Step: 10

Rnd 10-HEAD: With CA, [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 16 times - 48 sc.

Step: 11

Rnds 11-21: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 12

Rnd 22: [Sc in next 4 sc, skip next sc, sc in next sc] 8 times - 40 sc.

Step: 13

BODY-Row 23: Sc in next 19 sc, 2 sc in next sc, drop CA, with CC, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 19 sc; turn - 42 sc.

Step: 14

Row 24: Ch 1, sc in next 20 sc, 2 sc in next sc, drop CC, with CA, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each sc to end; turn - 44 sc.

Step: 15

Row 25: Ch 1, sc in each CA sc to last CA sc, 2 sc in next sc, drop CA, with CC, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each sc across - 46 sc; turn.

Step: 16

Row 26: Ch 1, sc in each CC sc, drop CC, with CA, sc in each sc across; turn.

Step: 17

Rows 27-40: Repeat Rows 25 and 26 - 60 sc at end of Rows 39 and 40.

Step: 18

Row 41: Ch 1, sc in each CA sc, drop CA, with CC, sc in each sc across; turn.

Step: 19

Row 42: Ch 1, sc in each CC sc, drop CC, with CA, sc in each sc across; turn.

Step: 20

Rows 43-70: Repeat Rows 41 and 42.

Step: 21

Row 71: Ch 1, sc in each sc of CA to last 3 CA sc, dec2 changing to CC, with CC, dec2 over next 3 sc, sc in each sc across; turn - 56 sc.

Step: 22

Row 72: Ch 1, sc in each CC, drop CC, with CA, sc in each sc across; turn.

Step: 23

Rows 73-80: Repeat Rows 71 and 72 - 40 sc. Break off CC.

Step: 24

Rnd 81: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, bring opposite end around, sc in row end to form a ring - 40 sc. Now work in rnds without joining.

Step: 25

Rnd 82: [Sc in next 3 sc, skip next sc, sc in next sc] 8 times - 32 sc.

Step: 26

Rnd 83: [Sc in next 2 sc, skip next sc, sc in next sc] 8 times - 24 sc.

Step: 27

Rnd 84: [Sc in next sc, skip next sc, sc in next st] 8 times - 16 sc.

Step: 28

TAIL-Rnds 85-97: Sc in each sc around - 16 sc.

Step: 29

Rnds 98-105: Skip the first sc, sc in each sc around - 8 sc at end of last rnd.

Step: 30

Rnd 106: Sc in every other sc around - 4 sc.

Step: 31

Rnd 107: Slip st in every other sc to close tip of tail - 2 sts. Fasten off, leaving 8" end. After assembly (below), thread this end into needle, weave needle in and out of every other rnd on top of tail and into end of body. Draw yarn up, to gather tail slightly and causing tip of tail to curve. Secure and weave in end.

Step: 32

ASSEMBLY: Stuff and shape head, body and base of tail (DO NOT STUFF TAIL). Sew body opening closed. Thread needle with CA, weave needle in and out of top of body, (just above body seam) turn and continue to weave needle in and out of bottom of body, (just below body seam). Holding starting and ending gather ends together, carefully gather sides, causing body to curve to desired shape. Tie gather ends to secure. Weave in ends.

Step: 33

LEGS (Make 4): With CC, ch 4; join with a slip st to form a ring.

Step: 34

Rnd 1: 2 Sc in each ch around - 8 sc.

Step: 35

Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each sc around - 16 sc.

Step: 36

Rnd 3: [Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 8 times - 24 sc.

Step: 37

Rnds 4-8: Sc in each sc around.

Step: 38

Rnd 9: [Sc in every other sc] 8 times, sc in each sc around - 16 sc. Break off CC.

Step: 39

Rnds 10-22: With CA, sc in each sc around. Stuff and shape paw (DO NOT STUFF LEG).

Step: 40

Row 23: Ch 1, flatten leg opening to close, turn, slip st through both thicknesses to close - 8 slip sts. Fasten off, leaving end long enough to sew leg onto body. Overlap back legs slightly when attaching.

Step: 41

Optional Toe: With ONE strand of yarn, stitch through paw, tighten and secure, weave in ends. Repeat twice on each paw.

Step: 42

EARS (Make 2): With CA, ch 8.

Step: 43

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across; turn - 7 sc.

Step: 44

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across; turn.

Step: 45

Row 3: Ch 1, dec1, sc in each sc to last 2 sc, dec1; turn - 5 sc.

Step: 46

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each sc across; turn.

Step: 47

Rows 5 and 6: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 - 3 sc.

Step: 48

Fasten off. Sew ear onto to head and shape.

Step: 49

NOSE: With CD, ch 2; 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Fasten off. Sew nose onto muzzle.

Step: 50

Mouth: With 2 strands of CD, embroider mouth with Split Stitch, slipping needle between the 2 strands.

Step: 51

Whiskers: With 1 strand of CA, embroider whiskers with straight stitch.

Step: 52

EYES (Make 2): With CE, ch 2; hdc in 2nd ch from hook, with CA dc in same ch, with CE (hdc, sc) all in same ch. Fasten off. Sew onto head.

Step: 53

HINT: After attaching eyes, push needle out through back of head, repeat same for second eye, out through the same st in back of head. Tie ends together (as you tighten, head will shape); weave in ends.