Delight Dogs & Cats with These 7 Free Knitting Patterns

Take your leftover yarn, add a love for cats and dogs, and create sweet knitted gifts

Do you have a little bit of yarn and a lot of love for animals?

If so, you can put those bits of yarn to use by making gifts for animals.

Most of the patterns in today’s collection create toys. Knitted toys are a fun and frugal way to use up yarn scraps. If you sometimes worry about your stitches being a little sloppy or your colors clashing, no worries with pet toys! The dogs and cats won’t care.

On the other hand, if you create toys that look fantastic? You could sell them and offer the proceeds to charity — like, for example, animal shelters. (I know many readers have done exactly this!)

One pattern on this list isn’t a toy, but it’s still hugely beneficial for dogs. You’ll know exactly what I mean when you see it in this collection.

Charming Toys for Cats

Korkfisshe

• What you’ll need to make it: 30 to 50 yards worsted weight yarn; US Size 4 circular needles or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; tapestry needle; wine cork

• Why you’ll want to: These are cat toys shaped like fish with a cork inside. The cork gives weight to the fish, but it resists shredding when the cat invariably tears holes in the toy. Ingenious!

Korkmauser

• What you’ll need to make it: 30 to 50 yards worsted weight yarn; US Size 4 circular needles or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; tapestry needle; wine cork

• Why you’ll want to: If you like Korkfisshe, you’ll like Korkmauser as well. Same idea, only in mouse form.

Twenty-Minute Mouse

• What you’ll need to make it: About 16 yards of DK-weight yarn; US Size 2.5 needles; small amount of stuffing; sachet of catnip

• Why you’ll want to: A catnip mouse that has been tested and declared “indestructible” by even the most determined cat! Want to create a catnip sachet? See directions here.

Delightful Toys for Dogs

Quack

• What you’ll need to make it: About 65 to 70 yards feltable worsted weight yarn; US Size 10 needles in whatever configurations of straight, circular, and/or DPNs you prefer; stuffing; tapestry needle; squeaker (optional, but why not indulge?)

• Why you’ll want to: This produces a fabulous knitted and felted duck. Put a squeaker inside, and you have a wonderful toy your dog will be hooked on quickly.

Chunk’s Toy Ball

• What you’ll need to make it: 10 yards (likely less) worsted weight yarn; US Size 7 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer knitting in the round; stuffing

• Why you’ll want to: If you, like this pattern’s designer, have a dog who pouts when you knit something not meant for her or him, why not make up this quick, adorable little ball for your pooch to play with?

For more patterns for cats, dogs, and other animals, take a look at the For Animals category of free knitting patterns on this site!

Ideal for Either

Carrot Cat Toy

• What you’ll need to make it: 20 yards worsted weight yarn; US Size 6 circular needles or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stuffing (including catnip, if made for a cat); 12-inch green feather cord (available at many craft stores); green thread and sewing needle; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: This is called a cat toy, but put a squeaker inside and it could just as easily be a dog toy. You can use feltable yarn if you want to felt it; you can also choose to use up some green yarn as indicated in the instructions to “create” the leafy green top.

A Non-Toy That Dog Owners Can Appreciate

Dog Chew-No-More Leg Cover

• What you’ll need to make it: 31 yards Aran or worsted weight yarn; US Size 7 circular needles or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; roll of 1-inch elastic band; needle and thread; fasteners (optional, but a good idea!)

• Why you’ll want to: Not a toy, but perhaps the most important pattern on this list. If your dog has just had surgery, an injection, or a sore on his or her leg that he or she just won’t stop licking or chewing, this is the perfect solution. Slip it over the dog’s leg and give that owie a chance to heal.

All of these patterns knit up quickly. So dive into one or several, and experience the joy of indulging dogs and cats!