Whimsical Rainbow Cat & Star Leg Warmers Crochet

Crochet Pattern: Whimsical Rainbow Cat & Star Leg Warmers

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in: Pastel Peach (A), Pastel Yellow (B), Pastel Green (C), Pastel Blue (D), Pastel Lavender (E), Pastel Pink (F)
• Worsted weight yarn in White (for appliques)
• Small amounts of worsted weight yarn in Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple (for cloud rainbow)
• 4.0mm (G) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch marker
• Polyester fiberfill (for stuffing appliques)
• Black embroidery floss (for cat and cloud faces)
• Pink embroidery floss (for cloud blush)

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• inc – increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec – decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• MR – magic ring (or magic circle)
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• BLO – back loop only

Instructions

Gauge: 4 sc x 4 rows = 1 inch (adjust hook size if necessary to achieve desired fabric density)

Finished Size: Approximately 14 inches long, 12 inches circumference (adjustable)

Leg Warmers (Make 2)

Using Yarn A (Pastel Peach), ch 52. Join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, being careful not to twist.

• Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around. Join with sl st to first sc. (52 sc)
• Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (52 sc)
• Change to Yarn B (Pastel Yellow).
• Round 3-4: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (52 sc)
• Continue changing color every 2 rounds in the following sequence: Yarn C (Pastel Green), Yarn D (Pastel Blue), Yarn E (Pastel Lavender), Yarn F (Pastel Pink).
• Repeat the entire 2-round color sequence (A-F) four more times (total of 5 full rainbow repeats).
• After completing the last 2 rounds of Yarn F, fasten off and weave in ends.

Cat Applique (Make 1)

Using White yarn.

• Head:
• Round 1: Start with MR, 6 sc. (6 sc)
• Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sc)
• Round 3: (Sc in next st, inc) 6 times. (18 sc)
• Round 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) 6 times. (24 sc)
• Round 5-7: Sc in each st around. (24 sc)
• Sl st to next st, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Lightly stuff.
• Ears (Make 2):
• Ch 3. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
• Assembly: Attach ears to the top of the cat’s head. With black embroidery floss, embroider two small eyes and whiskers. With pink embroidery floss, embroider a small upside-down ‘V’ for the nose.

Star Applique (Make 1)

Using White yarn.

• Round 1: Start with MR, ch 1. (Sc, hdc, dc, ch 2, sl st into 2nd ch from hook, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) 5 times into the MR. Pull MR tight to close. (5 points)
• Sl st to join, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Lightly stuff before fully closing the back with the tail, if desired for puffiness.

Rainbow Cloud Applique (Make 1)

Using White yarn.

• Cloud Base:
• Row 1: Ch 9. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 7 chs. (8 sc)
• Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first st. (Inc, sc in next st) 3 times. Sc in last st. (11 sc)
• Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first 2 sts. (Inc, sc in next 2 sts) 3 times. Sc in last st. (14 sc)
• Row 4: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first 3 sts. (Inc, sc in next 3 sts) 3 times. Sc in last st. (17 sc)
• Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Sl st in first st, (sk next st, 5 dc in next st, sk next st, sl st in next st) 4 times. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. This creates the bumpy cloud shape.
• Rainbow Arc:
• Using Red yarn, ch 8. Sl st into the cloud where you want the rainbow to begin. Then with a tapestry needle, secure the chain in an arc, sewing the other end into the cloud.
• Repeat with Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple yarn, making each chain slightly longer than the last to form nested arcs (e.g., Orange ch 9, Yellow ch 10, etc.), and securing them to the cloud.
• Assembly: With black embroidery floss, embroider two small ‘V’ shapes for eyes on the cloud. With pink embroidery floss, embroider two small ‘U’ shapes for blush.

Final Assembly

• Carefully place the appliques onto the leg warmers as desired, referencing the image for placement (cat on one leg warmer near the top, star and rainbow cloud on the other leg warmer, one near the middle, one near the bottom).
• Using the long tails left on each applique and a tapestry needle, carefully sew them securely onto the leg warmers. Weave in all remaining ends.