So for Christmas this year, I was reminded that "Kiki's Delivery Service" is Arden's favorite movie. (The 2003 version with Phil Hartman doing the dub of Jiji the cat) It's my first experience with Miyazaki films, and really is such a sweet, wholesome movie. I decided I would grab a bunch of the newer DVDs for the other kinder in the family, and I knitted them all up a Jiji the Cat from this pattern that I found on Ravelry, but I found that I really wasn't a fan of the completed product, so I redid the pattern and am posting it below!
Jiji the Cat
Body
Abbreviations:
K - knit
KFB - Knit front and back
SSK - slip slip knit
Cast on 6 stitches and split between two needles (magic loop) and join in the round. Please note that you will repeat all stitches between the asterisks.
Round1 * kfb*all stitches (12 stitches)
Round 2 k
Round 3 *kfb, k1 * (18 stitches)
Round 4 K
Round 5 *kfb, k2* (24 stitches)
Round 6 k
Round 7 *kfb, k3* (30)
Round 8 k
Round 9 *kfb, k4* (36)
Round 10 k
Round 11 *kfb, k5* (42)
Round 12-22knit
Round 23 *ssk, k5* (36)
Round 24 k
Round 25 *ssk, k4* (30)
Round 26 k
Round 27 *kfb, k4* (36)
Round 28-38k
Round 39 *ssk, k4* (30)
Round 40 K
Round 41 *ssk, k3* (24 stitches)
Round 42 K
Round 43 *ssk, k2* (18 stitches)
Round 44 k
Round 45 k
Round 46 k
Round 47 *kfb, k2* (24)
Round 48 *kfb, k3* (30)
Round 49 *kfb, k4* (36)
Round 50 *kfb, k5* (42)
Round 51-64
Add some stuffing
Round 65 *ssk, k5* (36)
Round 66 *ssk, k4* (30)
Round 67 *ssk, k3* (24)
Round 68 *ssk, k2* (18)
Row 69 *ssk, k1* (12)
Row 70 *ssk* (6)
Thread yarn through last 6 stitches and pull closed and weave in the end.
Ears
Cast on 20 Divide in half on circular needles & join.
Put stitch marker in after 2 stitches to mark the beginning of the round.
Knit 8 rows
Row 9 1st 2 stitches slip slip and knit together, knit 6 then slip slip and knit those two togetherrepeat to end of round (16 stitches)
Row 10-12 knit
Row 13 slip slip knit together, k4, ssk (12 stitches)
Row 14 k
Row 15 k
Row 16 ssk, k2, ssk, ssk, k2 ssk (8 stitches)
Row 17 k
Row 18 ssk x 4 (4 stitches)
Row 19 k
Row 20 ssk x2
Cut and pull string through last 2 stitches to tie off, and tuck end inside of ear
Tail
Cast on 6 stitches and split between two needles (magic loop) or 4 DPNs. Mark the beginning of your round
Round 1 *kfb,k1* (9)
Round 2 k
Round 3 *kfb, k2* (12)
Knit each row until piece measures 10” -12"or reaches the top of Jiji's head.
Then after 10”-12" of tail, *ssk, k2* (9)
Next row *ssk, k1* (6)
Next row *ssk* (3)
Thread yarn through remaining 3 stitches and weave in
Sewing up
I recommend gluing your felt to his ears before stuffing and sewing to the body using a whip stitch. I attached his tail using a whip stitch as well.
When gluing on the eyes and nose, I recommend applying the glue to the parts, smearing it around with your finger to the edges, and then lightly applying them where you'd like them on Jiji's face. Then you will either need to clamp him between a couple of boards, or if you don't have clamps, use something heavy to apply pressure until the glue is cured. He will look silly, but it will keep his face on.
For the eyes and nose, I used this template from the original pattern. I did shrink down the eyes and nose just a bit, but not a whole lot. Maybe 1/8-1/4" around the eyeballs. As for the ears, I found it best to trace the actual ears and then come in maybe 1/8-1/4" from the edges. Please note that the link for the template will automatically download the PDF. At least it does for me.
