Make a little cat that keeps your stationery together and wraps its arms around it. This hugging cat sewing project combines an embroidered face, pointed ears, and arms that fasten with a snap.
The finished cat is approximately 20 cm tall, with about 15 cm of usable internal length in the pouch version. It can hold short pens and small stationery items, depending on their dimensions. You can also make a stuffed cat companion using the same general construction sequence.
This tutorial is adapted from a stuffed cat video. The zipper section explains how to approach the pouch variation shown in the finished photo; it is an additional step, rather than a step demonstrated in the original video.
Sewing pattern and video tutorial: Hugging Cat Pouch Sewing Pattern
Is This Project Suitable for Beginners?
This project introduces several useful sewing skills:
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Embroidering a simple face
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Sewing small fabric pieces
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Clipping curves and turning fabric right side out
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Attaching arms and a tail
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Installing a snap fastener
The stuffed cat is the simpler starting point. The pouch adds a zipper, which requires more careful positioning.
If this is your first sewing project, practise a curved seam on a fabric scrap before starting. For the pouch version, practise the zipper opening using the instructions for your chosen pattern.
Finished Size and Storage Capacity
| Feature | Approximate measurement |
|---|---|
| Overall height | 20 cm |
| Usable internal length of pouch | 15 cm |
| Possible contents | Short pens, small stationery, and similarly sized items |
The internal measurement is shorter than the overall height. Measure your intended contents before sewing: a pen longer than 15 cm may not fit.
What You Need
Materials
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A matching cat pattern with body, arm, and tail pieces
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Fabric for the outer body and appendages
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Sewing thread
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Embroidery thread for the face
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A small amount of stuffing for the arms and tail
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Additional stuffing if making the stuffed cat
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A zipper matched to the pouch pattern’s back opening
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A snap fastener for the arms
Tools
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Fabric scissors
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Hand-sewing needles
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Sewing machine, if using one
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Fabric marker
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Pins or fabric clips
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Snap-setting tools compatible with your fastener
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A blunt turning tool, optional
Pattern note: The original video refers to a pattern printed on A4 paper. The subtitles do not include the pattern itself, cutting quantities, seam allowances, or zipper measurements. You will need a matching pattern to cut accurately. For the pouch version, use one that includes the back zipper construction.
Three Sewing Terms to Know Before You Start
Right sides together: Place the sides you want visible on the finished cat facing each other. You will turn them outward after sewing.
Seam allowance: The strip of fabric between your stitches and the cut edge. Follow your pattern’s allowance throughout.
Turning opening: A gap left unsewn so you can turn the project right side out. On the pouch, the partly open zipper can provide this access.
Step 1: Print, Cut, and Mark Your Pieces
Print the pattern on A4 paper as instructed by its designer. Check its scale using any printed measurement or test square provided.
Before cutting, confirm whether the seam allowance is already included. Cut the body, arms, and tail in the quantities specified by the pattern.
Transfer all placement marks onto the fabric, especially:
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Arm attachment points
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Tail attachment point
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Turning opening for the stuffed version
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Zipper placement for the pouch version
Beginner checkpoint: Lay out the pieces before sewing. Check that you have the required matching pieces and that the placement marks are visible.
Step 2: Embroider the Cat’s Face
Work on the front body piece while it is still flat.
Lightly mark two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and whiskers. Use the finished photo as inspiration, or give your cat a different expression.
A simple approach is to use small stitches for the eyes and short backstitches for the nose, mouth, and whiskers. Secure the thread ends on the reverse.
Pull the thread gently. Tight stitches can gather the fabric and make the face pucker.
Beginner checkpoint: Place the front piece flat on your work surface. The embroidered area should lie reasonably smooth.
Step 3: Sew the Arms and Tail
Place each pair of matching pieces right sides together.
Sew along the pattern’s stitching line, leaving the designated opening for turning. Take the curves slowly, using shorter stitches where you need more control.
Trim excess seam allowance carefully. Clip curved areas as needed without cutting through the stitching.
Turn each piece right side out and gently shape it.
Why clip the curves? The seam allowance needs room to spread or settle inside the curved shape. Without enough room, the finished piece may pull or bunch.
Step 4: Add a Little Stuffing
Push small amounts of stuffing into the arms and tail.
Keep the arms flexible enough to curve around the body. Too much stuffing can make them stiff and prevent the snap from closing comfortably.
Keep stuffing away from the attachment ends so those areas remain easy to sew.
Beginner checkpoint: Bend the arms into a hugging position before attaching them. They should curve without needing force.
Step 5: Position the Arms and Tail
Use the marks you transferred from the pattern to position the arms and tail.
For pieces caught in the body seam, place them pointing inward over the right side of the body fabric. Align their attachment ends with the appropriate fabric edges, following the pattern.
Baste them in place. Basting means using temporary stitches to hold the pieces while you complete the main seam.
Check that the arms are at matching heights.
Avoid this mistake: Keep the free ends of the arms and tail away from the body’s outer stitching line. Only their intended attachment points should be caught in the seam.
Step 6: Prepare the Back
Choose the instructions for your version.
Option A: Zippered Cat Pouch
Complete the zipper opening in the back panel before joining the front and back body pieces.
The exact method depends on your pattern. A zipper inserted into a back seam and a zipper installed in a faced opening require different preparation, so follow the construction specified by the pouch pattern.
The general sequence is:
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Mark and prepare the opening.
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Finish or enclose its edges as directed.
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Position and secure the zipper.
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Stitch it in place, keeping the fabric clear of the teeth.
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Test that it opens and closes smoothly.
Leave the zipper partly open before sewing the body. You will need that opening to turn the cat right side out.
Option B: Stuffed Cat
Skip the zipper. Leave the pattern’s designated back opening available for turning and stuffing.
Do not sew this opening closed yet.
Step 7: Sew the Body Together
Place the front and back body pieces right sides together.
Align the ears, sides, and legs. Keep the arms and tail tucked between the body layers, with their loose ends clear of the seam.
Pin or clip the pieces, then sew around the body using the pattern’s seam allowance.
Work slowly around the ears and the curve between the legs. If using a machine, stop with the needle down when you need to adjust direction.
For the stuffed version, preserve the turning opening. For the pouch, double-check that the zipper is partly open.
Step 8: Trim, Clip, and Turn
Before turning, inspect the seam for gaps or places where an arm or tail has been caught accidentally.
Trim bulky seam allowances and carefully clip the curves, particularly between the legs. Reduce bulk at the ear tips without cutting too close to the stitches.
Turn the cat right side out through the back opening or zipper.
Use your fingers or a blunt turning tool to shape the ears and legs. Avoid pushing hard with a sharp object, which can pierce the fabric.
Beginner checkpoint: Both ears and legs should be fully turned out, with no visible holes along the seams.
Step 9: Finish the Interior
For the Pouch
Leave the body cavity empty for storage.
Check the inside for loose threads and exposed edges that need finishing according to your pattern. Make sure nothing catches in the zipper.
The construction described here does not add a lining. If you want an enclosed, lined interior, choose a pattern that includes lining pieces and the correct assembly sequence.
For the Stuffed Cat
Add stuffing gradually through the turning opening. Fill the ears and legs gently before shaping the main body.
Once you are happy with the shape, fold the opening’s seam allowances inward and close it with ladder stitch.
To make ladder stitch, alternate small stitches along the two folded edges, then gently draw the thread tight so the gap closes.
Step 10: Add the Snap Fastener
Bring the arms together across the front of the cat. Let them overlap naturally rather than pulling them tight.
Mark the snap positions on both arms. Check the fastener’s orientation before installing it so the two halves connect correctly.
Install the snap using its compatible tools and manufacturer’s instructions. If the fabric needs reinforcement, add it as directed before setting the fastener.
Open and close the snap gently to check that it is secure.
Common Beginner Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The face looks puckered | Embroidery stitches are too tight | Loosen or redo the affected stitches with gentler tension |
| The arms will not meet comfortably | Too much stuffing or incorrect placement | Check flexibility and placement before setting the snap |
| The ears look rounded or bulky | Excess fabric inside the tips | Inspect and carefully reduce the seam allowance |
| The curve between the legs pulls | The seam allowance cannot spread sufficiently | Check whether it needs a careful clip, avoiding the stitching |
| The zipper catches | Fabric or loose threads sit too close to the teeth | Clear threads and check the zipper stitching |
| A pen does not fit | Its length exceeds the usable space | Measure contents against the approximately 15 cm interior |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get the pattern?
Hugging Cat Pouch Sewing Pattern
Can I sew this cat by hand?
Yes. Use small, secure stitches for the construction seams and reinforce the arm and tail attachment points. Hand sewing the zipper requires careful positioning and consistent stitches.
Do I need to put stuffing inside the pouch?
Keep the main body empty for storage. A little stuffing can shape the arms and tail, but the arms should remain flexible.
Can I use the stuffed cat pattern to make the pouch?
The body shape may provide a starting point, but the back needs a planned zipper opening. The original subtitles do not explain that alteration. Use a pouch pattern with zipper instructions if you are new to sewing.
Does it fit standard pencils?
Do not assume it will. The usable internal length is approximately 15 cm, so measure your pencils or pens first.
Which version should I make first?
Choose the stuffed cat if you want to practise shaping, turning, and attaching small pieces. Choose the pouch if you are also ready to work through a zipper installation.
Give Your Cat Its First Hug
Before putting your cat to use, check the seams, test the snap, and open and close the zipper if you made the pouch.
Add a few small stationery items, fasten the arms, and your hugging cat is ready to travel. For your next version, change the fabric color or embroidered expression while keeping the same sewing sequence.