​Lucky Cat Knitting Sweater

Needles: US 5 (for ribbing) and US 6 straight needles, US 5 dpns, size G crochet hook

Sizing: I sized this sweater based on the following measurements of my cat. I suggest taking the same measurements and keeping them handy. I will point out where in the pattern you should make adjustments based on the size of your cat.

- A (neck circumference): 8.5"

- B (chest span): 4.5"

- C (body length): ~12"

- CO 47 sts in MC on #5 needles (Adjust for measurement A HERE)

- Work 1x1 rib for two rows

- On next row, CO 1 st at beginning of row using cable cast on method and continue in 1x1 rib to end of row

- Repeat last row 3x

- Work in 1x1 rib until piece measures 2.25"

- Switching to #6 needles, continue in St st for 1.5" (from end of ribbing)

- On RS, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

- On WS, continue in St st

- Repeat the last 2 rows once

- Work 4 rows of St st

- On RS, k1, M1R, knit until last 2 sts, M1L, k1

- On WS, continue in St st

- Repeat the last 2 rows once (the armscyes should measure 2")

- Continue in St st until the piece measures 8" from cast on edge (Adjust for measurement C HERE)

- Switching to #5 needles, work 1x1 rib for 4 rows

- Bind off in pattern

- With #5 needles, CO 3 sts of MC

- Work 1 row in 1x1 rib (knit, purl, knit)

- On next row, increase in the following manner: k1, M1R, *p1,* M1L, k1

- Continue increasing in this manner (working the increases one stitch in from the left and right edges and continuing in 1x1 rib for the rest of the row, between the two *) on EVERY row until the piece is 4.5" wide (it should measure 1.5" long) -- Adjust for measurement B HERE, working in more or fewer increases.

- Continue in 1x1 rib until piece is 5.5" from CO edge (or length of Back between neck ribbing and bottom edge ribbing)

- Switch the "direction" of the ribbing (knit the purl sts and purl the knit sts) and work 4 rows of this reversed 1x1 rib

- Bind off in pattern

- Seam together the neck edges (the 2.5" of ribbing at the top of the back), starting at the 6th row, i.e. after the shaping)

- Seam front and back edges together to top of armscyes (1.5")

- Seam front and back edges together below the armscyes to the bottom

- Using #5 dpns, pick up and knit 25 sts around the armscye in MC, starting at the bottom join

- Knit one round, placing marker to signify beginning of the round

- On next round, k to last 2 sts, M1R, k1, slip marker, M1L

- Repeat last 2 rounds 8 times

- Knit 3 rounds of MC

- Knit 3 rounds of CC

- Bind off

- Repeat for second sleeve

- Using size G crochet hook and with RS facing, work one row of single crochet in CC around bottom and top edges, being careful on the top to maintain shaping of the neck

- For the "clasps", you may have a better idea, but this is what I did: I cut a piece of yarn ~5" long and tied a bunch of knots in it until it was the right size. I then placed the big knot on the neck seam where I wanted it and threaded the yarn ends through the neck, about 1/2" out from the seam on either side. I then tied the ends in the back of the work and repeated twice more.